What is the “National Interest Waiver” Visa Category?
On Monday, July 31, 2017, attorneys Barbara Wong and Jenny Wang gave a brief overview of the National Interest Waiver visa category. ...
New challenges with Hiring Foreign Workers in the U.S.
The current U.S. immigration landscape focuses on enforcement as opposed to process. This shift started happening in January 2017 after the inauguration of President Trump, and the beginning of new policies of protectionism and national security. The restrictive tendencies have also impacted business immigration matters, which te...
U.S. State Department Reducing H and L Visa Interview Locations in China
Beginning on March 1, 2019, the : the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, and the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai. As such, H and L visa interviews will no longer be conducted at the U.S. Consulates located in Chengdu or Shenyang. The reduction of the number of locations where H and L visa interviews are conducted...
Reminder: FY 2020 H-1B Cap Begins on April 1, 2019
The H-1B cap season for fiscal year 2020 will begin on Monday, April 1, 2019. As expected in previous years, the H-1B cap demand is anticipated to be high this cap season as well. How can H-1B employers prepare for this H-1B cap season? H-1B employers should reach out to their business immigration law firm, suc...
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions Filed on or Before December 21, 2018
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that it will resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions filed on or before December 21, 2018. Back on September 11, 2018, that it was extending a previously announced temporary suspension of premium processing for H-1B cap petitions and expanding the suspension...
New USCIS Data Confirms Higher Rate of RFEs and Denials
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released that confirms a higher rate of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Denials between fiscal year (FY) 2015 and the first quarter of FY 2019. This data reflects adjudication patterns across the Obama and Trump Administrations, but the greatest increases occur...
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that it will be resuming Premium Processing on Tuesday, March 12, for all H-1B petitions. Back on September 11, 2018, that it was extending a previously announced temporary suspension of premium processing for H-1B cap petitions and expanding the suspension to incl...
USCIS Releases Revised Version of Form I-539
As mentioned in a , the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a revised version of Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status as well as a new Form I-539A Supplement. These new forms will become mandatory starting March 22, 2019. The revised Form I-539 requires the follo...
USCIS Updates Filing Addresses for I-129 Petitions
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. Of special relevance to this fiscal year's H-1B cap season, the filing addresses for H-1B regular cap subject petitions and H-1B Master's cap petitions have been updated. As an example, USCIS indicates that H-1B r...
USCIS Considers Closing Offices Abroad
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is considering closing its international offices in the coming months. If this happens, it is likely that USCIS would shift its international office workload to domestic offices in the U.S. and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. The closing of USCIS's international ...