News Updates

USCIS to Increase Filing Fees

23:30 18 December in News Updates by Larrabee

USCIS has proposed changes to its filing fees that are expected to take effect within the first quarter of 2020. The rule proposes adjusting USCIS fees by a weighted average increase of 21% to ensure full cost recovery. Current fees would leave the agency underfunded by approximately $1.3 billion per year. USCIS last updated its fee structure in FY 2017, by a weighted average increase of 21%. The proposed fee rule accounts for increased costs to adjudicate immigration benefit requests, detect and deter immigration fraud, and thoroughly vet applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries. Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee-funded. Federal law requires...

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International Travel Tips and Reminders for Foreign Nationals

20:15 17 December in News Updates by Larrabee

Frequently Asked Questions: International Travel Issues on Temporary Visas International Travel Requirements and Advisories DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application How to Make Changes to the DS-160 After Submission Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for Visa Waiver Program Travelers Trips to Canada or Mexico (Automatic Visa Revalidation) US-VISIT, WHTI and Trusted Traveler Programs I-94 Admissions Record  Resource Links: CBP Travel Guidance Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) I-94 Arrival/ Departure Record Retrieval US Embassies and Consulates  Administrative Processing Information   Time-Saving Travel Programs  CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs  (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST) provide enrollees with expedited U.S. customs screenings, dramatically reducing...

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USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season

23:54 06 December in News Updates by Larrabee

Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has completed a successful pilot testing phase of its new electronic registration process for the H-1B cap lottery process.   As a result, it will implement the new process for the Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season, commencing in March 2020. Historically, we would recommend initiation of H-1B cap subject cases in January in order to ensure filing of the petition within the first week of April.  This would in turn ensure the H-1B petition would be considered in the lottery, as demand for H-1B visas has historically exceeded the statutorily available supply.  ...

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USCIS Premium Processing Filing Fee to Increase on 12/2/19

22:39 11 November in News Updates by Larrabee

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a $30 fee increase for premium processing of eligible employment-based petitions beginning on 12/2/19. The premium processing fee will increase to $1,440 from the current fee of $1,410. What types of petitions are eligible for premium processing? Certain I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) and I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) petitions are eligible.  A full list is available on the USCIS website. How does premium processing work? If a petitioner submits a premium processing request, together with the requisite filing fee, USCIS will guarantee a response within 15 days of receipt of the request.  The response may be an approval,...

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LAC has again received recognition by US News and World Report and Best Lawyers.

22:28 06 November in News Updates by Larrabee

In 2020, LAC is again ranked as Metropolitan Tier 1 in San Diego for Immigration Law. National and metropolitan tier 1 rankings will be featured in the physical edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”, which will be distributed to more than 30,000 in-house counsel. The 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings can be seen in their entirety by visiting https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/. For more info: https://www.bestlawyers.com/Content/Downloads/PressReleases/U.S.-News-Best-Lawyers-2020-Best-Law-Firms.pdf <-- Back to News Updates...

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2021 DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY – ONLINE ENTRY PERIOD

14:03 01 October in News Updates by Larrabee

Begins at Noon EST on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Ends at Noon EST on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 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 2021, 55,000 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, 2019

15:08 23 September in News Updates by Larrabee

October 1st marks the date when H-1B petitions filed under the annual cap are set to take effect.  Below are some important reminders for approved H-1B petitions and options for petitions that remain pending. H-1B Petitions Approved as Change of Status versus Consular Notification H-1B petitions reflecting an approved "change of status" will take effect automatically on October 1st.  The I-797 Approval Notice will include an I-94 card at the bottom, which will replace the I-94 admissions record previously issued to the beneficiary. H-1B petitions approved through "consular notification" do not take effect automatically.  The I-797 Approval notice will indicate that notification of...

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Important Notice Regarding Eligibility for Visa Waiver Program Following Travel to Certain Countries

14:40 13 September in News Updates by Larrabee

Travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): -  Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country). -  Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria. Those ineligible to use the VWP have the option of applying for a B-1/ B-2 visitor...

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LAC Welcomes (Back) Attorney Grace Zimmerman

18:17 03 September in News Updates by Larrabee

LARRABEE ALBI COKER LLP Welcomes Attorney GRACE ZIMMERMAN OF COUNSEL Some of you will remember Grace as an early partner of the firm, which evolved from an immigration practice initially established by Attorney Peter Larrabee in 1981.  The immigration practice broke away from Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich (now DLA Piper), and became Larrabee & Associates, which is today Larrabee Albi Coker LLP.    Grace joined the firm when it was Larrabee & Associates in 1996, and became a partner of the firm in 1999.  In 2006 Grace moved on to lead her own practice, and after some time as of counsel...

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