On January 4, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Proposed Rule to drastically increase various U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) filing fees. Under this proposed rule, fees could be increased by hundreds of dollars, from employment-based petitions to family-based petitions and everything in between. The Public Comment period for this Proposed […]
Can you name three of the thirteen original states? Do you know one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? These are just a few of the 100 possible history and government questions on the naturalization test to become a U.S. citizen. The exam itself requires you to get 6 out of 10 questions correct. To […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing a registration process for the next H-1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for the fiscal year 2021 CAP must first electronically register and pay a $10 non-refundable fee for each registration submitted. The initial registration period will open on March 1. USCIS intends to […]
USCIS announced that it has completed a pilot testing phase and is implementing the registration process in the next H‑1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H‑1B cap-subject petitions for the FY2021 cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H‑1B registration fee. USCIS will open […]
Attorney Laura Hartz and Senior Immigration Paralegal Robin Vermette attended this year’s American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference in Florida. A common theme was the change in climate at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office, shown as an across the board increase in Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials of petitions, particularly […]
On January 30, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a final rule amending regulations for the H-1B cap-subject petitions. Effective April 1, 2019, the final rule reverses the order by which the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will select H-1B petitions under the H-1B regular cap and the advanced degree exemption. During […]
On December 3, 2018, the USCIS proposed a plan which would eliminate the filing of cap-subject H-1B cap petitions during the first week of April: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/12/03/2018-26106/registration-requirement-for-petitioners-seeking-to-file-h-1b-petitions-on-behalf-of-cap-subject The proposal introduces an Online Registration System. If the regulation becomes effective in 2019, employers will have a 15-day period at least 2 weeks prior to April 1 to […]
VisaScreen Certificates are a must. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has special requirements for foreign nationals employed in the following health professions: Nurses (including LPNs, vocational nurses, and RNs) Physical Therapists Occupational Therapists Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists Medical Technologists or Clinical Laboratory Scientists Medical Technicians or […]
We often get questions on the potential impact of a person’s relocation outside of the U.S. while in lawful permanent resident status. The two concerns are: (1) maintenance of lawful permanent resident (green card) status and (2) preservation of eligibility for naturalization in the future. A green card holder will not lose either immediately upon […]
Have you wished you could pay the filing fee by credit card when filing your immigration forms? It appears U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is listening. In February, USCIS announced that it will now accept credit card payments for filing most of its forms. If you file an application, petition, or request with a […]