Discussion Topics, Thursday, 1 December 2016:
FAQ: New I-140 EAD regulations -- Extending H-1 after I-140 revocation, retaining priority dates under new regulations, per country limits, EAD under the new regulations; effective date of new regulations; Visa cancelled CWOP, 214(b) denial; FAQ: Implications of joining an end client where H-1B employer objects, H-1B employer not paying salary - DOL Wage and Hour Division Complaint WH-4; AC21 green card portability, "same or similar" job under old/new regulations, working on 1099 as contractor; Frequency of visits and duration of stay on tourist/visitors/B-1/B-2 visa; Foreign Medical Graduates, Physicians, H-1B for part time jobs, concurrent cap and cap exempt H-1B employment.
Other: Consular processing green card through future employer; Can one start H-1B job before the requested start date? Court orders for migration of child by divorced parent; H-2B extension, denial, 240-day rule; Volunteering on F-1 OPT; Aging out; Name errors on green card; Humanitarian parole, H-1B change of status, etc.
| 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 |
Number 1
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January 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.
Beginning December 12, the free citizenship preparation and study materials in USCIS’ Citizenship Resource Center will be easier to use from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Among the improvements, the new design puts key navigational links inside a single “hamburger” icon like that found on many other mobile sites. This redesign follows the launch of mobile friendly design on other parts of uscis.gov and uscis.gov/es earlier this year.
To allow immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain “stateless” individuals to maintain legal status in the CNMI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the parole program for these relatives, effective immediately, until December 31, 2018.
To apply for extension of this parole, you must:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking who seek T nonimmigrant status. DHS is also streamlining procedures, responding to public comments, and providing guidance on the statutory requirements for T nonimmigrants in order to ensure that the T nonimmigrant status (T visa) regulations are up to date and reflect USCIS’ adjudicative experience.
The H-2B returning worker provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-113) expired on Sept.
USCIS reminds applicants and petitioners to pay new fees with forms postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23, 2016, or USCIS will not be able to accept the filings. USCIS will only accept previous fees if they are postmarked Dec. 22 or earlier.
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
Update to Form I-602, Application By Refugee For Waiver of Grounds of Excludability12/30/2016 02:00 PM EST
New edition dated 12/19/16. Previous editions accepted. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the Form and Instructions.
Update to Form I-134, Affidavit of Support12/30/2016 01:56 PM EST
As part of our ongoing efforts to be responsive to customer needs in immigrant visa processing, the Department of State is pleased to announce that original or “wet ink” signatures are no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ.
USCIS posted an update to Form I-566, Interagency Record of Request -- A, G or NATO Dependent Employment Authorization or Change/Adjustment to/from A, G or NATO Status. The new edition is dated 12/07/16. Starting 02/27/17, USCIS will only accept the 12/07/16 edition. Until then, you can use the 05/10/16 edition.
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
I would like to share with you an information that you might be able to add to the 'Interim EAD Issuance Policy' section. Yesterday, I went to the Orlando, FL office to get my interim EAD. They told me that I had to mail in my request to their office. What they want really is for us to sent them, by mail, another I-765 application, write INTERIM on top of it, attach the I-765 and I-485 receipt and sent it to them by mail.
When new fees for most USCIS forms went into effect on December 23, 2016, USCIS published updated versions of the forms at uscis.gov/forms. USCIS strongly encourages customers to submit these new versions, which are updated with the new fees and have an edition date of 12/23/16.
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Exchange visitor (J) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States.
Release Date
11/16/2022
As USCIS moves towards an increasing electronic environment, USCIS now scans and uploads many documents into electronic database systems. To avoid delays and improve scanning efficiency, USCIS recommends that you do not:
Published by: Live Mint: April 01, 2023
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/us-h1b-visa-exclusive-ways-to-impro…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Immigration expert Rajiv Khanna cited, there are ways to increase your chances of being selected in the lottery process, such as having multiple employers file for the same employee.
The challenge to the validity of H-4 EAD program was dismissed by court. #immigration #H4EAD
Published by: The Economic Times: March 30, 2023
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/us-court-dismisses…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Live Mint: April 03, 2023
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/if-h1b-visa-holders-lose-jobs-can-s…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Immigration expert Rajiv S. Khanna stated regulations aim to provide greater opportunities for skilled foreign workers and their families to settle and contribute to the US economy.
Release Date
04/04/2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the types of venues USCIS may use for administrative naturalization ceremonies.
On Nov. 10, 2022, USCIS published a new edition of Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, dated 10/12/22. Starting May 1, 2023, USCIS will only accept the 10/12/22 edition. Until then, you can also use the 07/26/22 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Discussion Topics: