UPDATE: Today, Monday June 22, 2020, President Trump signed a new executive order entitled, “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak,” extending the April 22nd Presidential Proclamation and adding new restrictions for nonimmigrant workers who “pose a risk of…
Articles Posted in Employment Based Petitions
BREAKING: Trump to Extend April 22nd Proclamation And Pause New H-1B, H2B, L-1, and J Visa issuance
UPDATE: Please see our blog post here for the complete details of the newly released order. Today, Monday June 22, 2020, President Trump is expected to sign a new executive order that will extend his previous April 22nd order set to expire today, and will extend restrictions to apply to…
July 2020 Visa Bulletin: What to Expect?
The Department of State has released the visa bulletin for July 2020 outlining the availability of immigrant visa numbers for the upcoming month. NOTE: Adjustment of Status Filing Charts July 2020 For Family-Sponsored Filings:In the F2A category, there is a cutoff date on the Dates for Filing chart. However, the…
Premium Processing is Coming Back Starting June 1!
Great news for our loyal followers! The time has come – today the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that premium processing services will resume. Beginning June 1, 2020, premium processing services for all Form I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers will be resumed. What about other types of petitions?…
USCIS Asks Federal Government for $1.2 Billion Bailout, Proposes Fee Increases by Summertime
The economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has been felt by nearly all sectors of the economy, but perhaps the most unexpected victim has been the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Unlike many other government agencies, USCIS does not depend on government funding to survive. Instead, the agency…
The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act Proposes Relief for Nurses and Physicians applying for Green Cards
We are pleased to report the introduction of a brand-new Senate bill called the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, sponsored by Senators David Perdue, Todd Young, Dick Durbin, and Chris Coons. The purpose of the bill is to increase the number of health care workers available to meet the demand of…
May 2020 Visa Bulletin: What to Expect?
The Department of State has released the visa bulletin for May 2020 outlining the availability of immigrant visa numbers for the upcoming month. Please note: Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo, individuals seeking to file applications for adjustment of status with USCIS in…
COVID-19 UPDATE: Are Green Card Interviews Being Waived?
UPDATE: Green card interviews are being waived for at least some applicants during COVID-19 Unprecedented times call for unusual measures. Recently USCIS announced the closure of field offices nationwide—until May 3rd–to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This announcement was immediately concerning given that green card applicants (family and employment-based)…
H-1B Information Technology Workers Win Big Victory in Federal Court
A new decision issued by a federal judge in the case Itserve Alliance Inc., et al., v. L. Francis Cissna, will dramatically change the way that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicates H-1B petitions for Information Technology companies. The new ruling invalidates key provisions of the CIS…
BREAKING: USCIS Completes H1B FY 2021 Electronic Registration Selection Process
Great news! Today, March 27, 2020, USCIS announced that it has received enough electronic registrations to reach the FY 2021 H-1B cap—just 7 days after the registration period closed on March 20, 2020. USCIS randomly selected from among registrations that were properly submitted to meet the 65,000/20,000 annual numerical limitations…