Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and policies of the prior US administration, case backlog and processing times at USCIS have increased significantly. In late March, USCIS announced several new initiatives to increase overall efficiency and reduce backlogs. Reduce backlogs USCIS is setting internal goals to reduce massive backlogs. To help achieve its goals by the […]
According to a recent notice from the USCIS, it has received sufficient electronic registrations to reach the H-1B cap (quota) for the Fiscal Year 2023. This cap includes both 65,000 regular H-1B visas plus an additional 20,000 visas available exclusively for advanced degree holders from US universities. Like most years, USCIS used a lottery system […]
March, 2023: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced significant revisions to two evidentiary criteria applicable to petitioners applying as: ● Exceptional talent in science, arts, education, business, or athletics; and ● Outstanding professor or researcher. Published materials: (This applies to both exceptional ability individuals and exceptional professors or researchers) Previously, a petitioner had […]
On May 11, 2021, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will continue the International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program. The goal of the IE program is to increase and enhance entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in the U.S. The IE program was created in 2017 to enable foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop […]
On March 12, 2021, Burma was designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months based on the ongoing crisis there. TPS designation allows Burmese nationals (and individuals who habitually reside in Burma without nationality) currently residing in the U.S. to file initial applications for TPS. If you are granted TPS, you cannot be removed from […]
This rule will eliminate the previously used Duration of Status (D/S) and set the Fixed Term Limit to the Student and Exhange Visitors (F and J Visas) and representatives of foreign media (I Visa). We believe this was done to make it easier for ICE to quantify and pursue Overstays. However, as a side effect, […]