FY 2024 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that on March 1, 2023, the FY2024 H-1B cap initial registration period will open. See how our unique approach resulted in a 99.5% approval rating from our thousands of FY2023 cap filings.
The Compelling Circumstances EAD – One Year Stop Gap
With the recent layoffs in the tech industry, companies and individuals are facing uncertainty in terms of how to retain legal status to remain in the U.S. while job searching. One option, the Compelling Circumstances EAD is a discretionary employment authorization measure that is meant to assist qualifying individuals by preventing the need to abruptly leave the United States.
USCIS Extends Certain COVID-19 Flexibilities
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the continued flexibility for some COVID-19 flexibilities, through March 23, 2023. These flexibilities are extended to allow for delays as the ongoing backlog continues.
Some Asylum Seekers Can Now File For Employment Authorization Online
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that qualifying individuals can not file the Application for Employment Authorization online. This is one of the organization’s efforts to leverage the power of technology to streamline processes and increase efficiency.
USCIS to Reinstate Concurrent Processing for H-1B and L-1 Derivative Applications Including H-4 EADs
Concurrent processing will resume for H-1B and L-1 dependent applications as of January 25, 2023. Regaining concurrent processing is key to address ongoing backlogs.
USCIS Announces Green Card Automatic Extension Availability
USCIS announced some green card holders are eligible for an automatic extension of the green card for an additional 48 months past the current expiration date.
US Immigration Backlog Cases Hit All-Time High
The backlog of immigration cases in U.S. courts is over 2 million matters, with over 800,000 of those being asylum issues. On average, the wait time for an asylum matter is more than four years for a hearing.
Education Eligibility Criteria for H-1B and Latest USCIS Trends
With the H-1B quota being right around the corner, now is a good time to review the latest trends with respect to educational eligibility requirements for H-1B filing. This will help to better prepare for the upcoming H-1B cap season.
Immigration Outlook 2023: H-1B Visas, Green Cards, DACA, and More
The immigration outlook is expected to change in 2023. Major immigration reform may not be achievable. However, we believe there will be administrative rulemaking and policy shifts in the coming year. See how DACA, H-1B and other programs may be affected.
U.S. Embassies in India to Double Staff to Address Visa Issuance Speed
As a result of the pandemic and the resulting slowdown in services, wait times for a visa in India have seen historic highs. However, as announced by the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, Mr. Arun Venkataraman, efforts to double staff are underway to address the ongoing wait times. Potential candidates include diplomatic spouses.