Many employers cannot find enough professional U.S. workers to meet their needs, especially in today’s tough hiring market. Many competitive applicants indicate that they need visa support on their employment applications.
Articles Discussing Employment-Related Visas.
USCIS to Implement Premium Processing for Certain Pending EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions
On May 24, 2022, USCIS announced implementation of premium processing for certain work visa petitioners who have pending EB-11 and EB-22 petitions. This announcement is part of a USCIS’ plans to expand its premium processing scheme. Premium processing provides expedited processing for certain USCIS petition types and guarantees adjudication within 15
Using E Visas–Sourcing Talent the E-sy Way
Employers searching for skilled workers should not overlook the powerful, but somewhat obscure immigration tool–the E visa. While use of this visa is dependent on certain treaty laws, qualifying organizations may employ the E visa to hire employees which can provide needed options for companies to replace employees in the post-pandemic economic marketplace. On this episode of We get work™ we share the many benefits of the E visa–as well as who and how to qualify.
Updates in Visa Bulletin May Affect H-1B Extensions Beyond Six-Year Maximum
The U.S. Department of State’s June 2022 Visa Bulletin reflects a significant advancement in the EB-2 India category. This has provided an opportunity for many applicants for permanent residence to move forward with the filing, adjudication, and approval of their I-485, Application[s] to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, the
USCIS to Implement Premium Processing for Certain Pending EB-1, EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions
In March 2022, USCIS published a final rule expanding its premium processing service to include additional immigration petition and application types. This announcement was welcome news to businesses and foreign nationals dealing with extensive delays in the processing of immigration benefits.
On May 24, 2022, USCIS announced that premium processing
USCIS Temporarily Increases Automatic Extension Period for Certain EAD Applicants
On May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a temporary final rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for expiring employment authorization documents (EAD) for renewal applicants in certain categories for up to 540 days.
EB-5 Regional Center Program and Foreign Investors
Congress recently passed Omnibus spending legislation that includes reauthorization of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program which has been suspended since June 2021.
USCIS Publishes FY 2023 H-1B Cap Registration Statistics
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B cap registration statistics, confirming that more than 48,000 prospective petitioners submitted 483,927 registrations—an approximate 57 percent increase over the number of registrations submitted in the FY 2022 filing season. USCIS selected 127,600 FY 2023 registrations in the
Is the H-1B Visa a Viable Option for F-1 Students and Their Employers Anymore?
An accounting firm hires a new graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from a local university for its audit team. This new graduate is a foreign student utilizing the one-year Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) Employment Authorization offered to all F-1 students upon graduation. The new employee is bright, articulate, and fits into the firm’s culture well. Seeking to retain the services of this employee beyond the one year of OPT employment authorization, the employer’s human resources team consults with immigration counsel.
H-1B Cap Registrations Selected for FY 2023
On April 18, 2022, USCIS announced that it had received 483,927 registrations for the FY 2023 H-1B Cap. This is the largest number ever received – almost 200,000 more than the total count of 308,613 for FY 2022.
Out of the 487,927 registration applications, USCIS selected 127,600 to fill the
USCIS Sets Goals to Reduce Backlogs, Expand Premium Processing Services, and Improve ‘Cycle Times’ for Pending Cases
On March 29, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would implement three new actions to reduce lengthy processing times that resulted from COVID-19–related delays.
Curricular and Optional Practical Training: A Primer on Employment Opportunities for Students with an F-1 Visa
Foreign students studying towards a degree program in the U.S. and maintaining a valid F-1 status can apply their theoretical knowledge and gain invaluable experience in their respective fields/major of study through training periods both during and after completion of their studies. These opportunities can be achieved by Curricular
Mandatory Use of Electronic System for Travel Authorization for Visitors on Visa Waiver Program
Starting May 2, 2022, foreign nationals who are citizens of the 40 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will have to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States at land ports of entry.
The paper Form I-94W, Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Record, that is currently
More Than Twice as Many H-2B Visas to be Available for Summer Season
As they did for last summer, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) will make available an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the second half of FY 2022. This more than doubles the usual 33,000 allocation or cap for the summer.
Of
USCIS Announces FY 2023 H-1B Selection Process Completion
On March 29, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had completed the initial H-1B regular cap and master’s cap selection process for fiscal year (FY) 2023. Continuing its use of an electronic preregistration system to conduct the random selection lottery, USCIS confirmed that it has sent
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