New Details: Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Begins on January 29, 2024
Earlier this afternoon the Department of State (DOS) shared the Federal Register notice with details of the highly-anticipated stateside visa renewal pilot program which will begin on January 29, 2024 and will end on April 1, 2024. We now have more details about eligibility, timeline and process. […]
FY2024 H-1B Cap Update: Cap Reached and Closed After Two Lottery Rounds
USCIS has announced that they have reached the H-1B cap limit for fiscal year 2024 (FY 2024). This means that they will not be conducting additional lottery rounds of selection after the initial two rounds. This also means that all H-1B cap registrants who were not selected under the first or second rounds are now considered as “Not Selected.” [...]
January 2024 Visa Bulletin – Significant Cutoff Date Forward Movement and Recovery
The U.S. State Department has released the January 2024 Visa Bulletin which is the fourth Visa Bulletin for the new fiscal year. The headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is the significant (although not full) recovery among most employment-based categories after many recent months’ retrogression or lack of any movement. […]
Can I Travel Abroad While My I-485 Application is Pending? Risks and Considerations to Avoid Abandonment.
For applicants with pending I-485 applications, understanding the rules and requirements of international travel is essential in order to avoid denial due to abandonment. This article discusses the rules and requirements that must be followed to avoid denials of I-485 application due to abandonment as a result of international travel. […]
The Visa Bulletin Explained: A Guide to Understanding Visa Availability and Retrogression
What is the Visa Bulletin? Published monthly by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the Visa Bulletin provides information on visa availability and cutoff dates which determine which immigrant visa (green card) applicants are eligible to complete the final stages of the green card application process and which green card applications can be approved. The availability and cutoff dates are [...]
Visa Administrative Processing: What Is It, How Long Does it Take and What Should I Expect?
A U.S. visa stamp refusal under “administrative processing” means that the U.S. Consulate is unable to approve and issue the visa stamp immediately and needs additional time for review of the application or other related work. This article seeks to provide information and answers about the often-dreaded U.S. administrative processing visa application outcome. […]