H-1B Visas for FY 2020: USCIS Announces Filing Date, Updates, & Changes

Along with the filing date for cap-subject fiscal year 2020 H-1B specialty occupation visas, USCIS has announced a number of other important changes and updates to the program.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 25, 2019Employment-Based Visas, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Immigration Law, Employment Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-907, Form I-129, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHSComment

USCIS Validity Rule Change for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

An outline of what has been modified in evaluating a Form I-693 medical examination report’s validity and how forms submitted before and after the policy change are affected.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 4, 2019Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-485, Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination RecordComment

L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa: USCIS Announces a Restrictive New Interpretation

A new USCIS memo introduces changes to the L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa’s requirements that could very well result in severe complications concerning one’s eligibility for the benefit.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 21, 2019California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Employment Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, L-1B, L-1A, L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, E-2, Policy MemorandumComment

DHS’s Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa Lottery Process

DHS has proposed rule changes that will significantly impact the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa program, namely the process petitioners will apply under and the order by which applications will be selected.

Ekaterina PowellDecember 14, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Employers, Employees, Employment-Based Visas, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Law, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

USCIS's Changes to Unlawful Presence for Exchange Visitors and Students

Some considerations and tips for avoiding lasting consequences due to changes in the accrual of unlawful presence for F and M students and J exchange visitors.

A More In-Depth Look at USCIS's New NTA Policy Memorandum

Here we take a look at some of the more minute details and effects of USCIS’s Notice to Appear (NTA) policy memorandum, as well as how it may work out in certain situations.

New USCIS Policy on Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs)

A new USCIS memo has gone into effect modifying its policy pertaining to the issuance of Notices to Appear before an immigration judge, or NTAs, in response to certain applications and circumstances.

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visa Petitions

USCIS will extend its suspension of premium processing services for H-1B petitions into next year.

Ekaterina PowellAugust 30, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Employment-Based Visas, entrepreneur immigration, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

USCIS Gives Answers on New Security Measures for Document Delivery

With concern to its new policies on the secure delivery of important documents, USCIS has provided some clarification as to what these changes will demand of those affected by them.

Ekaterina PowellJune 13, 2018USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Green Card, Visas, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Lawyer, Business Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San FranciscoComment

DHS Proposes the Removal of the International Entrepreneur Rule

After much foreshadowing, the Department of Homeland Security finally announces its proposed removal of the International Entrepreneur Rule.

Ekaterina PowellMay 31, 2018IER, International Entrepreneur Rule, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, Business Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, Entrepreneurs, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

USCIS Completes Lottery Selection of the Year's H-1B Visa Petitions

USCIS has announced the completion of its data entry for all FY 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in its computerized random selection process.

Ekaterina PowellMay 18, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Employment-Based Visas, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Business Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

Change in the Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, M and J Nonimmigrants

USCIS has issued a new memorandum modifying its policy in determining the accrual of unlawful presence for F nonimmigrant students, J nonimmigrant exchange visitors and M nonimmigrant vocational students.

Ekaterina PowellMay 17, 2018F-1 Student Visa, J Exchange Visitor Visa, M Vocational Student Visa, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Business Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Silicon ValleyComment

USCIS Update: H-1B Cap for Fiscal Year 2019 Reached

USCIS has announced that the cap for next years H-1B non-cap exempt visa petitions has been reached.

Ekaterina PowellApril 9, 2018United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Employment-Based VisasComment

H-1B Cap Petitions: USCIS Suspending Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019

The USCIS-announced suspension of premium processing for cap-subjected H-1B petitions and its notable implications.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 21, 2018United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Premium Processing, Form I-907, Form I-129, Expedited ProcessingComment

USCIS Update: Power of Attorney Signatures No Longer Accepted

Signatures must now be provided solely by valid applicants and petitioners on all USCIS forms.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 16, 2018Immigration Law, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Guidance, Signatures, updateComment

New Guidance on H-1B Petitions for Third-Party Site Workers

The H-1B specialty occupation visa process has undergone another overhaul, at least when it comes to third-party workers.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 5, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Third-Party Workers, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Itinerary, Labor Condition Application, LCA, US, Employers, Employees, Business Immigration Attorney, San Diego, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon ValleyComment

USCIS Now Accepting Credit Cards for All Fee-Based Forms

At long last, USCIS is accepting credit cards for filing fees on all applicable forms.

Ekaterina PowellFebruary 15, 2018United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Credit Cards, Form Filings, Form G-1450, Naturalization, Green Cards, Visas, Business Immigration Attorney, San Francisco, San Diego, California, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

Public Charge Rulemaking Draft Expands Grounds for Inadmissibility

Before, only non-cash oriented government programs would be weighed in determining one's likely status as a public charge. A new rule may change that.

Ekaterina PowellFebruary 14, 2018public charge, government programs, government assistance, Adjustment of Status, immigration visas and green cards, Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, DHS, Business Immigration Attorney, Inadmissibility, California, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

H-1B Wage Level 1 RFEs: Specific Actions to Take

USCIS has adopted the inappropriate practice of using wage levels to help determine whether a H-1B position is a specialty occupation. Here are some specific actions petitioners may take in securing a favorable outcome.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 19, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Department of Labor, DOL, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Wage Levels, Labor Condition Application, LCA, Education, Employment-Based Visas, Degree, Business Immigration Attorney, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

Strategies for Combating Level 1 Wage RFEs for H-1B Petitions

Each and every argument USCIS uses in justifying its use of wage levels to determine an H-1B position's specialty occupation eligibility is propped up by flaws that, if appropriately expounded upon, may assist in obtaining a favorable adjudication.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 16, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Department of Labor, USCIS, DOL, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Wage Levels, Business Immigration Attorney, LCA, Labor Condition Application, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

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