News & Insights « Marcouiller PLLC

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

Employment Authorization Announced for Venezuelans

On March 9, 2021, USCIS announced a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans for an 18-month period beginning March 9, 2021 through September 9, 2022. - Read More

THE REQUIRED REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR H-1B PETITIONS WILL BE MARCH 9, 2021: H-1B WAGE-BASED SELECTION PROCESS WILL NOT BE IMPLEMEMTED FOR THE 2021 SELECTION

The USCIS has announced that the initial registration period for H-1B petitions will run from March 9 through March 25, and that the 2021: H-1B wage-based selection process will not be implemented for the 2021 selection. - Read More

USCIS Announces New Guidance for Completing Form I-9

DHS has extended the COVID-19 compliance accommodations for Form I-9, and USCIS has issued new I-9 guidance concerning employees with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and for DACA recipients. - Read More

Big Changes Coming for employment visas and H-1Bs: Why Now is the time to go forward.

There are many new developments regarding visa issuance and changes to H-1B’s. Some of these changes will not become effective as originally put forward, but they may be implemented in a slightly different form. This year is a good time to petition for any anticipated H-1B needs. - Read More

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Visas & Immigration
Testimonials
- If you heard the story about a soldier who met a Christian Iraqi girl in Iraq, fell in love and ultimately received worldwide media attention, even going on Oprah with Garth Brooks…well…Barbara made it possible
  Robert H. San Diego, CA
Seattle Immigration Blog
- USICS Revives 540-Day Automatic Extension of EADs
  USCIS announces a temporary final rule increasing the automatic extension period of certain employment authorization documents (EADs) from 180 days to 540 days! This measure restores a pandemic-era flexibility, and helps to protect the continuity of America’s workforce.
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- Time to Apply for U.S. Citizenship!
  If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) who is eligible to naturalize, and you want to become a U.S. citizen, now is the time to do it. It’s an election year, and you could be eligible to vote if you naturalize.
  Read More >>
- What Does It Mean That A Visa Applicant Must Be Admissible?
  Whether someone is applying for permanent residence or for a temporary non-immigrant visa such as visitor, student, or H-1B, among others, every visa applicant is required to be admissible to the U.S. If everything else about the case is fine, but the applicant is inadmissible, the visa will be denied. Learn about admissibility.
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- Joint Representation and Potential Conflict of Interest in Employment-Based Immigration Matters
  As immigration lawyers typically represent an employer, it’s important that both an employer and the employee be aware of the potential conflicts of interest that may arise in immigration visa matters.
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- New Fees for USCIS Applications Effective April 1, 2024
  On January 30, 2024, USCIS published notice of changes to application fees. Some fee adjustments, as discussed below, take into account the company’s size or nonprofit status.
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- Visa Appointments (Interview) at a U.S. Consulate
  The Visa Interview is Not ‘Just the Last Step’ It Matters! We often hear clients dismiss the visa interview at the U.S. consulate as just the last step, as though everything was done and approved up to that point, and so, of course, the consulate will “stamp” the passport. Nothing could be farther from the
  Read More >>
- U.S. Dept. of State Announces Pilot Program to Renew H-1B Visas Without Leaving the U.S.
  The Department of State has announced a temporary new pilot program for certain H-1B status holders to renew (revalidate) their H-1B visa from within the U.S. without needing to go to a U.S. consulate abroad.
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- Executive Order on AI and STEM Occupations Could Eliminate the Need for PERM Labor Certification for Many Workers
  PERM certification would no longer be needed if AI and STEM jobs are designated as “Shortage Occupations”; significantly speeding up the process to employ foreign workers in these positions.
  Read More >>
- The ABC’s of NIV’s and Possible Alternatives to an H-1B
  Non-immigrant (temporary) visas are designated by letters. Most people have heard of an H-1B visa, for example, but most don’t know there are many others. Here’s a fun visa vocabulary for common types of business-related status.
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- USCIS Announces Change – Many Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Travel Documents Will Now Be Valid for Five Years
  Learn about recent USCIS changes extending both work and travel authorizations to five years, and the ramifications of such changes.
  Read More >>

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