USCIS released the weekly FY2011 information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of May 28, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 20,800 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap (a weekly increase of only 1,200). Similarly, as of May 28, there were 8,700 H-1B visas filed subject to the U.S. Masters [...]
The Department of State (DOS) issued an advance copy of the interim final rule on the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates. The notice was published today at the Federal Register. According to the notice, the new rule will become effective on June 4, 2010 (15 days [...]
The May 2010 Visa Bulletin was just released by the State Department. The eighth visa bulletin for the fiscal year 2010 brings gradual forward across most employment-based categories except EB-2 India (no change this month, for the second month in a row). A notable movement can be seen in the EB-3 India category where the [...]
Generally, the U.S. Department of State likes to process visas at the consulate located at the applicant's home country. Howevre, U.S. consulates in Mexico and Canada have the practice of allowing third-country nationals (TCN) to apply for a U.S. visa stamp in addition to their home country. However, recent AILA interactions with the Department of [...]
The Texas Service Center (TSC), in a meeting with AILA, has provided some helpful updates regarding processing of petitions filed with TSC. Processing Times TSC has confirmed that the pending application reports posted on the USCIS status check website are generally correct. I-485s filed prior to March 26, 2009 that are still pending should be [...]
The April 2010 Visa Bulletin was just released by the State Department. The seventh visa bulletin for the fiscal year 2010 brings gradual forward movement. There is some gradual forward movement across most employment-based categories except EB-2 India and EB-3 Mexico which did not change this month. A notable movement is in EB-3 India category [...]
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secreatary Napolitano announced that DHS will designate Greece as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) yesterday, March 9, 2010. As a result, Greek nationals will be able to travel visa-free to the United States effective April 10, 2010. The VWP will enable citizens of Greece to travel to the [...]
The NPR ran a story yesterday, March 5th, on the EB-5 investor visa program. While the story is intended for a general audience and is fairly general in nature, it is interesting to read (or listen to the podcast) a mainstream media story about this growing in importance and profile program. One of the points [...]
Among our clients and readers, we have many entrepreneurs and start-up companies which may be interested in a recent development in Congress. Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lugar (R-IN) have introduced a new bill in Congress seeking to drive job creation and increasing America's global competitiveness by helping immigrant entrepreneurs secure visas to the United States. [...]
USCIS released updated information on the numbers of cap-subject H-1Bs filed since April 1. As of December 17, 2009, USCIS has received approximately 64,200 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap. The updated count means that as of December 17, 2009, there were 800 H-1B visas left under this year’s H-1B quota and USCIS will [...]