Department of State Announces Pilot Program to Waive In-Person Interview for Certain H-1B Visa Renewals
Updated on January 25, 2024 In response to President Biden’s recent Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, the Department of State (DOS) has issued a Notice of a Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the US for Certain Qualified Noncitizens, which was published in the Federal Register on Thursday, […]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE RELEASES VISA BULLETIN FOR OCTOBER 2018
The October 2018 Visa Bulletin Contains EB-1 Retrogression that is Unprecedented for the Start of the Fiscal Year The Department of State has released the visa bulletin for the month of October. Unfortunately, even though October 1, 2018 marks the start of the new fiscal year when new immigrant visa numbers become available, there is […]
US COLLEGES USING LEGAL LOOPHOLE TO HELP STUDENTS GET VISAS
A number of U.S. colleges are using a legal ambiguity to help international entrepreneurs stay in America after graduating by hiring them upon graduation. While most foreign students would be required to compete for one of the United States’ 85,000 annual H-1B visas through its lottery system after graduation, federal rules state that employees of […]
DESPITE RATE HIKES, INDIA RECEIVES MAJORITY OF H-1B VISAS
Despite a hike in fees, India continues to receive a considerable share of the United States government’s H-1B visas. According to US Ambassador to India Richard Verma, who was present at the recent “The Future is Now: From COP21 to Reality” conference in Hyderabad, India receives roughly 70 percent of H-1B and L1 visas – […]
FINAL VERSION OF THE L-1B MEMORANDUM
On August 17, 2015, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a final version of the L-1B Adjudications Policy Memorandum, which became effective on August 31, 2015. The final publication of the L-1B Adjudications Policy Memorandum provides “consolidated and authoritative guidance on the L-1B program superseding and rescinding certain prior L-1B memoranda” and […]
OCTOBER 2015 VISA BULLETIN DUAL SYSTEM EASES TIMELINE TO FILE PERMANENT RESIDENCE
As part of President Obama’s Immigration Reform policies, the Department of State inconcert with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has introduced a new dualdeadline system that will ease Permanent Residency Applications, especially for people ofIndian and Chinese citizenship. The dual deadline – one for Final Action and one for FilingI-485 applications will come into […]
OCTOBER 2015 VISA BULLETIN DUAL SYSTEM EASES TIMELINE TO FILE PERMANENT RESIDENCE
As part of President Obama’s Immigration Reform policies, the Department of State in concert with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has introduced a new dual deadline system that will ease Permanent Residency Applications, especially for people of Indian and Chinese citizenship. The dual deadline – one for Final Action and one for Filing I-485 […]
NEW L-1B ADJUDICATIONS POLICY MEMORANDUM EFFECTIVE ON AUGUST 31, 2015
The publication of the Final Guidance on L-1B Adjudications Policy Memorandum provides “consolidated and authoritative guidance on the L-1B program” and will serve as guide for adjudication of all L-1B petitions pending or filed with the USCIS as of August 31, 2015. It is expected that the processing of L-1B visas will be substantially eased as a result […]
CHANGES TO L-1B VISA ADJUDICATION PROCESS
The President has announced plans to ease the processing of L-1B applications for multi-national companies. The President’s speech on March 23, 2015, stated that such measures would boost foreign investment and further invigorate the U.S. economy. In conjunction with the President’s announcement, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) has announced a Policy Memorandum, […]
L-1B VISA REFORM
In a continuation of Executive Actions on Immigration announced by President BarackObama in recent months, the President has announced plans to ease the processing of L-1B applications for multi-national companies.These measures will be a boost for companies in the Information Technology Industry whodisproportionately rely on such visas to bring in its employees on short term […]