This morning the USCIS announced that is has returned all FY2017 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in the computer generated selection process. We received all of our petitions filed on behalf of our clients. On May 2nd the USCIS announced that it had...
Immigration News
Employers Risk Higher Penalties for Hiring Unauthorized Workers
Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), it is unlawful for an employer to hire or continue to employ workers knowing they are not authorized to work in the U.S. Employers can verify eligibility by completing form I-9. Failing to comply with these...
U.S. Supreme Court 4-4 Decision on DACA and DAPA leaves many immigrants on hold
Today, in the United States v. Texas, the case challenging the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed by an equally divided court. This...
H-1B FY17 Cap Updates
As per our prior updates which we link to below, USCIS completed the H-1B Cap Random Lottery Selection Process April 9th, 2016. Original article about FY17 Cap posted here. Below is an outline of key events during this process and what to expect for the remainder of...
High Demand for EB-1 Visas Might Result in Unprecedented Cut Off Dates
As a result of employers and foreign nationals looking for alternatives to the H-1B cap, the Department of State (DOS) and USCIS have advised that there has been a significantly high demand for visas in the EB-1 category. DOS has said that should demand continue to...
EB-2 and EB-3 Retrogressions for India and China
The demand for the EB-2 employment-based category is also very high. As a result of the ongoing high demand for visa numbers for EB-2 India and lack of access numbers from EB-2 worldwide which could have been used for India, the EB-2 India final action date...
ICE Releases Quarterly International Student Data
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently released the latest "SEVIS By the Numbers," a quarterly report on international student trends prepared by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The report notes that nearly 1.2 million international...
Employment-Based Final Action Dates Retrogress for June
The June 2016 Visa Bulletin published by the Department of State indicates that during the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with USCIS. This resulted in the retrogression of final...