The State Department advised that all visa-issuing embassies and consulates are back online, though problems are still occurring with some online immigrant visa application forms. DOS stated that it will continue scheduling visa interviews and issuing nonimmigrant and immigrant visas…
Blog Archives
Visa-Issuing Embassies and Consulates Back Online
Tagged with: DOS, Nonimmigrant Visas, Technical Problems
Posted in Immigrant Visas, In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Posted in Immigrant Visas, In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
USCIS Draft Guidance on When to File an Amended H-1B Petition after the Simeio Solutions Decision
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued draft guidance on when to file an amended H-1B petition pursuant to the USCIS Administrative Appeal Office (AAO) precedent decision in Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC. The decision held that employers must file amended…
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Premium Processing for Extension of Stay H-1B Petitions
Effective May 26, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily suspended premium processing for all H-1B Extension of Stay petitions until July 27, 2015. Petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, for…
Tagged with: Form I-129, H-1B Extension of Stay, Request for Premium Processing Service
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Visa Bulletin for June 2015 Issued
The Visa Bulletin for June 2015 has been issued by the Department of State. There was forward movement in most employment-based and family-based visa categories. Also announced in the bulletin, the Kentucky Consular Center has registered and notified the winners…
Update on Pre-Clearance at Airports
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…
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
