J1 Visas

October 1, 2015

UPDATE: Government Shutdown Averted: Congress extends the EB-5, Conrad 30, and Religious Worker Programs until December 11, 2015

Great news for regional center investors, medical doctors applying for a J-1 visa waiver under the Conrad 30 Waiver Program, and religious workers; a federal government shutdown has been avoided—at least until December 11, 2015. As reported in our previous blog earlier this week, Congress was faced with the challenge of voting on a short-term spending bill, a continuing appropriations resolution, that would temporarily fund the government through December 11^th of this year. Yesterday, September 30^th the House and Senate successfully passed the continuing appropriations resolution. President Obama signed it into law that same day.

September 24, 2015

UPDATE: Imminent Government Shutdown and Potential Impact on LCA and PERM Applications

by Jacob Sapochnick

On Monday the Senate will be voting on a short-term spending bill introduced by Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran. If passed, the bill will temporarily fund the government through December 11^th of this year. If the bill is not passed, the country will face a government shutdown beginning on October 1, 2015. The temporary funding bill called a continuing appropriations resolution will be required to keep government agencies afloat for the remainder of the year. Congressional Republicans and Democrats have been at odds with one another since the Planned Parenthood scandal was brought to light. The non-profit organization’s involvement in the practice of procuring tissues from aborted fetuses for the purpose of medical research has been deeply contested by Republicans, who believe Planned Parenthood should no longer receive federal funding. Due to this impasse, no resolution bill has yet been agreed upon.

Repercussions on Immigration: LCA’s and PERM applications

A government shutdown would mean that various government agencies may not be operating at full capacity. Due to this we urge our clients to file urgent Labor Condition Applications or PERM applications prior to October 1, 2015. While the shutdown will have an effect on the economy, families, and business throughout the country, entities not affected by the government shutdown include USCIS, the military, airport security, FBI, Border Patrol, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, among others.

January 8, 2013

Start with a J: Have you heard of the J Visa?

by Jacob Sapochnick

From time to time we get guest Bloggers to write for our Blog. This recent article is by Abby Pearson, an avid blogger who regularly writes on a variety of legal topics. Abby is interested in different student visas and how an immigration lawyer can help those looking to qualify for them.

College is a time to not only decide on a major and choose your career path, but also a time for adventure and for exploring the world. For many college and university students, this means studying abroad. Along with hundreds of thousands of students leaving the United States for countries throughout Europe and South America, hundreds of thousands of other students leave their homelands and journey to the United States every year to study abroad.

Preparing for studying abroad can be very complicated. Along with leaving home for several months to a year, students must also apply for a student visa. Along with the F-1 and M-1 visa, students can also choose to apply for a J-1 visa program. This visa is a non-immigrant visa for exchange students typically seeking medical or business training with a college or university. In many cases, it is reserved for students needing to obtain practical training that is not available in their home country in order to complete their degree.

May 10, 2012

J1 Visas – Major Changes in the Work and Travel Visa due to Abuse

by Jacob Sapochnick

Another attestation to our flawed immigration system, this time the end of a great visa program that was abused to the point of disgrace.

The J-1 Summer Work and Travel program, which allows college students to visit for up to four months, is one of the State Department’s most popular visas. Participation has boomed from about 20,000 in 1996 to a peak of more than 150,000 in 2008.

The visas are issued year-round, since students come from both hemispheres on their summer breaks. They work all over the country, at theme parks in Florida and California, fish factories in Alaska and upscale ski destinations in Colorado and Montana. The influx has been especially overwhelming for some resort towns.

December 7, 2011

J1 Visa Attorney – Clinton orders review of the J1 visa program

by Jacob Sapochnick

Now the J1 Visa is on the spot, and for a reason. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has ordered an “extensive and thorough review” of a foreign exchange program that has been used by U.S. businesses as a source of cheap labor and exploited by criminals to import women to work in the sex industry.

The J1 Work & Travel Program offers overseas university exchange students a challenging opportunity to intimately experience life and culture in the U.S. during their summer holiday period.

Work & Travel J1 provides international university students the chance to work at entry-level, seasonal jobs in the United States for up to 4 months on a J-1 Visa. Participants are entitled to work, earn money and travel at the end of the work assignment.