In a recent announcement, USCIS, as part of their annual budget review and due to lower-than-estimated fee revenue collection, proposed a fee increase that will amount to an average increase of 10% across the board. A formal proposal has been published in the Federal Register and there is a 45-day comment period. Some of [...]
USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of July 2, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 24,200 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of only 700 over the week). Similarly, as of July 2, there were 10,400 H-1B visas filed subject to the [...]
USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of June 25, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 23,500 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of only 600 over the week). Similarly, as of June 25, there were 10,000 H-1B visas filed subject to the [...]
USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of June 18, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 22,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of only 700 over the week). Similarly, as of June 18, there were 9,700 H-1B visas filed subject to the [...]
Each year, the Department of Homeland Security is required by law to provide to Congress a report on the characteristics of the H-1B specialty occupation workers. The report for fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) which covers October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009 was released recently. The report is interesting because it covers partially the period [...]
About InfoPass In addition to being able to obtain basic case status information or obtain services related to immigration through the USCIS customer service phone line, InfoPass is a free service which allows scheduling an appointment with a USCIS immigration officer by using the Internet. InfoPass is helpful for resolving immigration issues that are best [...]
We have written extensively in the past regarding the January 8, 2010 Neufeld Memo which introduced guidance requiring H-1B applications to show proof of employer-employee relationship between the H-1B petitioner and beneficiary. The Neufeld Memo has affected mostly staffing and consulting companies where the H-1B beneficiaries are employed at third-party worksites. USCIS Sued to Prevent [...]
USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of June 11, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 22,200 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (an increase of only 1,400 over a two-week period). Similarly, as of June 11, there were 9,400 H-1B visas filed subject to [...]
The July 2010 Visa Bulletin was released earlier this afternoon by the State Department. The tenth visa bulletin for the fiscal year 2010 brings some substantial forward movement in the EB-2 India category which had not moved for the past few months. Also, there is some gradual forward across all EB-3 employment-based categories. Summary of the [...]
USCIS has unveiled a substantial redesign of the E-Verify system website. The changes are both in terms of design and functionality. The new E-Verify site will go live on June 13th, and USCIS has advised us that all user accounts will remain valid and active. Graphic Design E-Verify's design has seem to be somewhat of [...]