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Rejection of Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Applications (Form I-601A)
Since March 4, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been accepting applications for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers (Form I-601A). USCIS, however, rejected many of these applications because customers did not provide proof that the required Immigrant Visa Application Fee was paid to the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
REMINDER: USCIS cannot accept a Form I-601A unless it includes evidence that the applicant paid the Immigrant Visa Application Fee to DOS.
Please make sure you:
CBP Announces Rollout of Automated Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that the automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is now effective which will streamline the admissions process for individuals lawfully visiting the United States. Form I-94 provides international visitors evidence they have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. which is necessary to verify alien registration, immigration status, and employment authorization.
Guestbook Entry for Ashwin D, United States
Starting Your Own Business on H-1 or AOS EAD
I am currently on H-1. I have a series of questions for you. This topic should be of interest to many people in the community. Could you please address these:
1. Can I start my own business while on H-1?
2. Can I be employed in my own business on my company's H-1?
3. Does it help to have partners from USA?
4. Can I get green card through a company I own?
5. What if my business is in Europe, but I work on it from USA? Is that legal?
6. Can I start business when I get my EAD on 485?
Working Outside USA While in GC or H-1 Process
Consular Interviews for Employment-Based Green Cards
H-1B Quota 25,600 as of 9 April 2012
USCIS estimates that as as of 9 April 2012, approximately 25,600 H-B cases had been receipted. Out of these petitions, 17,400 are for bachelor's degree and 8,200 for for people with advanced degrees. These numbers are considerable hire than the last year's at this time.
H-1B Filing twice the numbers last year so far
USCIS has indicated that 22,323 cap-subject H-1B petitions had been received as of April 4, 2012. Approximately one quarter (1/4) of these cases are for advanced degrees. According to USCIS, the number of filings received is almost double the number of filings received by USCIS during the same time last year. It would appear that H-1B numbers are likely to get exhausted a lot earlier than last year.
Electronic I-94 Rollout on 30 April 2013
Beginning 30 April 2013, CBP will roll out electronic version of Form I-94, Arrival Departure Record. We recommended that all visitors print out and keep a paper copy of the Form for their records at all times. There are still important legal issues that remain unsettled, including, the proper training and education of DHS/CBP of its own officers. Note that CBP is an agency within Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Form I-94 is a very important document in that it determines the time and activities permitted during your stay in the USA.
H-1 Lottery Over
We have just received our first H-1 quota receipt notice. That indicates the H-1 lottery is concluded.
USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2014. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the advanced degree exemption. After today, USCIS will not accept H-1B petitions subject to the FY 2014 cap or the advanced degree exemption.