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Visa Bulletin For May 2025

Number 2

Volume XI

Washington, D.C

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A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during May for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

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Immigration Law

Rajiv's Article - Enhanced social media vetting for student and exchange visas - What you need to know

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: April 04, 2025

https://shorturl.at/xyEtn

Synopsis

The State Department's new social media screening measures affect F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants, requiring mandatory reviews under certain conditions. These include broad interpretations of terrorist support and criteria for hostile attitudes toward U.S. institutions, potentially leading to visa revocations.

For more information on this article, please see the attachment below.

H-1B entrepreneur, starting an MEP design firm, Employer-employee relationship, and transitioning to self-employment

Question details

I am a mechanical engineer currently working as an MEP design engineer, and I hold a professional engineer (PE) license in North Carolina. I am on an H-1B visa with an approved I-140.

With the recent rule changes, I wanted to understand whether I can open my own MEP design firm while on H-1B status without maintaining an employer-employee relationship. Additionally, would I be allowed to start the company while maintaining my current full-time job and transition to running the firm full-time once I build up a client base?

 

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FAQ Transcript

Yes, you can incorporate a company while on an H-1B with another employer, but you cannot actively conduct business for your own company without violating your H-1B status. To operate your own company while on H-1B, you would need to transfer your H-1B to your own company or obtain a concurrent H-1B for your company, which requires demonstrating an employer-employee relationship and meeting salary requirements. There are practical difficulties with this, including funding your own salary.