USCIS recently introduced a final rule that details improvements made to the online filing of H-1B petitions. The rule focuses on establishing a beneficiary-focused selection process for employer registrations and codifies the FY 2025 registration period. As an effort to strengthen integrity and minimize the risk of fraud in the H-1B registration process, selections will...
H-1B Specialty Occupation & H-4 Dependent visas
May32023
USCIS recently confirmed the receipt of 780,884 registrations for FY 2024, marking an increase of about 62% from the previous year. This surge in registrations explains the low selection rates this year. This same agency also announced that it has verified the presence of collusion among technology companies who aim to improve the probability of...
Apr42023
Finally, some clarity from USCIS on a long standing issue. USCIS recently announced that they are updating the USCIS Policy Manual to address situations when the last day to file a benefit request or respond to a USCIS action falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. In these situations, USCIS will consider a filing...
With the FY2024 electronic registration approaching employers and their potential candidates are getting ready to submit their entries into the H-1B lottery. However, with only 85,000 visas available and given that last year saw almost half a million registrations people are wondering how they can improve their chances of being selected. I often get asked...
One of the biggest issues faced by spouses of H-1 and L-1 holders in the last few years was that USCIS stopped processing their applications even when filed with the principal application. This resulted in much uncertainty and due to delays in processing cases many spouses were forced to stop working. Prior to the Trump...
Jan182023
An H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows a foreign national to come to the U.S. and work on a temporary basis. Once approved for an H-1B the worker must work in accordance with the original terms and conditions as per the originally filed petition. If there is a material change to the original terms...
On January 4, 2023, USCIS posted a notice of proposed rulemaking to adjust filing fees. Certain fees, particularly cases filed using form I-129 (H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, etc.) could potentially see significant hikes as well as EB-5. Here of a brief overview of some of the notable proposed fee increases: Immigration benefit Current fee Proposed fee...
When USCIS announced that H-4 holders would qualify for an automatic extension of their EAD, this was praised as a move in the right direction. However, the caveat to this rule is that to qualify for an automatic extension an individual needs to have a valid I-94. The automatic extension was initially 180 days, but...