On the eve of the H-4 Spouse EAD filing window (which opens on May 26, 2015), USCIS has released a set of clarifications and guidance in connection with the H-4 Spouse EAD process. Our office has been very active in the H-4 Spouse EAD process ever since the benefit was announced as a proposed rule [...]
USCIS has announced that effective May 26, 2015, they are temporarily suspending the premium processing for all H-1B extension of stay petitions for two months, or until July 27, 2015. This surprising announcement comes in light of the anticipated heavy demand and number of filings for H-4 Spouse EAD when the filing window for this [...]
The summer has traditionally been a busy traveling season and as the summer start to approach and many of our clients and readers start making international travel plans, we see an increased flow of inquiries and consultations regarding travel and passport expiration dates. Most often the question is, What should be the duration of the [...]
The U.S. State Department has just released the June 2015 Visa Bulletin which is the ninth Visa Bulletin for the FY2015 fiscal year. The major headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is the continued significant (5.5 months) forward movement in EB-2 India and the 12-month forward movement in EB-2 China. EB-3 Philippines moves back [...]
After the recent earthquake in Nepal, our office is receiving a number of inquiries by Nepali nationals regarding relief options and alternatives in various U.S. immigration situations. USCIS has also indicated that they would provide relief in a number of situations understanding that a disaster may affect the ability of an individual to maintain status [...]
Many of our readers are aware that as of April 7, 2015, USCIS had received a sufficient number of H-1B cap-subject petitions to fill the annual H-1B quota. As USCIS has been issuing receipt notices for the H-1B cap cases which are being selected for processing (we even are starting to see H-1B cap premium [...]
Our office has been receiving a number of inquiries about a lawsuit challenging the H-4 Spouse EAD program as it is about to become effective on May 26th. We have been monitoring this lawsuit and related developments very closely as our office is helping many H-4 Spouse EAD applicants and as of the time of [...]
Many of our readers are aware that as of April 7, 2015, USCIS had received a sufficient number of H-1B cap-subject petitions to fill the annual H-1B quota. This year's number of filings (233,000) is at an all-time high, meaning that about 1 in 3 H-1B cap applications will be selected for review. As USCIS [...]
As our office is gearing up for May 26, 2015 when the first H-4 Spouse EAD applications under the new rule can be filed, we are still looking forward to clarifications and updates from USCIS on a number of important topics. Here are four major issues which affect a number of H-4 EAD applicants [...]
A recent Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision which highlighted the requirement for an H-1B amendment any time there is a change in the job site requiring a new Labor Condition Application (LCA) has created a lot of conversation in some H-1B circles and our office has been handling many inquiries, concerns and reactions to the [...]
