USCIS has announced the H-1B CAP lottery registration period for FY2026. The registration period will be from March 7th to March 24th; USCIS will issue selection notifications by March 31st, allowing petitioners to file H-1B CAP cases beginning on April 1st.
During the
Continue Reading FY2026 H1B Cap Initial Registration Period AnnouncedBy: Dawn Lurie, Mia Batista, and Fanny Wong
On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued the Securing Our Borders executive order, citing national security, crime prevention, and the protection of American interests as justification for terminating categorical parole programs for certain Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Then
Continue Reading Venezuelan 2023 TPS and CHNV Parole Get the Axe—What Employers Need to KnowIf you have been following immigration news and are wondering how changes in Washington might affect your workforce, you are not alone. Senate Joint Resolution 8 (S.J. Res. 8) in the 119th Congress aims to undo a USCIS regulation that grants certain eligible applicants a 540-day automatic extension of their
Continue Reading Countdown to Chaos? The 540-Day EAD Extension in Legislative CrosshairsBy: Peace Ibe and Mia Batista
In a significant policy update, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially waived the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for individuals applying for Adjustment of Status (AOS). Effective January 22, 2024, USCIS will no longer require applicants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as part of
Continue Reading USCIS Removes COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants
With an incoming administration vocal about its stance on immigration enforcement and safeguarding U.S. workers, employers who hire foreign workers on H-1B visas should make certain that they are maintaining compliance with U.S. immigration regulations. To avoid potential fines, penalties, or jeopardizing the status and work authorization of H-1B employees
Continue Reading Keeping Your Ducks in H-1B Row: Compliance Strategies for Employers
An all too familiar countdown once again as we wait to hear the fate of the latest temporary extension to continue funding the government after midnight on Friday, December 20th. Employers should be aware that a shutdown will likely impact processing of immigration cases.
During a shutdown, all but “essential”
Continue Reading Here We Go Again? Government Shutdown and Impacts on Immigration
Recent Changes to Submission Requirements
As of December 2, 2024, USCIS has updated its policy to require that Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, be submitted along with Form I-485, which is the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Previously, applicants could submit the
Continue Reading Navigating the Medical Examination Requirement for Form I-485: A Comprehensive Guide
The EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) introduced significant requirements for designated EB-5 regional centers, one of the most notable being the annual payment into the EB-5 Integrity Fund. Beginning on October 1, 2024, the USCIS is accepting these payments for Fiscal Years (FY) 2023, 2024, and 2025
Continue Reading Stay Compliant: Key Deadlines and Updates for EB-5 Integrity Fund Payments: What You Need to Know for FY 2023, 2024, and 2025
In a significant development for H-1B visa hopefuls, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed a second lottery for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap. The H-1B program enables U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for roles that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in the
Continue Reading Second USCIS FY 2025 Cap Lottery: A New Opportunity for H-1B Applicants
Recent processing time trends at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) are raising concerns for both Employers and F-1 visa holders relying on automatic extensions of work authorization while awaiting the processing of their F-1 STEM Employment Authorization Document (EAD) extension applications.
While USCIS published processing time data reflects
Continue Reading Navigating Delays: The F-1 STEM EAD Waiting Game Considerations for Employees and Employers