Washington, DC. Due to a failure to pass a relevant funding bill (government budget), a shutdown of the United States federal government began at 12 am EST on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Federal government’s operations will vary by agency, and “non-essential operations” of impacted agencies will be closed because of the shutdown. Following are impacts[Read More]
News & Alerts
The Hill: Tech trade groups push Trump to allow H1B spouses work
The Hill: A coalition of major Washington, D.C., trade associations representing technology and other industries is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to preserve visas that allow spouses of H1B high-skilled workers to also be employed in the U.S. “Individuals looking to obtain H-4 authorization already legally reside in the United States and are[Read More]
Texas Service Center to Begin Processing Form I-129 for L Visas and Vermont Service Center will no longer process L visa petitions
February 12, 2018, Washington, D.C. The Texas Service Center (TSC) of USCIS will begin processing certain Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker petitions for L nonimmigrant classification, also known as L visas. The TSC will share this workload with the California Service Center to balance workloads and to provide flexibility as USCIS works towards[Read More]
Confirmation of Bona Fide Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j)
An employment-based applicant for adjustment of status must file I-485 Supplement J who is filing or has previously filed Form I-485 as the principal beneficiary of a valid I-140 in an employment-based immigrant visa category that requires a job offer, and you now seek, in connection with your Form I-485, to: Confirm that the job[Read More]
Skilled workers and employers should not be alarmed by McClatchy DC’s report that DHS weighs major change to H-1B foreign tech worker visa program
By citing unnamed sources McClatchy DC reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) weighs major change to H-1B foreign tech worker visa program. DHS is considering new regulations that would prevent H-1B visa extensions, according to two U.S. sources briefed on the proposal. The measure potentially could stop hundreds of thousands of foreign workers from keeping their[Read More]
Trump administration may “potentially” end H-4 EAD
On February 25, 2015, DHS had published a final rule extending eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. DHS is proposing to remove from its regulations certain H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants as a class of aliens eligible for employment authorization.[Read More]
USCIS to Begin Accepting Applications under the International Entrepreneur Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is taking steps to implement the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), in accordance with a recent court decision. Although the IER was published during the previous administration with an effective date of July 17, 2017, it did not take effect because the Department of Homeland Security[Read More]
VC Group Gets Win In Foreign Entrepreneur Rule Row
A D.C. federal judge on Friday granted a venture capital group’s bid to vacate a Trump administration rule that delayed an Obama-era regulation for international entrepreneurs, finding it unlawful because the government failed to give time for public. (Lexis) (proposed foreign entrepreneurs program, find here https://adhikarilaw.com/start-upentrepreneur/final-rule-international-entrepreneur-published-federal-registrar/) News coverage: SF Chronicle American Immigration Council Lexis-Nexis
SF Chronicle (citing unnamed source): Trump administration has plans to wipe out work permits for H-1B spouses
Citing unnamed source SF Chronicle reports that Trump administration has plans to wipe out work permits for H-1B spouses. The Trump administration plans to stop granting work permits to spouses of H-1B holders, overturning a 2015 rule and affecting thousands of foreigners currently in the United States, according to sources who have spoken to The Chronicle about[Read More]
Now the Premium Processing is Available for all types of H-1Bs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa extension of stay petitions. Premium processing is now available for all types of H-1B petitions. H-1B visas provide skilled workers for a wide range ofspecialty occupations, including information technology, engineering, and mathematics. When a petitioner requests the agency’s[Read More]