Headlines: USCIS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs β For 2020, the countries designated as eligible in 2019 are unchanged. USCIS Releases Final FY 2019 Statistics β The statistics include naturalizations, green cards, employment authorizations, and protected populations, among other categories. OFLC Completes Randomization Process on H-2B Applications Requesting an April 1, […]
Headlines Iranian-Americans Stopped, Questioned When Returning From Canada β More than 60 Iranian-Americans reportedly were held for questioning when returning from Canada recently via Washington State. USCIS Publishes Notice βFormally Announcingβ Implementation of Electronic H-1B Registration Process and Timeframe β USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020, for […]
Headlines Immigration Provisions Included in Newly Enacted Defense Act β On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several immigration-related provisions. Investigation Finds Fake Companies Exploiting F-1 Student Visa Program βNBC found that 14 βsuspiciousβ companies employed more than 5,500 foreign students through the Optional Practical Training program. ABIL […]
Headlines Spending Bill Extends EB-5 Regional Center Program, Includes Immigration Provisions β Congress has passed a spending bill for fiscal year 2020 that includes several immigration-related provisions. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation. January Visa Bulletin Includes Projections in Employment-Based Categories β The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for January 2020 includes information […]
Headlines Possible Retrogression in EB-2 Worldwide and EB-3 Worldwide in January β This year retrogression in the employment-based second and third preference visa categories may come much earlier than usual. House Passes Bill to Address Labor Shortage in Agriculture; Senate Prospects Unclear β Among other things, the bill would provide a path to legal status […]
Headlines December 2019 Visa Bulletin β EB-1 Dates for Filing Current Except for China and India, Little Movement of Final Action Dates β The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the Monthly Visa Bulletin for December 2019, which shows Dates for Filing as current for EB-1 except for India and China. Client Alert for Premium […]
Immigration Update- December 6, 2019 Headlines Could Immigration Lawyers become Criminals? β The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of U.S. v. Sineneng-Smith involving an immigration consultant – Evelyn Sineneng-Smith – who told her undocumented clients they could stay in the United States under a program she knew had ended. Though she […]
Headlines: Despite Courts Enjoining DHS Public Charge Rule, State Department Proceeding with Implementing its Own Version β Four courts issued injunctions against the controversial rule, two of which were nationwide, and one of which barred USCIS from issuing new forms related to the rule. DHS Secretary Resigns β After only serving six months as Acting […]
Headlines: Trump Wants Cuccinelli as DHS Secretary, Hesitant Due to Senateβs Reluctance β Donald Trump wants current acting director of USCIS Ken Cuccinelli to take over as secretary of DHS. Senate confirmation has him weary, as Senate Republicans have indicated they would not support Cuccinelli. USCIS Removes Means-Tested Benefit Criteria From Form I-912 β United […]
Immigration Update: September 9, 2019 Headlines: OFLC Announces Schedule for E-Filing of LCAs β Affected LCA programs include the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa classifications. USCIS Proposes Deleting Time Limits on Work Authorization Processing for Asylum Applicants β USCIS has announced a proposed rule to remove the 30-day time limit on granting or denying an […]
