Breaking News

This category is updated daily on interesting U.S. immigration news pertaining to family immigration, employment immigration and other immigration issues. The updates are meant to quickly keep our readers aware of the ever changing immigration laws and all the related aspects. For more information check our entire website on specific topics. Note that this blog does not cover all aspects of immigration news.

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June 2017 Visa Bulletin – Retrogression on EB1 for India

Newark CA May 10 2017 - To our surprise, it seems that EB1 for India is retrogressed to January 2012 for Chart A (processing dates) on the Visa Bulletin June 2017. Fortunately, the acceptance date on Chart B is still current implying that EB1 categories will still be able to file for adjustment of status if they wish to do so. As for the EB2 and EB3 India, there are no great movements although we are glad it has not retrogressed. See full Visa Bulletin June 2017 here. June 2017 Visa BulletinRead More Breaking News

USCIS Completes Data Entry of Fiscal Year 2018 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions

USCIS announced on May 3, 2017, that it has completed data entry of all fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in our computer-generated random process. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected. Due to the high volume of filings, USCIS is unable to provide a definite time frame for returning these petitions. USCIS asks petitioners not to inquire about the status of submitted cap-subject petitions until they receive a receipt notice or an unselected petition is returned. USCIS will issue an announcement once all the unselected…Read More Breaking News

USCIS to crack down on H1B holders

Putting American Workers First: USCIS Announces Further Measures to Detect H-1B Visa Fraud and Abuse Agency Creates Avenue for American Workers to Report Abuse Release Date: April 3, 2017 WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced multiple measures to further deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. The H-1B visa program should help U.S. companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country. Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing, and deserving to work in these fields have been…Read More Breaking News

USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2018 Beginning April 3

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected. The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology.…Read More Breaking News

USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions

Announcement from USCIS Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classification. We will notify the public before resuming premium processing for H-1B petitions. Who Is Affected The temporary suspension applies to all H-1B petitions filed on or after April 3, 2017. Since FY18 cap-subject…Read More Breaking News

USCIS Message: I-765 Workload Transfer and Form I-140 Filing Location Updates

Message from AILA: USCIS announced that on December 19, 2016, it began sending some Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by applicants with a pending asylum application from the Nebraska Service Center and the Texas Service Center to the Potomac Service Center in order to balance workloads. USCIS also changed the direct filing address for Form I-140 cases requesting premium processing with a worksite location in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee.Read More Breaking News

USCIS will actually will allow a grace period on old forms.

Message from AILA Updated December 29, 2016: After considerable pressure from AILA and other stakeholders, on December 29, 2016, USCIS announced that it will accept prior versions of forms that were revised on December 23, 2016, until February 21, 2017. The only exception to this grace period is the Form N-400, as USCIS announced the version change to that form on December 13, 2016 (AILA Doc. No. 16122930).Read More Breaking News

Happy Holidays – Obama ends NSEERS!

We wish all of you Happy Holidays. It has been a long fight for years for the rights of legal immigration during the Obama Administration. However, thanks to the President many good things happened including the H4 EAD, Prosecutorial Discretion, I-140 EAD, etc. Next year is going to be more stressful and difficult than ever. However, we should not despair and continue the fight. Today the Obama Administration ended the NSEERS where thousands of people were punished just because of their countries of origin. This is good news, yet there are a lot…Read More Breaking News

Breaking News USCIS changes forms without warning!

This is something really unconventional when USCIS changes forms without actually giving advanced notices! This notice came from AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association).  The list of forms goes over five pages and can be found here - USCIS, Dec. 23, 2016 From AILA, Dec. 23, 2016 - "Today, December 23, 2016, USCIS posted a large number of new form versions. The forms all have an effective date of today, December 23, 2016, and the website indicates that no other versions of the forms are acceptable, with the exception of Form I-129. It appears USCIS…Read More Breaking News

Immigrants’ Know Your Rights Law Show

December 2 2016 - Many have been asking what might happen to immigration once Donald Trump takes power. There were a lot of proposed immigration changes which have not been formalized. However, based on certain groups analysis and the Trump's chosen Cabinet, we can come to our own conclusions. Note at this point we can only guess what might happen until we see some actual new regulations or immigration laws passed. This law show covers not only the issues but also what immigrants should do to prepare for eventual changes in immigration law.…Read More Breaking News