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H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation
This nonimmigrant classification applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability.
H-3 Visa Trainees
General Information
An H-3 classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States:
(1) As a trainee, other than to receive graduate medical education or training, or training provided primarily at or by an academic or vocational institution, or
(2) As a participant in a special education exchange visitor program which provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-4 Visa Spouse & Children
Family members of the H-1B foreign worker are admitted to the United States in the H-4 category. Qualifying family members include only the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old. H-4 dependents are admitted for the same period of time for which the H-1B foreign worker is admitted. H-4 dependents may alternatively be admitted in other nonimmigrant categories for which they qualify. H-4 dependents may undertake studies while remaining in the H-4 category, however, they may not engage in any form of employment.
USCIS Adopts AAO Decision on TPS and Authorized Travel
Release Date 08/31/2020
TPS Beneficiaries Retain Same Immigration Status after Traveling Abroad
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a Policy Memorandum (PDF, 268.36 KB) adopting the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision on Matter of Z‑R‑Z‑C.
Guestbook Entry for Ankita, United States
Rajiv's News Clips - Recent court order paves way for expedited American citizenship - Times of India
Published by : Track.in - Date: September 04, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Sept 3, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
FAQs: H-1B portability without a visa stamp || Unemployment benefits while on B-2 || Owning or doing business on H-1B || Unstamped H-1B quota exemption || Change of status on an H-1B approved for consular processing || Changing status during a pending application - authorized period of stay.
OTHER: Visas for Canadian permanent residents || J-1 waiver for multiple DS 2019 || Name discrepancy || Union membership for nonimmigrants or immigrants || Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, etc.
Guestbook Entry for Haresh Umaretiya, United States
USCIS Launches Sponsor Deeming and Agency Reimbursement Information Collection Initiative
Release Date 09/10/2020
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the launch of a new Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) initiative that will enable agencies that administer federal means-tested benefits to ensure more effective compliance with federal laws, regulations, and policies related to financial support of aliens by their sponsors and agency reimbursement.
CW-1 Employers Must Verify Continued Employment and Payment of CW-1 Workers by Submitting Form I-129CWR
Release Date 09/11/2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is reminding employers of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Transitional Workers (CW-1) that they must confirm the continued employment of the CW-1 workers every six months.
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
Release Date 09/11/2020
In response to the coronavirus (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:
PERM Processing Times (as of 8/31/2020)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | April 2020 |
| Audit Review | November 2019 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | June 2020 |
Green Card
Immigration Law
Guestbook Entry for Aditya Mahajan, United States
Correction to 9/15/2020 Gov-Delivery email titled “Reminder: Ensure Employees Choose the Correct Attestation on Form I-9”
Employers are not held liable for any erroneous attestations an employee makes in Section 1 of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Rather, you must ensure that the employee checks only one box to complete Section 1.
Guestbook Entry for Kalyan Vuthunori, United States
Sept 17, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Green Card
FAQs: Priority date and original I-140 approval notice || Staying with the same employer for 180 days after I-140 approval|| Green Card holder stuck outside the US for more than a year|| Salary reduction on H-1B.
OTHER: Lawsuit for delay || EB-1C Consular Processing|| H-1B withdrawal by old employer, etc. || H-1B approved, current visa options || Section 319(b) naturalization || H-1B transfer after visa denial || Arrest for Marijuana || L-1A number of employees || Transferring H-1B with a copy of approval || L-1A for a newly acquired company || Filing green card on H-4 EAD || Supplement J issues, etc.
USCIS Implements New Law Related to Citizenship for Children of Military Members and U.S. Government Employees Stationed Overseas
Release Date 09/18/2020
On Sept. 18, USCIS updated the policy guidance concerning residency requirements under section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to comply with the requirements of the recently enacted Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act.
Rajiv's News Clips - United States Department of Labor proposes increase in H-1B wages - The Economic Times
Published by : The Economic Times - Date: September 22, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Rajiv Khanna, Managing Partner at Immigration.com, said the wages are set according to the person’s experience level and that over the last years there have been calls to raise the minimum level from 1 to 2.
For more details please see the attachment below.
USCIS to Provide Contract Interpreters for Asylum Interviews - Temporary Rule to Help Reduce Spread of COVID-19
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary final rule to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) by using government-contracted telephonic interpreters for affirmative asylum interviews at no cost to the applicant.
H Visa Processing times & status checks
Processing Times
- USCIS Service Center Processing Times
- California Service Center
- Nebraska Service Center
- Texas service Center
- Vermont Service Center
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-2 Visa - Temporary Workers
The H-2B visa category is used by U.S. employers to temporarily employ skilled or unskilled foreign nationals in nonagricultural positions for which the employer has a temporary need and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The company must plan to employ the foreign nationals for a temporary period and the employer’s need for the skills of the foreign nationals must also be temporary. In addition, the employer must seek a “labor certification” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that:
USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees
Release Date
01/03/2023
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The new fees would allow USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs, reestablish and maintain timely case processing, and prevent the accumulation of future case backlogs. USCIS receives approximately 96 percent of its funding from filing fees, not from congressional appropriations.