Search
F-1 OPT Unpaid Employment Acceptable
We have won a series of cases where USCIS had earlier held that unpaid employment under OPT was legally unacceptable to maintain status. We have argued that such holding is contrary to all law, policy and precedence. Students are NOT required to engage in PAID employment. All these cases were won after we filed our briefs pursuant to Motions to Reopen (MTR).
Guidance Pertaining to Applicants for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers
On March 4, 2013, USCIS began a new provisional unlawful presence waiver program for certain relatives of U.S. citizens whose only ground of inadmissibility is unlawful presence in the United States under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) and (II) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). See 78 FR 536-01 (January 3, 2013). The provisional unlawful presence waiver process allows immediate relatives of U.S.
Guestbook Entry for Maryam Jazayeri, United States
USCIS Introduces Form I-910 and Centralizes the Civil Surgeon Application Process
Starting on March 11, 2014, USCIS will implement a new process to receive and adjudicate applications for civil surgeon designation centrally at the National Benefits Center. This process change requires physicians seeking civil surgeon designation to file a formal application at a USCIS Lockbox. Centralizing the civil surgeon application process will:
N-400 Timeline - Naturalization Experience
Finally the last Friday, Jan 17th I became an American Citizen, it's was a easy, quickly and simple ceremony at 26 Federal Plaza, I was request to be there at 11:00 am, when arrive to the place a big line inside was waiting for me but was fast, them I went to the 3rd floor, make another line with my letter and GC, a few minutes later I was lil interview about the questions on the letter and give my GC to the officer, them somebody show me my seat, almost full with like 150 people from 57 diferent countries.
Citizenship and Naturalization
N-400 Timeline, 3 year rule (marriage based application)
Here is my journey thus far:
GC holder since March 21, 2008 (married to U.S. citizen since 1997)
6/11/12: N-400 sent via UPS to Lewisville, TX
6/12/12: N-400 delivered
6/13/12: NOA received (Priority Date: 06/12/12)
7/18/12: FP notice recd
8/09/12: FP scheduled - Done
9/04/12: In line for Interview scheduling
10/12/12: NOA received, Interview scheduled
14/01/13: Interview Done, N-14 "Request for evidence" given to me
Green Card
Citizenship and Naturalization
DOL Releases its Foreign Labor Certification Annual Report for FY 2012
The 2012 Annual Report presents information on the Prevailing Wage Determination Process, Permanent Labor Certification, and Temporary Nonimmigrant Labor Certification for FY 2012. The report also contains State Employment-Based Labor Certification Profiles, information on STEM-related occupations in the labor certification programs, H-2A Agricultural Certification Statistics, and top Country Employment-Based Immigration Profiles. Click here to view the 2012 Annual Report.
USCIS Tips for Filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
When filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, it is important to fill out the application completely and provide all required information with your initial filing. Please read and follow the filing tips to ensure proper processing.
Complete the Form Fully and Accurately
Guestbook Entry for Ganesh venkatraman, United States
AAO Processing Times as of March 1, 2014
This chart shows the average amount of time it takes to receive a decision in a particular type of case after the case file is received by the AAO. Processing times are directly related to the volume of cases received.
USCIS Introduces Form I-910 and Centralizes the Civil Surgeon Application Process
USCIS has implemented a new process to receive and adjudicate applications for civil surgeon designation centrally at the National Benefits Center. This process change requires physicians seeking civil surgeon designation to file a formal application at a USCIS Lockbox. Centralizing the civil surgeon application process will:
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for 1st Half of FY-2014
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. March 14, 2014 is the final receipt date for new H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2014.
How We Determine the Final Receipt Date
The final receipt date is when we have received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the statutory limit of 33,000 H-2B workers for the first half of FY 2014. There will not be any carry over spots from the first half to the second half of FY 2014.
Boston MA - N-400 TimeLine
There were a few places that did the naturalization ceremonies in MA but it is a royal pain how long they take to schedule these. Back in 2010, I had to wait 3.5 months for my naturalization after passing the interview. They gave me my oath ceremony letter right after passing the interview. Seems like things have only gotten worse since 2010. I had my naturalization ceremony at Mechanics Hall in Worcester and no, it was not because I lived in or near Worcester. I lived in the Boston city area at the time.
Citizenship and Naturalization
Waiver of Visa Fees for 2014 Special Olympics Summer Games - DOS
Deputy Secretary Burns has authorized a waiver of application (i.e., MRV) and visa issuance (i.e., reciprocity) fees for participants in the 2014 Special Olympics Summer Games Invitational taking place in Los Angeles, CA, from June 6 to 8, 2014, and the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place in Los Angeles, CA, from July 25 to August 2, 2015.
PERM Processing Times (as of 03/03/2014)
PERM Processing Times (as of 03/03/2014)
| PROCESSING QUEUE | PRIORITY DATES | |
|---|---|---|
| MONTH | YEAR | |
| ANALYST REVIEWS | July | 2013 |
| AUDIT REVIEW | December | 2012 |
| MONTHRECONSIDERATION REQUESTS TO THE CO | March | 2014 |
| GOV'T ERROR RECONSIDERATIONS | Current | |
Agency
Green Card
NPWC Processing Times (as of 03/14/2014)
NPWC Processing Times (as of 03/14/2014)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Beginning April 1, 2014
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Premium Processing for Cap-Subject Petitions to Begin by April 28, 2014
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2015 cap on April 1, 2014. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS receives a properly filed petition with the correct fee. USCIS will not rely on the date that the petition is postmarked.
USCIS to Begin Premium Processing of H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions by April 28, 2014
The filing period for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2015 numerical cap begins on April 1, 2014. USCIS will start premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher, no later than April 28. This date is based on past levels of premium processing requests and the possibility that the cap will be met in the first five business days of the filing season.
Radio Show, 2014, March 26 Discussing: immigration reform, applying for parents and student visa/status difference
Profession/Occupation
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Optional Checklist for Form I-129 H-1B Filings
This checklist is optional to assist FY 2015 H-1B petioners submit an I-129 H-1B petiton.
Please click on the attachment to view the checklist.
Can H-4/F-2, etc. non-work visa holders volunteer?
This question is raised often and debated much amongst lawyers focusing their practice on employment-based immigration. This morning, I have a call scheduled with a corporate client who is considering the legality of accepting a volunteer in their for-profit IT business.