Major H-1B Victory for the IT (and Consulting) Industry Against the USCIS - ITSERVE ALLIANCE, INC. Lawsuit

On 10 March 2020, a Washington DC Federal Court overturned the USCIS highly restrictive

standards applied to the consulting industry. This decision has a major positive impact on the IT

industry.

Judge Rosemary M. Collyer held that the USCIS must not administer justice through random

memoranda and must, if it wishes to change the regulations, do so through a formal process.  In

fact, the USCIS seems to have illegally targeted the IT industry (“special treatment”):

 

 

March 5, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Immigration Law

Green Card

Substantial transcription for video

Discussion Topics, Thursday,  5 March 2020

FAQ:  Denial of a tourist/visitors/B visa 214(b) ||citizenship/naturalization trips of more than six months abroad || Time of stay and definition of a manager/executive employee for L-1A and EB-1C ||Transfer of H-1B while extension is pending ||What to do after an H-1B (or L-1) denial? ||Work duration and damages contracts under H-1B ||I do not have my final degree/diploma certificate/what should I do?

OTHER:  Scheduling green card interview in a third country consulate || multiple H-4 extensions simultaneously ||AR-11 change of address filing, etc.,

USCIS Announces Flexibility in Submitting Required Signatures During COVID-19 National Emergency

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 National Emergency announced by President Trump on March 13, 2020, USCIS will accept all benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures, including the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, for submissions dated March 21, 2020, and beyond.

Feb 20, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Substantial transcription for video

FAQs: Feb 20, 2020 Community Call

- I-140 issues - getting a copy of approval notice, leaving employer when I-140 approved less than 180 days

 - Impact on H-4 - H-4 EAD if the H-1B holder changes jobs

- Promotion while PERM is pending or approved

- Birth Certificates

USCIS Response to the 2019 Coronavirus

USCIS is actively monitoring the effects of the public health emergency related to the 2019 coronavirus outbreak on agency operations.

Office Closures in China

According to U.S. Department of State guidance, USCIS is temporarily closing its field offices in Beijing and Guangzhou. USCIS will reschedule all affected appointments and will send new appointment notices to applicants.

Public Charge Inadmissibility Final Rule: Revised Forms and Updated Policy Manual Guidance

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published revised forms consistent with the final rule on the public charge ground of inadmissibility, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including USCIS, will implement on Feb. 24, 2020. Beginning Feb. 24, 2020, applicants and petitioners must use new editions of the following forms below (except in Illinois, where the rule remains enjoined by a federal court): 

Feb 6, 2020, Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)

Nonimmigrant Visas

Green Card

Substantial transcription for video

FAQs: 

- H-4 visa stamping - problems with H-1B

- Sponsoring family based green card while living outside   the US

- When is H-1B amendment required?

- Getting EB-1C based green card by moving out for one year

- Obtaining birth certificates

USCIS Updates Process for Accepting Petitions for Relatives Abroad

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services  announced that, as part of the adjustment of its international footprint to increase efficiencies, Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, will only be processed domestically by USCIS or internationally by the Department of State in certain circumstances beginning Feb 1, 2020.