November 2020 Visa Bulletin
Date: 11/05/2020
The November Visa Bulletin was uncharacteristically published mere days before the end of October, leaving interested parties guessing for most of the second half of the month.
In essence the new bulletin'sFinal Action dates advance in most categories while the dates for Filing remain...
OCTOBER VISA BULLETIN: EB CATEGORIES FOR INDIA AND CHINESE NATIONALS JUMP FORWARD
Date: 10/02/2020
The October Visa Bulletin has come at at a great surprise to most immigrants and immigration attorneys alike. Alhtouhg the family based preference criteria has largerly remained unchanged the employment based priority dates for Indian and Chinese nationals have jumped forward.
Who can...
July 2020 Visa Bulletin Update
Date: 07/29/2020
Given reduced processing capacity occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State and USCIS are closely collaborating to maximize number usage for FY20, focusing on processing capacity and the applications that are capable of being finalized this fiscal year. There...
THE PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION SUSPENDING ENTRY OF CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANTS
Date: 06/23/2020
On June 22, 2020 the Trump administration amended and expanded its April 22, 2020 Immigration Proclamation. This new order will become effective as of 12:01 A.M. on June 24, 2020 ("Effective Date") and extends to December 31, 2020. WHO DOES THE PROCLAMATION BAR FROM ENTERING THE U.S.A.? The...
USCIS PREPARING TO RESUME PUBLIC SERVICES ON JUNE 4
Date: 05/29/2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is preparing some domestic offices to reopen and resume non-emergency public services on or after June 4. On March 18, USCIS temporarily suspended routine in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices and application support centers (ASCs) to...
TRUMP'S PROCLAMATION IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Date: 04/23/2020
President Trump in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the subsquent economic downturn issued a "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery."
The proclamation becomes effective on April 23, 2020 at 11:59pm, and...
CORONA VIRUS: U.S. GOVERNMENT CHANGES POLICIES AFFECTING IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN NATIONALS
Date: 03/18/2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many changes; the situation remains fluid thus currently the US Government has implemented the following:
Updated as of April 1, 2020
1. Changes to USCIS: All USCIS field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (ASCs) will...
B-VISA (TOURIST) UPDATES TO COMBAT “BIRTH TOURISM”
Date: 02/14/2020
On January 23, 2020, the Department of State (DOS) posted for public inspection a final rule in the Federal Register amending its current regulation concerning the issuance of B nonimmigrant visas for individuals on a visit for “pleasure.” The rule became effective as of January 24,...
H-1B UPDATE: NEW REGISTRATION PROCESS
Date: 12/09/2019
On December 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a requirement for employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee before...
USCIS Update on H-1B Cap Electronic Registration System.
Date: 10/09/2019
Earlier this year, USCIS published a final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The final rule reverses the order by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B petitions...