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USCIS Completes Data Entry of Fiscal Year 2018 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions

USCIS announced on May 3, 2017, that it has completed data entry of all fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in a computer-generated random process. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected. Due to the high volume of filings, USCIS is unable to provide a definite time frame […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published May 5, 2017 | Posted in Immigration News | Tagged Cap-Subject Petitions, Form I-129, H-1B, H-1B Visas, USCIS | Comments Off on USCIS Completes Data Entry of Fiscal Year 2018 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions

“Extreme Vetting” – Supplemental Questions to be asked of Visa Applicants

DHS notice of request for emergency OMB approval and public comment on a new Form DS-5535, Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants, to collect information from visa applicants who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities. Comments are due 5/18/17. If granted, the emergency approval is […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published May 4, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News | Tagged applying for immigration, Diversity Visa DV Lottery, employment-based immigration, immigration application, immigration delays, immigration general, immigration plan, nonimmigrant visas, obtaining us visa in canada, professional workers, State Department, US Visa, visa, Visas | Comments Off on “Extreme Vetting” – Supplemental Questions to be asked of Visa Applicants

Government Plans Restrictions and Tightening on H-1B Visas

The Trump administration is stating that it will toughen regulatory enforcement of the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. businesses to employ foreign professional workers temporarily. Monday, April 4th, was the beginning of H-1B “cap season,” when employers filed applications for a limited number of H-1B visas. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) marked the […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published April 6, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications, Uncategorized | Tagged applying for immigration, employment-based immigration, foreign workers, H-1B, H-4 visas, Immigration, immigration for businesses, immigration fraud, immigration general, immigration plan, nonimmigrant visas, professional workers, US Visa, work permits | Comments Off on Government Plans Restrictions and Tightening on H-1B Visas

Reminder: USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2018 Beginning April 1, 2017

On April 1, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2018 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering, and computer programming. The congressionally mandated cap on H-1B […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published February 2, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News | Tagged H-1B, H-1B Petitions, H-1B Visas, USCIS | Comments Off on Reminder: USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2018 Beginning April 1, 2017

Alert – Warning About Travel to Certain Countries

Below is an alert received from American Immigration Lawyers Association. This points out the risk of travel abroad for persons who are from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen, and possibly other countries. More to follow when a final Executive Order is signed. Fee free to contact one of the immigration attorneys at […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published January 27, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged applying for immigration, Asylum, employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, H-1B, H-4 visas, homeland security, immigration application, immigration general, immigration reform, nonimmigrant visas, obtaining us visa in canada, professional workers, refugees, State Department, US Visa, visa, Visas | Comments Off on Alert – Warning About Travel to Certain Countries

President Obama’s Immigration Legacy

As noted in a recent article by the American Immigration Council, one of the defining characteristics of President Barack Obama’s eight years in office will be how he enforced immigration laws. The strongest indicator is how many individuals he has actually removed and returned out of the country. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published January 9, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged applying for immigration, Asylum, Barack Obama, Congress on immigration, family-based immigration, immigration and crime, immigration for children, immigration general, immigration reform, refugees, undocumented workers | Comments Off on President Obama’s Immigration Legacy

Government Clarifies Standard for Obtaining National Interest Waiver

In a precedent decision, the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) has revised the analytical framework for assessing eligibility for National Interest Waivers, a permanent residence category frequently used by experts in science, business and other fields. The case is Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016). This means that USCIS may now grant […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published January 4, 2017 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged applying for immigration, employment-based immigration, Immigration, immigration application, immigration general, immigration reform, labor certification, National Interest Waiver, professional workers, Visas | Comments Off on Government Clarifies Standard for Obtaining National Interest Waiver

DHS Ends Discriminatory Post-9/11 Registration and Tracking Program for Muslim Males in the U.S.

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially ended a Bush-era registry created after 9/11 to track men from predominantly Muslim countries who were not U.S. citizens. The registry, known as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), was shown to be ineffective and had not been used for years. Nonetheless, the NSEERS structure remained […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published December 22, 2016 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged Immigration, immigration court decisions, immigration general, immigration reform, nonimmigrant visas, obtaining us visa in canada, refugees, undocumented workers, US Visa | Comments Off on DHS Ends Discriminatory Post-9/11 Registration and Tracking Program for Muslim Males in the U.S.

Immigration Lawyers See Caseloads Surge as Anxious Clients Brace for Trump

The Washington Post reports that immigration attorneys in the Washington area and across the country say they have seen a surge in calls, consultations and clients since Election Day, a growth fueled by Trump’s anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric and the across-the-board gains of Republicans with hard-line views on border issues. Not only undocumented persons are concerned: […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published December 19, 2016 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged applying for immigration, Congress on immigration, DACA, employment-based immigration, family-based immigration, H-1B, Immigration, immigration application, immigration attorneys, immigration general, Practice of immigration law | Comments Off on Immigration Lawyers See Caseloads Surge as Anxious Clients Brace for Trump

Senators Graham and Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect DREAMers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the introduction of the “Bar Removal of Immigrants who Dream and Grow the Economy” or BRIDGE Act, a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL). William A. Stock, AILA President, noted, “The BRIDGE Act is designed to protect the […]

By Morris Deutsch | Published December 9, 2016 | Posted in Immigration, Immigration News, Media and Publications | Tagged applying for immigration, Congress on immigration, DACA, Dreamers, Immigration, immigration for children, immigration general, undocumented workers, work permits | Comments Off on Senators Graham and Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect DREAMers