By: Dawn Lurie, Mahsa Aliaskari, and Brooke Gary
Along with the New Year, January 1st also marks the implementation of a new Visa Bulletin by the U.S. Department of State.
Each month, the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) chooses whether it will follow the Dates
Continue Reading January 2025 Visa Bulletin: Key Highlights and Implications
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
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 Employment-Based First Preference (EB-1) immigrant visa category is designed to attract top and critical talent to the U.S. This category includes individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields such as science, arts, education, business, or athletics (EB-1A); outstanding professors and researchers (EB-1B); and multinational executives or managers (EB-1C). It provides
Continue Reading Understanding the First Preference Extraordinary Ability Category for Immigrant Visas and USCIS’s New Guidance
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is a law designed to help certain young people (children of immigrants) keep their eligibility for U.S. immigration benefits, even if they turn 21 years old during the application process. Normally, when a child of an immigrant turns 21, they “age out” of being
Continue Reading The Child Status Protection Act & USCIS Extraordinary Circumstances Policy Updates
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 2025By: Marcus Hobson and Mahsa Aliaskari
October 1 marks the start of the government’s fiscal year, signaling the release of at least 140,000 new employment-based immigrant visa numbers to be allocated across categories and nationalities in the new fiscal year. With the exception of one particular subsection, the October 2024
Continue Reading October 2024 Visa Bulletin: Key Highlights and Implications
A recent update and clarification from the Department of State (DOS) on waiver eligibility expands opportunities for visa applicants facing difficulties in obtaining visa stamps for entry to the U.S. This clarification, specifically on the “significant public interest” category in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), provides valuable guidance for individuals
Continue Reading Navigating Visa Challenges: DOS Updates on Inadmissibility Waivers
Where are we next month?
The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) has announced that for the September 2024 Visa Bulletin, applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based preference categories, and the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored preference categories when filing adjustment of status
Continue Reading Visa Bulletin Updates
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