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Form I-9 Requirements Flexibility Extended for an Additional 30 Days
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19.
This temporary guidance was set to expire August 18. Because of ongoing precautions related to COVID-19, DHS has extended this policy for an additional 30 days.
Aug 20, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
FAQs: Changing jobs while I-140 pending and change in job title || Going to school while I-485 is pending || Issues in changing employers after I-140 approval.
OTHER: Fiance visa without a formal ceremony || Impact of Supplement J approval || Taking leave during H-4 EAD gap || H-4 EAD delay || Family-based I-485 interview rescheduled || Relocation while PERM green card is pending || Evidence of marriage || Applying for green card for parents || Applying for H-1 through two companies || Unlawful presence after H-1B denial, etc.
USCIS Policy Update on CW-1 Departure Requirement
Release Date 08/25/2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is modifying its policy on implementing the requirement that aliens leave the United States for at least 30 days after two renewals of their CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) visa classification.
USCIS Averts Furlough of Nearly 70% of Workforce
Release Date 08/25/2020
Drastic cuts will impact agency operations for foreseeable future
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the agency will avert an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees, scheduled to begin Aug. 30 as a result of unprecedented spending cuts and a steady increase in daily incoming revenue and receipts.
Rajiv's Article - President Biden hands another win to H-1B holders and Indian students in the US
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: February 02, 2021
Two developments in immigration law bring happy tidings: a court challenge to OPT and STEM OPT extension has failed; and the US Department of Labor (DOL) has delayed to May 14, 2021 (beyond the H-1B lottery deadlines) implementation of the regulations affecting disproportionate wage hikes for H-1B and green card petitions.
For more details please see the attachment below.
FY 2022 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 9
USCIS announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 9 and run through noon Eastern on March 25. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to fill out petitioner and beneficiary information and submit their registrations.
A confirmation number will be assigned to each registration submitted for the FY 2022 H-1B cap. This number is used solely to track registrations; you cannot use this number to track your case status in Case Status Online.
Feb 4, 2021 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
Green Card
FAQs: Filing Supplement J, staying without work on EAD, H-1B denial effect on I-485 Age Out/CSPA for children immigrating to the US
OTHERS: Completed I-765 form with a mistake, will the application get rejected || I-140 is withdrawn before 180 days of pending I-485 and EAD application || WD 7A1 stamp and future vacation travel to US || B-2 visa duration and extension || Getting a US Passport under Section 320 for a Minor || Wait for H-4 EAD or convert visa from H-4 to F-1 (finishing graduate degree online) by traveling to India for visa stamping || On F-1 visa stamped for 5 years for 1-year graduate course and unclear when required to leave || Applying for a re-entry permit after receiving green card || USCIS Receipt Notice Delays for I-140/EB-1C || H-1, H-4, EAD expiring: H-1 extension already filed || B-2 extension and RFE responses for parents during covid || Applying for H-4 after marriage with an approved I-140 || Moving to H-1B from Adjustment of Status if currently working on EAD || L-1A Stamping in Canada instead of India - Advantage || Maintaining H-1B status while waiting for green card || AOS filing and processing questions with H-1 and H-4 parents and child on F-1 now over 21 || Downgrading and processing time issues.
Rajiv's Comments in the News - US to continue existing H-1B visa selection process in FY22
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: February 06, 2021
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
“(The new rule) would’ve created a new method of selection, with restrictions over and above what the statute provides. Wages are not a method of selection specified by the statute,” said Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney at immigration.com.
Rajiv's Article - Can an H-1B employee work from India? - The Economic Times
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: February 12, 2021
Synopsis
Until 2019, when a decision from the Department of Labor (DOL) changed the calculus, our answer to this question was: “An H-1B employee may work from outside the USA and be paid under any terms, not necessarily those required by the H-1B laws.”
For more details please see the attachment below.
Rajiv's Article - Will the petition against H-1B visas harm you this year? - The Economic Times
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: February 15, 2021
Synopsis
Biden’s administration will do what is good for the USA. That is to be expected. It is obvious that the administration is inclined to take a hard look at the possible loopholes in the system that may be causing problems such as suppression of wages.
For more details please see the attachment below.
USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B Cap
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2021.
USCIS has completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations properly submitted for the FY 2021 H-1B numerical allocations, but that were not selected, will now show:
US Immigration Q&A for Employers, Webinar with ITSERVE
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for latest immigration updates in Biden AdministrationThe URL for the channel is:http://youtube.com/immigrationdotcom
Profession/Occupation
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
US Immigration Q&A with Yudi (on behalf of students & young professionals)
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for latest immigration updates in Biden AdministrationThe URL for the channel is:http://youtube.com/immigrationdotcom
Immigration.com
Feb 18, 2021 Free US Immigration Community Conference Call with Rajiv (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Topics: H-1B holder owning illegal stocks || B-2 visa extensions or alternatives in domestic abuse situations facing parent in home country || Merger effect on priority dates if EB-2 to EB-3 downgrade rejection and H-1 transfer || H-4 to F-1 change of status and aging out || Different I-94 expiration date on I-797A || I-485 downgrading from EB-2 to EB-3 || EAD-AC21-Self Porting || Name variation issue for immigration and Instructions for the 2021 Diversity immigrant visa program || Issues when priority date for EB-2 is getting closer to cut off || Plans after PD becomes current and responding to RFE based on EB-2 India I-485 adjustment of status || Questions regarding L-1A visa extension or renewal expiration while GC pending || EAD and AP Renewal under Category (c)(9) - Receipt notice delays || I-140, EB-2 NIW visa approved: Estimate time taken for an interview
USCIS Extends Flexibilities to Certain Applicants Filing Form I-765 for OPT
Release Date 02/26/2021
USCIS announced flexibilities for certain foreign students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. These flexibilities apply only to applications received on or after Oct. 1, 2020, through May 1, 2021, inclusive.