USCIS Revises Form I-485 to Allow for Social Security Number Application
Washington, D.C., August 9, 2021: USCIS recently announced that it would be revising Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to include questions relevant to applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) or replacement card. In the past, applicants would need to apply in person at a Social Security office. These changes […]
USCIS Extends Validity of Form I-693 Medical Exam for Two Additional Years
Washington, D.C., August 12, 2021: USCIS has extended the validity of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record from two years to four years due to COVID-19 related processing delays. USCIS is making this temporary change due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting processing delays and backlogs for the […]
Why Immigrants Are More Likely to Become Entrepreneurs
Source: HBR If you’re lucky enough to have received a Covid-19 vaccination, you probably have an immigrant entrepreneur to thank. Not only are Pfizer, BioNTech, and Moderna pioneers in the field of mRNA-based vaccine research; they were all founded or cofounded by immigrants.* The entrepreneurs who started those companies are prominent examples of a larger […]
免抽签的H-1B
Cap – Exempt H-1B Requirements 众所周知，H-1B签证每年受配额限制，导致雇员被要求通过抽签的方式赢得递交H-1B申请的机会。如果你没有幸运的被抽到或者拿到工作offer时已经错过了抽签的时间，此财年就无法拿到H-1B在美国工作。这种情况，雇员应该寻求其他工作机会，例如免抽签的H-1B 类别 (Cap-Exempt)。免抽签的H-1B类别不受配额限制，可以全年随时递交H-1B申请，批准后H-1B身份立即生效。与配额的H-1B相比（每年10月1日生效），免抽签的H-1B灵活性更强。 什么情况下申请H-1B不需要抽签呢？它的适用与雇主的身份有关。具体来讲，递交H-1B的雇主是： 高等教育机构 （Institutions of higher education）。不包括小学和中学教育机构 。 高等教育机构附属的非盈利机构 （Non-profit organizations associated with institutions of higher education）。 从事研究的非盈利机构 （Non-profit research organizations）。 从事研究的美国政府机构 （Governmental research organizations）。 高等教育机构 Institutions of higher education 高等教育机构是指有资质授予学士学位或两年以上学位的的机构。其所接收的学生必须是已经完成了中等教育的学生。 此类雇主主要是高等院校（大学或学院）。雇主提供的H-1B职位只要与雇员的学历和工作背景相关，且符合H-B要求的“职位专业化”即可。例如，IT背景的雇员应聘高等院校的软件和网路设计的职位。 高等教育机构附属的非盈利机构Non-profit organizations associated with institutions of higher education 获得免抽签的非盈利机构在注册成立时必须是以“非盈利”为目的的。与高等教育机构的附属关系为“所有权”或“控制权”的关系，类似分支机构，子机构。但是，移民局对于“附属关系”给与了更广泛的解释，合作关系也被视为附属关系的一种。根据AAO的判例 Matter of X, EAC-06-216-52028 (AAO Sept. […]
Senate Confirms Jaddou As First Woman To Lead USCIS
The U.S. Senate voted 47-34 on Friday to confirm Ur Mendoza Jaddou to lead U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ur Mendoza Jaddou will be the first congressionally approved director since 2019 and its first-ever female leader. Ur Mendoza Jaddou has stated that among her initial goals is to reduce USCIS delays in visa processing, which […]
President Asks for Immigration Bills to Be Included in 2021 Spending Bills
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2021: In a news conference on July 29, 2021, President Biden stated that he wanted to see immigration reform proposals included in budget and spending legislation planned for Fall 2021. ‘I think we should include in reconciliation the immigration proposal,’ Biden said. ‘My staff is putting out a message right now,’ […]
Canada Opens Border to Us Travelers Starting August 9
Washington, D.C., July 30, 2021: The Canadian Government announced this week that it was allowing certain U.S. travelers to enter Canada without having to quarantine. Fully vaccinated foreign nationals may be allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel on the following dates if they meet specific criteria: Effective August 9: American citizens and permanent residents […]
USCIS Expands Efforts to Accept Credit Card Payments
Washington, D.C., July 21, 2021: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has expanded a previously announced pilot program at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) for accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for certain applicants applying for premium processing. On July 19, the NSC started accepting […]
USCIS Grants Status Gap Protection on F-1 Change of Status
Washington, D.C., July 20, 2021: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced new policy guidance that eliminates the need for individuals who have applied for a change of status (COS) to F-1 student to apply to change or extend their current nonimmigrant status while their initial F-1 COS application is pending. Under the previous policy, […]
Canada to Open Border to Fully Vaccinated U.S. Citizens on Aug. 9
Canada on Monday said it would begin to ease pandemic restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border next month, allowing U.S. citizens and permanent residents living in the United States who are fully vaccinated with Canadian-authorized vaccines to enter for nonessential travel without quarantining. Donoso & Partners, a leading immigration law firm based in Washington, D.C., will […]