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Tag Archive
United States: USCIS Announces Hurricane Relief Measures
USCIS has announced relief measures for foreign nationals and employers affected by Hurricane Sandy. In general, the agency may exercise its discretion to extend deadlines and forgive late filings from those who are able to demonstrate that the hurricane impaired their ability to submit filings or evidence, or to appear for USCIS interviews. Extensions... »
United States: USCIS Reports I-129 Receipting Delays
Due to the large number of H-1B cap cases submitted in recent weeks, USCIS Service Centers are delayed in issuing filing receipts for Form I-129 petitions. It may take up to 60 days or more for employers to receive receipt notices. USCIS reports that, because of the continued high volume of H-1B cap filings,... »
United States: USCIS Invites Business Leaders to Advise on Immigrant Entrepreneurship
USCIS hopes that participants in the Entrepreneurs in Residence program will provide private-sector expertise in immigrant entrepreneurship and related business issues. Applications for the three-month residencies are due December 31, 2011. USCIS is seeking business leaders to serve in the Entrepreneurs in Residence program, a new initiative that seeks to use private-sector experts to advise... »
United States: USCIS Will Not Conduct an H-1B Cap Lottery for FY 2012
All properly completed FY 2012 H-1B cap petitions received on or before November 22, 2011 will be processed to completion. USCIS has confirmed that it will not conduct an H-1B cap lottery for FY 2012. All properly completed H-1B cap petitions received on November 22, 2011 — the “final receipt date” on which USCIS... »
United States: Employers Now Getting Original Approval Notices from USCIS
USCIS recently began sending original Form I-797 petition approval notices (many with attached I-94 cards) to employers instead of their immigration attorneys. In the past, USCIS sent the original approval notice and I-94 to the attorney of record in the case, and sent a courtesy copy to the petitioner or applicant. The agency suddenly... »
United States: EB Immigrant Visa Numbers Unavailable Until October 1
The State Department has run out of immigrant visa numbers in all employment-based categories for this fiscal year. Until October 1, when next year’s visa quota becomes available, USCIS cannot approve any EB I-485 adjustment applications but foreign nationals can still submit them. The State Department has run out of immigrant visa numbers in all... »
United States: White House and USCIS Unveil Immigration Initiatives for Foreign Entrepreneurs
To encourage foreign entrepreneurs to remain in the United States and create jobs, the Obama Administration and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services unveiled new policies aimed at allowing entrepreneurs to more easily qualify for H-1B nonimmigrant status and permanent residence. Also announced were initiatives to streamline processing for several employment-based immigration programs, including premium... »
United States: USCIS Finalizes I-9 Document Rule without Change
A final rule on acceptable documents for the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification process makes no changes to employer obligations. A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulation published today finalizes the list of identity and immigration status documents that employers may accept in the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification process. The final rule makes... »
United States: USCIS Publishes First H-1B Numbers for FY 2012
USCIS received 10,400 cap-subject H-1B petitions during the initial filing period for FY 2012. Petitions counting against the cap may still be filed. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that it has received approximately 10,400 H-1B petitions during the initial filing period for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 cap-subject numbers – 5,900 H-1B petitions counting... »
United States: USCIS Publishes Proposed Rule on H-1B Registration
USCIS has published a proposed rule that would require H-1B employers to register with the agency and receive a number prior to filing cap-subject petitions. The purpose of the rule is to reduce the possibility of large numbers of filings that ultimately need to be rejected because the cap has been reached. The new... »