Guestbook Entry for SAMIR SHAH, United States
Name
SAMIR SHAH
Country
United States
State
OH
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Guestbook Entry for Aruna Disanayaka, United States
Name
Aruna Disanayaka
Country
United States
State
MD
Guestbook Entry for Ravikanth Akupatni, United States
Name
Ravikanth Akupatni
Country
United States
State
MI
H-1 and L-1 Visa Petition Filing Fees Increased – Ongoing Updates if Needed
12 January 2016
This is the latest release from USCIS. I think they are misreading the fees requirement. The law seemed to require higher fees only for L-1 employee counts (see my highlighted comments below under 19 December 2015 entry). The current USCIS release counts both L-1 and H-1 employees even for H-1 filing fees. We will wait and see if this clarified
Chennai Consular Fees - Important Notice on Blanket L-1 fee
Effective Monday December 21, 2015, per the Fiscal Year 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the U.S. Consulate in Chennai will begin collecting an additional (U.S. dollar) $4,500 per application for all new Blanket L-1 applications.
L-1A Approval for Functional Manager
An L-1A visa can be obtained for an international manager or executive who manages other professionals or who manages an important function of the organization (“functional manager”). Historically, it has been difficult to obtain L-1A for functional managers. USCIS is more esily convinced where professional employees are being managed.
Status
L-1A approved for functional manager
Nonimmigrant Visas
Update to Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
USCIS published an update to Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. The new edition is dated 11/23/15.
Starting 02/29/16, USCIS will accept only the 11/23/15 edition. USCIS will not accept editions dated 04/13/13 or earlier after that date. The edition date can be found at the bottom of every page on the form and instructions.
USCIS Approves 10,000 U Visas for 7th Straight Fiscal Year
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved the statutory maximum of 10,000 petitions for U-1 nonimmigrant status (U visas) for fiscal year 2016. This marks the seventh straight year that USCIS has reached the statutory maximum since it began issuing U visas in 2009.
Workload Transfer from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center and Nebraska Service Center
USCIS recently began transferring certain casework from the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to the California Service Center (CSC) and Nebraska Service Center (NSC) to balance workloads. The CSC will now process Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
The Proposed I-140 EAD Rule - Continually Updated
This entry is now old law. The new law is at http://www.immigration.com/blogs/i-140-ead-regulations-effective-17-jan…
Note: Updated all of the regulations comments on 31 December 2015. I will keep adding, as needed.
Customers Must Mail Form I-290B for Form N-600 or Form N-600K to the Chicago Lockbox
Starting January 1, 2016, customers who wish to file Form I-290B, Notice of Motion or Appeal, in response to a decision on their Form N-600 or N-600K must mail their Form I-290B to the Chicago Lockbox. USCIS will no longer accept these forms at local field offices.
Customers should mail their Form I-290B for Form N-600 or N-600K to:
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2015
| FORM NUMBER |
CASE TYPE |
TIME |
|---|---|---|
| I-129CW | CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 6 months or less |
|
I-129F |
Petition for Fiancée |
6 months or less |
|
I-129 H1B |
Nonimmigrant Specialty Occupation Worker |
6 months or less |
Agency
Immigration Law
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
Release Date
12/30/2021
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors who are responding to certain:
USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following form:
Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur
USCIS will also accept the 04/15/19 and 11/21/19 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
Guestbook Entry for Divya S, United States
Name
Divya S
Country
United States
State
Virginia
Jan 6, 2022, Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Green Card
FAQ: Consular processing employment-based green card with a job offer from a different employer
PERM Processing Times (as of 12/31/2021)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | July 2021 |
| Audit Review | March 2021 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | July 2021 |
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
AAO Processing Times (October - December 2021)
| Form Type | Case Type | Completed 0-180 Days | Quarterly Completions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative total of all completions | 28.92% | 830 | |
| I-129CW | Petition for CNMI Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 100% | 5 |
| I-129E2 | CNMI Treaty Investor | 100% | 2 |
| I-129F | Petition for Fiancée |
Immigration Law
USCIS Updated Forms - Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status and Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
12/06/2021 01:32 PM EST
Starting Mar. 14, USCIS will only accept the 12/06/21 edition. Until then, you can use the 04/24/19 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
12/02/2021 03:05 PM EST
Visa Bulletin For February 2022
Number 62
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during February 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.
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
Immigration Help Available to Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances
Release Date
01/12/2022
USCIS is reminding the public that they offer immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include, but are not limited to, the Marshall fire in Colorado.
The following measures may be available on a case-by-case basis upon request:
USCIS Provides Clarifying Guidance on O-1 Nonimmigrants in Arts vs. Motion Picture and Television
Release Date
01/13/2022
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced clarifying guidance on how USCIS determines whether an O-1B beneficiary will be evaluated as a person of extraordinary ability in the arts or as a person of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry when a case has elements of both.
Biden announces STEM changes for F-1, J-1, O-1A and National Interest Waivers
24 January 2022
Students in the following fields will be able to obtain STEM OPT extensions for 24 months:
Jan 20, 2022, Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Discussion Topics, Jan 20, 2022 FAQs:
1. EB-1B for postdoctoral holder after a gap of several years in career 2. Date of birth and name corrections in birth certificate 3. COVID-19 delays in tourist/visitor extensions for B-2 holding parent and applying for their green card
USCIS Updates Guidance on National Interest Waivers
Release Date
01/21/2022
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated guidance on adjudicating requests for “National Interest Waivers” regarding job offer and labor certification requirements for certain advanced degree professionals and individuals of exceptional ability. This includes discussing the unique considerations for persons with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and entrepreneurs.