Immigration Update – July 7, 2019

Headlines: Sen. Paul Blocks Bill to Eliminate Per-Country Cap on Employment-Based Green Cards – The “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019” (S. 386), a bill that would eliminate the 7 percent per-country cap (numerical limitation) on employment-based immigrants, among other things, was blocked in the Senate by Rand Paul (R-Ky.). OMB Concludes Review of […]

Immigration Update – July 1, 2019

Headlines: USCIS Expands ‘FIRST’ Digital FOIA System – USCIS said FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally. USCIS Extends Parole and Work Authorization for Certain CNMI Residents – USCIS will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for certain […]

Immigration Update – June 7, 2019

Headlines: State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories – The Visa Bulletin for June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories for India and Vietnam. USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience – USCIS wants information from attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, […]

Immigration Update – May 28, 2019

Headlines: Regulatory Agenda Includes Stripping Employment Eligibility From H-4 Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders, Other Actions – The agenda also includes a proposal to revise the definition of “specialty occupation” to “increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest” foreign nationals via the H-1B program, revise the definition of “employment” and “employer-employee relationship” to […]

Immigration Update – May 20, 2019

Headlines: Trump Proposes Merit-Based Immigration Plan – President Donald Trump proposed an immigration plan on May 16, 2019, that shifts the emphasis to a merit-based system to admit highly educated, high-skilled immigrants. USCIS Completes Data Entry for FY 2020 H-1B Cap-Subject (Lottery) Petitions – USCIS announced that it has completed data entry for all FY […]

Immigration Update – May 12, 2019

Headlines: USCIS Clarifies Period of Authorized Stay for P-1S Essential Support Personnel of Individual Athletes – USCIS emphasizes that the periods of initial authorized stay are different for individual athletes (P-1A visa) and their essential support personnel (P-1S visa). DHS Increases H-2B Cap for FY 2019 by 30,000 Additional Visas – The purpose of the […]