H Visa Blog Entries

Deportation and Denial Policy 2018

The attached letter from the USCIS signals clearly that H-1B program may be headed for a fundamental change. It remains to be seen what the details are and whether or not what the government would plan is within their legal authority.

Can USCIS Discontinue H-1B Extensions Beyond 6 Years? In my opinion, the answer is: no. Can they try? Yes, but they will need to change the law through the Congress. Drastic changes through executive action are legally unavailable. This discussion has become necessary because there are reports circulating that the Trump administration is trying to devise ways and methods to take away the benefit of extension beyond six years for H-1B holders.

Discussing various changes taking place in H-1B visas.

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Monday, April 3, 2017

Note From Rajiv: 
There is nothing new in this memo that we have not encountered before.  What USCIS  has said in this memo is that the IT title “Programmer” is not necessarily a job that requires a degree AND further a degree in specific discipline.  If we claim otherwise, we have to prove our case.  We have to do that in many, many cases anyway.  Like I noted earlier, this is not new.

From Rajiv: To identify employers who are abusing the H-1B visas, USCIS will now target for investigation three specific types of H-1B employers: unverifiable, H-1B dependent and consultants working at client sites.

Notable points: