For many foreign nationals who travel to the United States to study and earn a bachelor’s degree in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (“STEM”), the 24-month extension…
The Trump Administration has announced on May 14, 2018 that it has dramatically increased the number of worksite investigations and audits to make sure that American businesses are not employing…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced on May 15, 2018 that it has completed data entry for all FY 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions. This year, a…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quietly revised the STEM OPT requirement page, showing only as “last reviewed/updated”, on January 24, 2018. USCIS revised the Optional Practical Training…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 3, 2017 that there will be a stricter evaluation process for H-1B applications to further deter and detect H-1B…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have released Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B application numbers. This year, a total of 190,098 H-1B cap petitions were received, of this, 95,885…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has completed the two lotteries to choose the H-1B applications that will be processed this fiscal year. In…
The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) has announced on April 6, 2018 that the H-1B cap has been reached before the April 7, 2018 deadline. As such, the…
Scott Legal, P.C. just received an approval for an H-1B extension of employer with USCIS based on recapturing time the applicant spent outside the United States. Although employees can usually…
If you are an F-1 student and an H-1B cap petition to change status to H-1B has been filed on your behalf, traveling internationally could impact your ability to change…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced on March 20, 2018 that, starting from April 2, 2018, premium processing for all fiscal year 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions…
A new USCIS policy memorandum issued on February 22, 2018 requires H-1B employers to disclose detailed information about vendor and end-client relationships when petitioning for employees who will be placed…
In a new policy memorandum issued on February 16, 2018, USCIS will no longer accept an employer’s applications or petitions if they are signed by outside counsel under power of…
Scott Legal, P.C. just received an approval for an H-1B transfer of employer with USCIS. The petitioning company is a hedge fund specializing in digital asset investments.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may impose a short suspension of the 15-day premium processing service for FY 2019 H-1B cap filings. The suspension and amount of…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Service Center Operations Directorate (USCIS SCOPS) confirmed that it is not anticipating any procedural changes for the Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B cap season.…
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) under the Trump Administration may implement new guidelines terminating a 2015 Rule that extended eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of…
Recent Trends In Adjudication of H-1B Petitions Reveal Increased Scrutiny by USCIS Many studious readers of Scott Legal’s blog are familiar with the recent changes to the U.S. Immigration system…
USCIS has now resumed premium processing for all H-1B visa petitions. Prior to the start of the H-1B season this year, USCIS announced that they would halt the premium processing…
On September 27, 2017 USCIS stated that it plans to resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions on or before October 3, 2017. There has not been a formal announcement…
With the sun setting fast on Fiscal Year 2017 at the end of this month, USCIS announced on Monday, September 18 that Premium Processing will once again be available for…
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 created the H nonimmigrant classification, which includes several visa classifications for temporary workers and trainees. The H1B visa permits a company to hire…
What are an employer’s obligations when H-1B employment starts? The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa suitable for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and a job…