Many USCIS immigration benefits require the collection of biometrics information from the applicant at an USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). The collection of biometrics is a routine part of the application process and in most cases involves taking digital fingerprints, photo and signature. Which Types of Applications Require Biometrics? At this time biometrics are generally [...]
USCIS has just announced that they are expanding the requirements for interviews to employment-based I-485 adjustment of status applicants. Effective October 1, 2017, USCIS will phase-in interviews for (1) employment-based I-485 adjustment of status applications and (2) refugee/asylee I-730 applications who are in the United States and petitioning to join a principal applicant. Under [...]
Our office just learned that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has completed the intake and processing of all of the fiscal year (FY2018) H-1B cap petitions. According to USCIS, there were over 199,000 H-1B cap petitions filed [...]
Many USCIS applications (normally those which result in the production of a "secure document") require the applicant provide digital biometrics at a USCIS office. In most cases, the biometrics process includes digital fingerprinting and a digital photo. Many applicants who need to submit to the required biometrics are able to do so in the closest USCIS [...]
The Department of Homeland Security has just released the final rule announcing the increase of most of the Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) application filing fees. The weighted average of the increase is 21 percent and USCIS is adding one new [...]
While few, if any, of our clients and readers spent too much time planning and celebrating, October 1st is an important date as it marks the beginning of the new government fiscal year. This has new fiscal year turnover has immigration implications for many — for example, H-1B cap petitions are becoming effective [...]
After years of anticipation, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed and released the draft text of a rule which would allow international entrepreneurs parole to be able to remain and work in the U.S. while developing and growing their startup companies. The [...]
The Department of Homeland Security has just released a proposed rule seeking to amend (increase) most of the Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) application filing fees. The weighted average of the increase is 21 percent and USCIS is adding one new fee. The [...]
In a sudden and surprising move, a number of immigration-related provisions were inserted into the must-pass government funding bill, titled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016” The bill passed both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President Obama on [...]
September 30, 2015 was the last day on which the additional filing fee required to be paid by certain H-1B dependent employers was required. The Public Law 111-230 additional filing fee of $2,000 was required to be paid [...]
