Any individual seeking an immigration benefit may experience long processing times. Although lengthy processing times are not necessarily a cause for concern, there are situations in which an individual or an employer may feel the need to take additional action and file a writ of...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that temporary flexibilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowing an employer to perform remote document inspection and deferring the physical presence requirements for employment eligibility verification (form I-9), will end on July 31, 2023. After this...
The U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiated a “stampless” entry pilot program in April 2022, and is now in the process of implementing the program at all airports, seaports, and land ports of entry (POEs) as part of a larger effort to streamline the...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently published a final rule in the Federal Register to raise fees charged by U.S. consulates for many categories of nonimmigrant visas. The cost for border crossing cards for citizens of Mexico is also going up. These fee increases...
When an H1B visa foil (commonly referred to as a visa 'stamp') is issued, the consular officer typically annotates the visa with the petition number and expiration date of the I-797 approval notice presented at the U.S. consular post abroad. At the time of admission...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a streamlined and expedited deferred action request process for a noncitizen worker who cooperates in a labor standards investigation after being a victim of, or witnesses to, labor violations. This program is the latest initiative forming...
Answer When applying for a visa "stamp," the petition must be valid and the job must still be available. If circumstances change after the visa is issued, there is no cooling off period required to apply for an amendment. Further, the existing visa typically would remain...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that approximately 65,000 additional H2B visas will be made available for the current fiscal year. In addition, the White House is creating an H2B Worker Protection Taskforce designed to protect the integrity of the program and...
Answer In order to be admitted in B-1/B-2 status, the burden is on the foreign national to demonstrate that she lacks immigrant intent for that particular trip. Given that you filed this petition for an immediate relative – and therefore, not subject to the numerical limitations...
The D.C. Circuit Court recently ruled in favor of the U.S. government in a lawsuit brought by a worker's union, holding the F-1 optional practical training (OPT) and STEM OPT programs were lawfully enacted. The union unsuccessfully argued that the statute passed by Congress that...
