Feb202024
H-1B Registration Opens March 6th! As March approaches, so does the opening of the H-1B registration period for FY2025. For many skilled foreign workers and employers alike, this marks a crucial time to secure work authorization in the United States. The H-1B visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations,...
USCIS just announced an increase in filing fees, the first hike since 2016. The agency claims that the current fees are not sufficient to cover the cost of operations, the expansion of humanitarian programs, federally mandated pay raises, and additional staffing requirements. Additionally, USCIS asserts that the enhanced filing fees will be allocated towards the...
The R-1 visa is a niche visa category and facilitates the temporary entry of ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations into the US for the purpose of performing religious work. Eligibility The employment must be with one of the following entities: (1) a non-profit religious organization in the US, (2) a religious organization...
On December 21, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) published a Federal Register notice announcing details regarding the domestic visa renewal pilot program, which allows applicants to renew their H-1B visas without needing to return to their home country. The pilot program will resume on January 29, 2024, and will accept applications until April 1,...
On December 27, 2023, USCIS announced the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing. The increase is attributed to the need to adjust for inflation from June 2021 through June 2023. The revenue generated by the fee increase will help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continue to provide premium processing services, improve...
Employment-based green cards are subject to numerical limitations, leading to competition for available visas. Professionals in high-demand fields may face challenges due to visa quotas, impacting their ability to contribute to the U.S. workforce. Countries like India face extensive backlogs and the number of available visas has a profound impact on the advancement and/or retrogression...
Background: Pre-2009 Policy Before 2009, the death of a petitioner or principal applicant during the application process could lead to the denial of the petition, resulting in an individual not being able to complete the processing of their green card application. However, in 2009, Congress introduced a rule allowing individuals to obtain immigration benefits even...
Students In the dynamic landscape of immigration and employment, international students on F-1 visas in the United States often face uncertainties, particularly when transitioning to H-1B nonimmigrant status. What happens if a student, approved for a change to H-1B status, is laid off or terminated by their H-1B employer before officially obtaining the new status?...