USCIS Increases I-907 Premium Processing Filing Fee Starting October 1, 2018
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that they are increasing the I-907 premium processing service filing fee to $1,410. The new premium processing filing fee increase will become effective for all requests mailed, postmarked or otherwise filed on or after October 1, 2018. Under the optional premium processing service USCIS is required to provide a response within 15 calendar [...]
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Premium Processing of Most H-1B Petitions
USCIS has announced that effective September 11, 2018, they are temporarily suspending premium processing for most H-1B petitions until February 19, 2019. All H-1B new employment, transfers and amendments filed with the California or Vermont Service Centers are affected. Only H-1B cap-exempt employer (filed with the California Service Center) and H-1B extensions without change with the same employer (filed with [...]
H-4 EAD Update: Plans to Rescind H-4 EAD Remain, Timing Uncertain
What is the status of the H-4 EAD rescission rule? This is a very common question we have been hearing over the past months and, unfortunately, while the government still appears intent on rescinding the H-4 EAD work permit, there is no specific timeline as to when and how. In a court update dated August 20, 2018, the Department [...]
STEM OPT and Third-Party Worksites: USCIS Reverses Courses, Specifically Permits Placement
USCIS has provided much needed clarification with respect to the ability of F-1 STEM OPT holders to be placed at and provide work at a location other than their employer’s office. Under the new guidance, USCIS is specifically allowing STEM OPT to engage in training at a location other than their employer’s principal place of business as long as [...]
Visa Bulletin Update: EB-1 Cutoff Date to Remain for Few Months; EB-2/3 India to Recover in October
Our office has obtained an updated set of expected cutoff date movements over the next several months as we end fiscal year 2018 on September 30, 2018 and enter the fiscal year 2019. Mr. Charles Oppenheim who is the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS) (he is the person responsible [...]
September 2018 Visa Bulletin – EB-2 and EB-3 ROW Cutoff Date Introduced; EB-2/3 India Further Retrogression
The U.S. State Department has just released the September 2018 Visa Bulletin which is the last Visa Bulletin for the FY2018 fiscal year. The headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is the cutoff date introduction to EB-2 and EB-3 ROW and the notable retrogression for EB-2/EB-3 India. Summary of the September 2018 Visa Bulletin – Employment-Based (EB) [...]