H-1B CAP FOR FY2018 REACHED LOTTERY WILL BE CONDUCTED As expected, today USCIS announced that the H-1B cap for FY2018 has been reached for both "regular" and "master's" cap cases. USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap All cap-subject petitions received at USCIS between Monday, April 3, 2017 and Friday,...
On March 31, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum: Rescission of the December 22, 2000 "Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions." However, while the title references "computer-related positions," the content of the memo is focused on the specific occupation...
There has been a fair amount of concern regarding whether Employment Authorization Documents will continue to be available to spouses of certain H-1B visa holders under the current administration. Below is an overview of the current status. Ongoing litigation The litigation, Save Jobs USA v. DHS, initiated in...
USCIS Announces Initiative to Increase H-1B Site Visits and Additional Measures to Detect Abuse of the Program Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will be taking additional measures to detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. As noted in the Press Release, USCIS will target...
Effective 4/3/17 USCIS WILL SUSPEND PREMIUM PROCESSING FOR ALL H-1B PETITIONS Premium processing may be unavailable for up to 6 months https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-will-temporarily-suspend-premium-processing-all-h-1b-petitions Q&A: 1.To which cases does this apply? This applies to ALL H-1Bs -- cap subject, cap exempt, extensions, etc. filed on or after 4/3/17 2. What if I had a...
Revised M-274, Handbook for Employers, Guidance for Completing Form I-9 Now Available U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published an updated version of the M-274, Handbook for Employers, Guidance for Completing Form I-9, revision date 1/22/17. The M-274 was updated to include information about the changes in EAD...
A federal appeals court in San Francisco has refused to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday wouldn't block a lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to...
Update as of 8:00 a.m. (PST) Tuesday, February 7, 2017 "TRAVEL BAN" REMAINS SUSPENDED Court Grants Nationwide Temporary Restraining Order in Response to Washington State and Minnesota's Challenge to President Trump's Executive Order Courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): On February 3, 2017, a federal...
Update as of 2/2/17: Travel Implications of Executive Order DUAL NATIONALS 2/2/17: The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs has issued an emergency alert confirming that the Executive Order of 1/27/17 does NOT restrict the travel of dual citizens with a valid U.S. visa...
AUTOMATIC EAD EXTENSIONS PROVIDED BY THE "HIGH SKILLS BILL" 2/1/17 Updates: I-9 guidance now available USCIS reverses position; EADs timely-filed before 1/17/17 now grandfathered Background On Jan. 17,2017, a final rule, "Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers," went into effect. This regulation implemented one of the Obama Administration's directives to...
