U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced it will reopen non-military deferred action cases that were pending on August 7. Letters will be sent this week re-opening all cases that were pending on August 7.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions to pay a $10 fee for each electronic registration they submit to USCIS.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
"The newly introduced proposal, in the context of applicability to the Indian diaspora in the US, will cover citizenship applications, applications for adjustment of status filed by those in the USA seeking to obtain green cards (such as H-1B workers, or those on intra-company transfers holding an L-1 visa). It will also apply to green card holders seeking re-entry permits (who wish to stay away from the US for two years)," explains Arlington-based Rajiv Khanna, Managing Attorney at Immigration.com
Discussion Topics:
FAQ: What if H-4 EAD's are revoked by the USCIS || Working on other projects while on H-1B|| Multiple H-1B approvals
Others: F-1 OPT, GC for parents, H1B RFE regarding Specific Specialty
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed regulation to improve the process for granting or denying an initial application for employment authorization documents (EADs) by reforming the current 30-day timeline pertaining to pending asylum applicants.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the enforcement of the Trump Administration’s asylum rule requiring asylum seekers to seek protection in at least one third country they traveled through en route to the United States.
WASHINGTON—USCIS announced that it will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by welcoming nearly 34,300 new U.S. citizens during 316 naturalization ceremonies across the nation between Sept. 13 and 23.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
According to Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney at law firm Immigration.com, the delay is not the core issue. “When you are bringing in a new regulation or deregulation, there has to be some reasonable basis in fact and circumstance. How do you justify taking away an entire cadre of highly qualified, highly motivated people from the workforce when unemployment levels are below 4%?” he said.
Number 34
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during October 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.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
“Technology is our only edge in the commercial world and if we lose that, we fall behind. In order to maintain and enhance this, we need a system to attract and keep STEM graduates,” Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney at law firm Immigration.com, said.
For more on this news please see the attachment.
USCIS will consider certain fiscal year (FY) 2020 CW-1 petitions seeking an extension of status for temporary workers present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to be filed on time, even if USCIS receives them after the worker’s current period of CW-1 petition validity expires.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 19 September, 2019
FAQ: Effect of H-1B approval on H-4 EAD || Travel during H-1B amendment and using old employer's visa stamp || For how many years is the H-1B quota exemption valid? || Can a GC pending EAD holder move locations?|| Should I maintain my H-1B after filing I-485 Adjustment of Status || Nonimmigrant visa for a partner in an unmarried gay couple || Impact of multiple pending H-1B
OTHER: Multiple H-1 and H-4 pending || H-1B holder and F-1 holder getting married|| Consequences of simultaneously two H-1B approvals || Impact on green card if working for two employers || Impact of withdrawing LCA || Cross chargeability spouse not present at I-485 interview || Expediting EAD || Working a US job from Canada remotely || Can an employer refuse to produce tax returns? etc.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Rajiv Khanna, Arlington-based immigration advocate says: “Many of the cases where a change to student status is requested do get approved. But there are also cases where it is rejected owing to the boilerplate reason that the student has the entire family in the US, therefore they have no ties to their home country.” “The life of a youngster and the family unity should not have to depend upon the 'benevolence' of an immigration officer,” he adds
WASHINGTON—Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will provide military naturalization services at four overseas military bases, due to the agency’s shifting international footprint and office closures overseas.
I reached there around 4:30am. People were already lined up. First you have to get the form from one line and then wait in another line. Around 6:30am they asked people who are there for EAD to form another shorter line. I got the token and my no. was called around 8:30am. The required documents are :
1. I-485 receipt
2. I-765 receipt
3.information about any previous I-765, like receipt date
4. previous EAD Plastic card
5.California driver license and Passport for identification.
I went to the Miami office today to apply for a temporary work authorization card. This office no longer accepts walk ins as of two days ago. People can either make an appointment with the office on the web from home, or on site. The waiting time is approximately two weeks for an appointment. This is for any type of immmigration case.
"96 days after submitting the EAD application, Tampa refused to issue an interim EAD. Evidentially an appointment card had been mailed that same day.The appointment was set for 10 days later. Including 2 months wasted trying to get the initial appointment to submit the EAD application, it took 5.5 months to get this EAD renewal. The real tragedy was the loss a job and residual loss of income which lasted months. We will start this process again 6 months before this EAD expires. Hmm...that's pretty soon".
Our association, AILA, has filed a lawsuit against the USCIS today requesting the court to order the USCIS to freeze all immigration deadlines for:
Initial applications
Responses to all Requests for Evidence or other responses due on or after March 1, 2020
Requests for extension of status, maintenance of status
Reprieve from any expiration of status or employment authorization;
Maintaining the status quo for purposes of eligibility for protection from removal, work authorization,
Updates Align with Board of Immigration Appeals Decision and Statute
Department to Temporarily Amend Certain H-2A Requirements During COVID-19 National Emergency
Release Date: April 15, 2020
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that there are immigration-related challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. USCIS continues to carefully analyze these issues and to leverage the resources to effectively address these challenges within USCIS's existing authorities. DHS also continues to take action to protect the American people and communities, and is considering a number of policies and procedures to improve the employment opportunities of U.S. workers during this pandemic.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2021, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may now be filed with USCIS if based on a valid selected registration.
A petitioner is only eligible to file an FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject petition if they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process and USCIS selected the registration submitted for the beneficiary through the random selection process.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 2 April 2020
FAQs related to Covid Caronavirus:
Loss of job while in AOS I-485 period || Question from Employers about Payroll for H-1B and others L-1, E, etc. employees || Extension of B-1-B2 (tourist visas or business visas) ||
H-1B employee furlough's impact on green card and H-1B || Converting to B-1 B-2 status || H-1B denial || Changing H-1B home office location ||
Other FAQs: Accepting Unemployment Payments on nonimmigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, E visas, etc.) and/or on green card || Applying for green card for parents who are visiting/in the USA || H-1B lottery winner employee change of employers