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USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Some Categories of Applicants Seeking H-1B Visas
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year year (FY) 2018 cap. The FY 2018 cap has been set at 65,000 visas. Premium processing has also resumed for the annual 20,000 additional petitions that are set aside to hire workers with a U.S. master’s degree or higher educational degree.
USCIS No Longer Accepting Petitions for One-Time Increase to the Temporary Nonagricultural Visa Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is no longer accepting petitions from U. S. employers seeking to hire temporary nonagricultural workers under the one-time increase to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 H-2B cap announced in July.
For the first time, in May, Congress delegated its authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security to increase the number of temporary nonagricultural work visas available to U.S. employers through FY 2017.
USCIS Reminds That Certain Fees May Not Be Collected From H-2A And H-2B Workers
As the traditional harvest season approaches, USCIS reminds petitioners that certain fees may not be collected from H-2A and H-2B workers, according to 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(5)(xi)(A) and § 214.2(h)(6)(i)(B). We realize that delays in adjudicating these petitions may affect employers’ ability to place workers in time-sensitive jobs. To avoid delays, USCIS urges petitioners to submit sufficient information regarding their recruitment efforts and the nature of fees collected from H-2A and H-2B workers.
DOL Publishes H-2B Supplemental Prevailing Wage Determination FAQs
The Department has posted new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to assist employers and others regarding the Prevailing Wages in the H-2B program, specifically the issuance of supplemental prevailing wages in accordance with the June 15, 2011 order of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.