Entries by Cyrus Mehta

July 2016 Global Immigration Update

Feature Article REFUGEES AND RELATED BENEFITS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of recent developments with respect to refugees and the benefits granted to them. Country Updates: BELGIUM – This article summarizes details on work permit exemptions, related to technical work, for foreign employees in Belgium. CANADA – Several developments have been announced. […]

July 2016 Immigration Update

Headlines: Split Supreme Court Decision Blocks DAPA – In U.S. v. Texas, the Supreme Court let stand lower court rulings that block the Obama administration’s plan to allow approximately 4 million parents of U.S. citizen children to remain in the United States and obtain work authorization. USCIS Celebrates SAVE’s 30th Anniversary, Launches Redesigned Website – […]

Mid-June 2016 Immigration Update

HeadlInes: House Holds Hearing on H-2B Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted, among other things, that according to USCIS statistics, as of June 2, 2016, the agency had already approved petitions for 12,727 returning H-2B workers, “with 1,171 potential additional returning workers in the pipeline.” State Dept. Releases DV-2017 Results – […]

June 2016 Immigration Update

Headlines: USCIS, DOS Launch e-Approval for H-2A Petitions –USCIS and DOS announced the launch of e-Approval for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for the H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) classification. USCIS Will Now Use Pre-Paid Mailers To Send H-2A Receipt Notices – Coinciding with the launch of e-Approval, USCIS has begun using pre-paid mailers […]

Mid-May 2016 Immigration Update

Headlines: USCIS Proposes Fee Increases, New Fee for Annual Certification of EB-5 Regional Centers – Among other things, USCIS proposes a new fee of $3,035 to recover the full cost of processing the EB-5 Annual Certification of Regional Center, Form I-924A. USCIS Completes Data Entry of FY 2017 H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions, Begins Rejections – USCIS […]

May 2016 Immigration Update

Headlines USCIS To Resume Premium Processing for Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions; Temporarily Suspends Use of Pre-Paid Mailers for Certain H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions – For cap-subject H-1B petitions, including advanced degree exemption petitions, the 15-day premium processing period will begin on May 12, 2016, regardless of the date on the Form I-797 receipt notice. USCIS Designates Two […]

Mid-April 2016 Immigration Update

Headlines: USCIS Reaches FY 2017 H-1B Cap – As expected, USCIS has quickly reached the H-1B cap for FY 2017. USCIS also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. Due to the high number of petitions, USCIS is not yet able to announce the date on […]

April 2016 Global Immigration Update

Headlines: CHINA – Shanghai has simplified the process for individuals requesting work permits and residence permits. FRANCE – A new law on the rights of foreigners in France was promulgated on March 7, 2016. ITALY – A startup work permit fast-track procedure is now available also to foreigners already residing in Italy. PERU – The […]