Airline travel can be a long, unpleasant process. Long lines are part of the problem. In the past, frequent fliers received complimentary TSA PreCheck status, but no more. To make your future travel easier, review the Department of Homeland Security…
Yearly Archives: 2015
Update on Pre-Clearance at Airports
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler programs, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
Cuba Update
President Obama has asked Congress to take Cuba off the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The President made a formal recommendation to Congress, setting in motion a 45-day review process during which lawmakers can take steps to block the…
Tagged with: President Obama Formal Recommendation, Terrorism, U.S. - Cuba Relations
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
H-1B Cap Lottery Update
On April 13th, USCIS announced that it finished the computer-generated lottery to select petitions to meet the FY2016 cap. USCIS stated it will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases no later than May 11, 2015. USCIS noted that it…
USCIS Reaches FY 2016 H-1B Cap
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has reached the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for the fiscal year (FY) 2016. USCIS will use a lottery system in order to randomly select the petitions needed to meet the caps of…
Tagged with: Advanced Degree Exemptions, Lottery Process, USCIS H-1B Cap
Posted in H-1B Visa Petitions, In The News
Posted in H-1B Visa Petitions, In The News
Congress Finally Funds DHS & USCIS
Congress finally passed a funding bill to keep the Department of Homeland Security (including USCIS) open. It will now be sent to President Obama’s desk for his signature (he is expected to sign the bill). The bill will fund DHS…
Tagged with: DHS Funding, Immigration Executive Action, USCIS
Posted in In The News, USCIS New Policies/Procedures
Posted in In The News, USCIS New Policies/Procedures
H-4 Visa Holders Soon To Be Able To Work
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will extend eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment based lawful permanent resident status effective May 26, 2015. The change is expected…
Tagged with: Employment Authorization, Extended Eligibility, H-1B Nonimmigrant Workers, H-4 Dependent Spouses
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
DAPA Program Implementation Halted by Federal Judge
On February 16th, a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas, entered an order prohibiting enforcement of the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents. Intended to go into effect February 18th, the program grants work…
Tagged with: DAPA Program, Immigration Executive Actions, Temporary Injunction
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
USCIS to Run Out of Funds February 27th
On February 4, 2015 the Senate held a vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but the vote failed. This was the second vote on DHS funding, which will run out on February 27, 2015. Gridlock continues with…
Mayors File Amicus Brief in Support of Obama’s Immigration Executive Order
On January 26th, a coalition of over 30 mayors, along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities, filed an amicus – or “friend of the court” – brief in the Texas v. United States lawsuit that challenges President Obama’s executive action on immigration. Notably, a number…
DOL Announces Modernization of PERM Program’s Recruitment and Application Requirements
The Department of Labor (DOL) announced it will initiate a review of the permanent labor certification process (PERM) in an effort to modernize recruitment and application requirements. DOL’s announcement comes in conjunction with the Obama administration’s efforts to fix the…
