Headlines: State Dept. Announces Oversubscription of September Employment-Based Second and Third Preference Categories – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for September 2018 announced oversubscription of employment-based visa numbers in several categories. USCIS Extends, Expands Suspension of Premium Processing for Certain H-1B Petitions; Increases Premium Processing Fee – USCIS announced that it is extending the […]
Feature Article VISA WAIVER PROGRAMS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of visa waiver programs in several countries. Country Updates AUSTRALIA – Australia has implemented the Temporary Skills Shortage visa and employer nomination sponsored visas. HONG KONG – This article provides an overview of the acquisition of Chinese nationality in the Hong Kong […]
Headlines: Controversial DHS Draft Rule Proposes Changes to Public Charge Definition – A controversial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) draft rule leaked to the media would make more immigrants inadmissible or deportable for receiving public benefits. EB-1 Green Cards Backlogged Worldwide – The worldwide backlog for EB-1 visas is expected to continue through at least […]
Headlines: State Dept. Announces Oversubscription of August Employment-Based Preference Categories, Limits on Special Immigrant Translator Visa Availability – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for the month of August 2018 includes announcements about employment visa availability. USCIS Postpones Implementation of Memorandum on Notices to Appear – USCIS announced that issuance of operational guidance is pending […]
Supreme Court Upholds Latest Trump Entry Ban – On June 26, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld 5-4 the Trump administration’s third travel ban order. The ban prevents the entry into the United States of certain nationals from specific countries, with some exceptions. USCIS Updates Notice to Appear Policy Guidance to ‘Support DHS Enforcement Priorities’ […]
USCIS Recalls 800 Incorrectly Printed Employment Authorization Documents – USCIS said the cards contain a production error that transposed the first and last names of the individuals receiving the EADs. ICE/SEVP Warns Students About Volunteer Positions – SEVP warned that reporting non-qualifying volunteer opportunities as OPT employment will be deemed a violation of reporting requirements […]
Lottery Has Begun for Increased H-2B Petitions – USCIS began accepting H-2B petitions under the temporary final rule increasing the numerical limit, or cap, on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by up to 15,000 additional visas through the end of FY 2018. Labor Dept. Adds Time Received to Receipt Date for Review of H-2B Temporary Labor Certification […]
Feature Article CITIZENSHIP: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview in Q&A format of citizenship issues in several countries. Country Updates HONG KONG – This article discusses expatriation issues in Hong Kong; explains the rationale behind some U.S. citizens’ decision to migrate to Hong Kong and, in some cases, renounce their U.S. citizenship; provides […]
Headlines: DHS Announces Additional 15,000 H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Visas for FY 2018 – Secretary Nielsen said there are not enough qualified, U.S. workers available to perform temporary nonagricultural labor to satisfy the needs of U.S. businesses in FY 2018. This allocation is in addition to the 66,000 visas already issued this year. DHS Proposes […]
Headlines: Seven States Sue to End DACA; NAACP Declares Victory in Another DACA Decision – A lawsuit claims that the 2012 executive action creating DACA was unlawful, and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief; NAACP celebrates another DACA decision. USCIS Issues New Policy on Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, J, M Nonimmigrants – The new […]
