News Updates

USCIS Suspends Premium Processing for H-1B Extensions from 5/26/15 to 7/27/15

14:20 20 May in News Updates by Larrabee

USCIS has announced it will not accept Premium Processing requests for H-1B extensions from Tuesday, May 26 until Monday, July 27, 2015 USCIS will honor requests for Premium Processing received prior to 5/26 USCIS Temporarily Suspends Premium Processing for Extension of Stay H-1B Petitions Starting May 26, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B Extension of Stay petitions until July 27, 2015. During this time frame, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting an extension of the stay...

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Reporting of Foreign Bank Accounts and Foreign Assets to the IRS

15:02 18 May in News Updates by Larrabee

At Larrabee Albi Coker LLP, we recognize that navigating the U.S. immigration system can be just one piece of the puzzle for people with global ties and connections. U.S. taxation of foreign assets and foreign bank accounts is an important and often overlooked area for individuals with an international presence. To address this need, we would like to invite you to a very special lunch event. We are pleased to host a complimentary lunch featuring Kate Leonard, Partner of Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP. This is an event you are not going to want to miss. International tax is the focus of Kate...

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Reminder: USCIS to Begin Accepting H-4 EAD Applications 5/26/15

14:55 08 May in News Updates by Larrabee

Reminder -USCIS Will Begin Accepting H-4 EAD Applications Effective 5/26/15 The long-anticipated regulation allowing certain individuals in H-4 status to apply for an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow. It will allow for eligible individuals to apply for an EAD on or after May 26, 2015. Please see the attached FAQ for additional information: http://larrabee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/H4EADFAQ.pdf For the USCIS Press Release, please see: http://www.uscis.gov/news/dhs-extends-eligibility-employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses-h-1b-nonimmigrants-seeking-employment-based-lawful-permanent-residence Please contact your LAC attorney if you are interested in filing an H-4 EAD application. <-- Back to News Updates...

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H-1B Cap Update: USCIS Data Entry Completed

14:52 04 May in News Updates by Larrabee

USCIS Completes Data Entry of Fiscal Year 2016 H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions USCIS issued the following Press Release Today: Release date: 5/4/2015 USCIS announced May 4, 2015, that it has completed data entry of all fiscal year 2016 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in our computer-generated random process. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected. Due to the high volume of filings, the time frame for returning these petitions is uncertain. USCIS asks petitioners to not inquire about the status of submitted cap-subject petitions until they receive a receipt notice or an unselected petition is returned. USCIS will issue...

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H-1B Cap Update: Premium Processing Cases

18:48 14 April in News Updates by Larrabee

USCIS Confirms that Petitions filed via Premium Processing will be adjudicated beginning April 27, 2015. As we noted in our April 13th Update, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is in the process of sending Receipt Notices for H-1B petitions selected in the H-1B cap lottery filed via regular and premium processing. We are forwarding these Receipt Notices to clients as we receive them from USCIS. Previously on March 12th, USCIS announced that they would begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than May 11, 2015. Today, USCIS issued a Press Release clarifying that beginning April 27, 2015, it will...

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H-1B Cap Update: 233,000 Petitions Received in First Week

18:46 14 April in News Updates by Larrabee

USCIS Announces approximately 233,000 Cap Subject H-1B Petitions were received in the first week filing was permitted. Lottery Completed. Cases selected in the lottery: LAC will forward the receipt notice for any petitions selected in the lottery to the employee (via the employer) as soon as it is received. Cases not selected in the lottery: H-1B petitions that are not selected in the lottery will be returned to counsel with the government filing fees. We will notify impacted clients upon receipt of the returned petitions, and promptly refund the USCIS filing fees to the employer. Timeline for lottery notifications: USCIS has not provided...

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FY2016 H-1B Cap Reached; USCIS Will Conduct Lottery

09:38 09 April in News Updates by Larrabee

As expected, the FY2016 H-1B Cap has been reached in the first week filings were permitted. USCIS will conduct a lottery for all petitions received from Wednesday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 7. Please note that any cases received at USCIS by close of business April 7 will be included in the lottery. Cases selected in the lottery: LAC will forward the receipt notice for any petitions selected in the lottery to the employee (via the employer) as soon as it is received. Cases not selected in the lottery: USCIS will return all H-1B petitions that are not selected in the lottery to counsel, with the...

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Immigrant Visas: Priority Dates and Predictions of Future Visa Availability

14:59 20 March in News Updates by Larrabee

IMMIGRANT VISAS PRIORITY DATES AND PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE VISA AVAILABILITY Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes its Visa Bulletin, in which it establishes cut-off dates in each immigration category, for each nationality. The Visa Bulletin for April 2015 has been released and contains some important developments pertaining to EB-2/EB-3 China, EB-5 China, EB-2 India and EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico and Philippines. WHAT IS A PRIORITY DATE? PRIORITY DATES/ IMMIGRANT VISA AVAILABILITY AS OF APRIL 1, 2015: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin/2015/visa-bulletin-for-april-2015.html PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE VISA AVAILABILITY Courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 14071401 (posted March 18, 2015). The information below is based...

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L-1B Denial Rates Continue to Increase – 2014 Statistics

13:58 20 March in News Updates by Larrabee

L-1B Denial Rates Continue to Increase The L-1B category is reserved for intracompany transfers who have specialized knowledge. "Intracompany" refers to individuals transferring from a qualifying company abroad to work temporarily for a related company in the U.S. Although there has been no change in the law or official change in policy, for several years now we have seen a significant increase in the rate of Requests for Additional Evidence (RFE) and Denials in L-1B cases filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Excessive and burdensome requests for additional evidence, some unreasonable denials, and an endemic pattern of inconsistency in...

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