On April 1, 2014 the FY2015 H-1B filing's will begin. In a meeting with immigration attorneys, USCIS advised that they are arranging for appropriate staffing and are making plans to accommodate the expected significant number of petitions. They also advised that...
Effective February 10, 2014 the DOS amended its NAFTA regulations and removed the employment petition requirement for Mexican citizens applying for a nonimmigrant TN classification. Under the current rules, Mexican nationals can file a TN application directly with...
DHS designated Chile the 38th country to join the Visa Waiver Program. Chile is the first Latin America country to be included in this program. Currently, most participants are European countries. As a result, beginning May 1, 2014 eligible Chilean passport holders...
DACA beneficiaries who applied for status between June 15, 2012 and August 14, 2012 and wish to renew their deferred action and work permit should proceed as if they are applying for DACA for the first time. This requires submitting all required forms, documents and...
We have noticed an one to two month additional delay in processing. Recent data obtained through a government FOIA request revealed that due to the government shutdown in October, 2013 more than 37,000 immigration cases have been pushed back. This adds to the already...
The new form is significantly different and longer - an increase to 21 pages from 10 pages. It includes more extensive questions about crimes, other bars to naturalization and the applicant's parents. There is a 90-day period to transition to the new form which...
Despite the release of the House's Principles on Immigration Reform, we don't expect much meaningful action on this matter until the spring and summer of 2014, when most GOP primaries will be finished. Thereafter, the released GOP standards for immigration reform are...
In January, OSC settled two cases involving allegations of discrimination under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). In these cases, employers imposed additional hiring requirements for non-citizens. One of the cases arose out of a referral to OSC from the USCIS...