News Updates

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen? Tips to Successfully Manage the Corporate Immigration Process

08:07 02 October in LAC Blog by Larrabee
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It is not uncommon for our clients to reach out to us and ask for guidance on how best to internally manage the immigration process for its foreign national employees. Some of our clients are just venturing down this path for the first time and others are struggling to manage the internal demands of a growing immigration need within their companies. As a result, we thought it might be helpful to provide some general guidance on the challenges and the best practices we see on daily basis from the interaction with our clients which range in size from small startups...

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FY2020 H-1B CAP FILINGS

15:33 11 January in News Updates by Larrabee
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The filing window for H-1B petitions seeking a FY2020 (10/1/19 to 9/30/20) cap or quota number will open on Monday, April 1, 2019.   That will be the first day USCIS will accept H-1B petitions for the 2019 H-1B cap.  The start date of employment for approved petitions is October 1, 2019. What changes have been proposed this year? H-1B Cap Registration.  USCIS recently proposed a rule that would change the way H-1B "cap" petitions are filed and selected.  Currently, a fully completed petition must be filed for consideration in the random selection process that takes place in April of each year.  USCIS is proposing to change the process...

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2018 Year In Immigration – Summary of Key Policy Changes

23:35 21 December in News Updates by Larrabee
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This year brought many key immigration policy changes in the employment-based immigration arena and 2019 is expected to be no different. H-1B Petitions: Interpretation of "Specialty Occupation". A more narrow interpretation of the positions that qualify as a "Specialty Occupation" continues to result in the issuance of Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny and Denials for certain occupations. Immigration regulations define a "specialty occupation" as one requiring the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and the attainment of at least a Bachelor's Degree in a specific specialty or its equivalent. The...

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Larrabee Albi Coker LLP Holiday Closure

16:48 12 December in News Updates by Larrabee
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Larrabee Albi Coker LLP will be closed for the holidays beginning on Monday, December 24th and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2nd. In the event of an emergency while we are closed, please call the office at 858-642-0420 and leave a message on extension # 311. Attorneys will be monitoring this line and will respond in the event of an emergency. For non-emergency matters, please send an e-mail or leave a message in the general mailbox, which we will review on January 2nd. As we come to the end of another year, we want to take this opportunity to...

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NAFTA Renegotiations – Update

18:08 10 October in News Updates by Larrabee
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Below is a brief update on the renegotiations of NAFTA that have taken place between the U.S., Canada and Mexico: On September 30, 2018, the U.S., Canada and Mexico reached an agreement, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).  This agreement is not yet finalized as there are a number of procedural steps that will need to take place in each country before it can be implemented as law.  In the meantime, all provisions of NAFTA remain in effect. On the immigration front, there were very minor changes made and at this point in the renegotiation process the USMCA will not change...

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2020 DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY – ONLINE ENTRY PERIOD

21:26 03 October in News Updates by Larrabee
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Begins at Noon EDT on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Ends at Noon EST on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the Green Card or DV Lottery) provides immigrant visas each fiscal year for persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Essentially, this program provides certain nationalities with the opportunity to win the chance to apply for a green card, without having to qualify in one of the family-based or employment-based categories. For fiscal year 2020, 50,000 diversity visas will be available. There are various bills pending before Congress which call for the...

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Approved and Pending H-1B Cap Petitions as of October 1, 2018

21:42 28 September in News Updates by Larrabee
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October 1st marks the date when H-1B petitions filed under the annual cap are set to take effect.  This year is somewhat different as a large number of H-1B petitions remain pending with USCIS.  Below are some important reminders for approved H-1B petitions and options for petitions that remain pending. Reminders for Approved H-1B Petitions         Work authorization must be re-verified on Form I-9 to reflect an employee's H-1B status.       F-1 students are not normally subject to Medicare and Social Security withholdings, but H-1B nonimmigrants are.  Therefore, adjustments to payroll withholdings may be required for F-1 students whose status...

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