U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of a properly filed petition with the correct fee; not the…
Great tip from AILA for our H1B filers trying to beat the rush. Because you cannot submit an LCA earlier than six months prior to the beginning date of the period of intended employment (20 CFR § 655.730(b)), if you want your LCA in hand before April 1, then set…
We are a few hours away from the biggest Awards ceremony in Hollywood and the world. So what part do Immigrants play in the biggest show on earth? Talent is the one universal passport, and Hollywood has always had a place for immigrants — from German maestro Fritz Lang, who…
What a great initiative introduced recently. Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced legislation to drive job creation and increase America’s global competiveness by helping immigrant entrepreneurs secure visas to the United States. The StartUp Visa…
USCIC announced the availability of two new grants that are designed to help lawful permanent residents prepare for citizenship and integration in the U.S. This year, nearly $7 million will be made available for education initiatives throughout the country. According to USCIS, these two competitive grant programs will help expand…
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule on April 8, 2008, extending Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 students with science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degrees by an additional 17 months; from 12 months to 29 months. F-1 students with STEM degrees are able…
Since the recent Memo from USCIS re Employer Employee relationship, our office has been receiving anxious calls from employers and clients alike. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued in Janauary updated guidance to adjudication officers to clarify what constitutes a valid employer-employee relationship to qualify for the H-1B ‘specialty…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has posted a revised Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. In addition to a revised form, there are new filing locations. The changes are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of USCIS benefit…
On March 1, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed 50 new citizens at a special citizenship ceremony at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice’s Great Hall. U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez delivered keynote remarks, and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas will administer the Oath of Allegiance.…
There is still a lot of confusions when it comes to Orphans from Haiti and the legal procedures concerning adoptions from that country. Under normal circumstances, a child immigrating to the United States from Haiti as the adopted orphan child of a U.S. citizen is adopted before leaving Haiti, and…