USCIS Announces New H-1B Registration Period for March 1 – March 18, 2022
USCIS announced that the next initial registration period for H-1B petitions will open at noon (ET) on March 1 and run through noon (ET) on March 18. The selection process will be a random selection as in the past. - Read More
U.S. Department of State Announces Waiver of In-Person Interview Requirement for Certain Temporary Visa Applicants
Learn about the announcement concerning the waiver of in-person interviews through the end of 2022 for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants who have an approved petition by USCIS. - Read More
U.S. Department of State Issues Temporary Waiver of Some Personal Interview and Oath Requirements for Immigrant Visa Applicants Due to COVID-19
Read about the conditions pertaining to this rule, which is valid from December 13, 2021, to December 13, 2023. - Read More
USCIS ANNOUNCES A THIRD ROUND IN H-1B SELECTION – NEWS FLASH!
November 19, 2021, USCIS announced it would conduct a third random selection for H-1B petitions. The selection will happen today, November 19, and petitions for those selected can begin to be filed on November 22nd. Because there is a very limited number of H-1Bs available per U.S. government fiscal year, a random selection (sometimes referred - Read More
USCIS New Rule Adds H-4, E, L-2 Spouses Eligible for Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization: The Change is Welcome but Insufficient
On November 12, 2021, USCIS announced a new policy granting an automatic extension of employment authorization for H-4 (spouses of H-1 workers), L-2 (spouses of L-1 employees), and spouses of E status holders. USCIS Policy Alert, PA-2021-25, November 12, 2021 (Policy Alert). The change must be noted by every employer and worker. Not being aware - Read More
Speaking Engagement at the Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference 2021
I am pleased to be speaking at the Northwest Regional Immigration Law Conference 2021: Yesterday’s Lessons, Tomorrow’s Strengths, sponsored by the Washington and Oregon Chapters of AILA. This year the conference will be held virtually on October 6-8, 2021, and it will offer up to 22.25 CLE credits for attorneys. - Read More
USCIS Seattle District Takes Steps to Improve Backlogs
The Seattle Field Office of USCIS and USCIS District 41, which includes Washington, Oregon, and other states, announced new measures to attempt to address the backlog of pending cases. - Read More
New Opportunity to Request Reopening H-1B Petitions Previously Denied
On Friday, March 12, 2021 the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security announced H-1B petitions previously denied pursuant to one of three policies can now be requested to be reopened and reconsidered. - Read More
New Executive Order August 3, 2020 – Hiring Practices of Employers with Federal Contracts or Sub-Contracts Under Scrutiny
The president orders executive department and agency review of the use of foreign workers to perform certain government contracts in 2018 and 2019 to determine whether opportunities for US workers were affected. Learn more about this order. - Read More
Read about the proclamation, which not only suspends US entry for certain non-immigrants, it also rescinds employment authorization for many already in the US. - Read More