May 2019 Visa Bulletin Shows Sedate EB-5 Progress, Raises Possible EB-1 Retrogression
China’s EB-5 waiting list continued to see slow progress with the projected May 2019 Visa Bulletin, moving one week forward to 09/22/2014. Vietnam, the only other nation with an EB-5 cut-off date, moved forward a full month to 09/22/2016, suggesting that a consistent waiting time of approximately 2.5 years may emerge for Vietnamese investor immigrants. […]
Washington, D.C. – April 8, 2019: High Level Policy Discussions Return to Employment-based Legal Immigration
Over the last two months, immigration groups and business spokespersons have met with senior administration officials, seeking a legislative solution to employment-based immigration programs including EB-5. The talks, which began during the federal government funding shutdown in January, included input from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, as well as immigration advocacy groups, […]
USCIS Closes H-1B Filings for New Regular Cap Cases
USCIS has received a sufficient number of new H-1B skilled worker visa petitions to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. Under new USCIS procedures, USCIS now determine there are a sufficient number of new Master’s Cap H-1B petitions to meet the annual grant of 20,000 H-1B visas for beneficiaries […]
Latest Visa Numbers Hint at Vietnam EB-5 Advance, Deferred Indian EB-5 Waiting List, EB-1 Slowdown
Washington, D.C. – March 28, 2019: The EB-5 waiting list for India could appear later than expected, as Vietnam’s EB-5 waiting list moves forward, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of State (DOS). Speaking on March 18 to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), DOS Chief Visa Officer Charles Oppenheim indicated that […]
E2 Treaty Investor Status Incoming for Israeli Entrepreneurs
Washington, D.C. – March 22, 2019: Israel will join the growing number of nations whose citizens may receive the E-2 Treaty Investor visa, according to the Israel America Chamber of Commerce. This visa designation, expected to come into force in May 2019, allows a passport holder of the listed nation to travel and work in […]
Limited Premium Processing Available for Upcoming H-1B Season
Washington, D.C. – March 22, 2019: This year’s H-1B cap lottery season will feature more options for Premium Processing than previous years, along with an inverted selection process to favor workers with U.S. Master’s degrees, and a system publicizing employers and H-1B work positions. In an announcement made on March 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration […]
DOL Clarifies Posting Requirements For Electronic Notices
Washington, D.C. – March 16, 2019: With two weeks remaining before the H-1B cap lottery, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on Friday issued a reminder to H-1B employers: electronic notices to employees must be “readily available, as a practical matter, to all affected employees”. It its Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2019-3, the DOL clarified […]
April Visa Bulletin Shows Jumps in China EB-2, Vietnam EB-5
Washington, D.C. – March 16, 2019: The U.S. Department of State recently published its monthly Visa Bulletin for April, showing modest progress in the EB-1 and EB-5 waiting lists, and welcome jumps for Chinese EB-2 and Vietnamese EB-5 visa categories. EB-5 visas for Indians remained current and free from any waiting list, as the industry […]
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for all H-1B Petitions Filed on or Before Dec. 21, 2018
Washington, D.C., March 12, 2019: USCIS will resume premium processing on Tuesday, March 12, for all H-1B petitions filed on or before December 21, 2018. This means that premium processing is available for H-1B petitions that are not cap subject, such as change of employer or extension petitions. It also means that premium processing remains […]
Proposal to End Work Authorization for H-4 Spouses Enters Final Review
Washington, D.C. – March 5, 2019: Last month, on Feb. 20, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent its proposed rule, titled “Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization” or RIN 1615-AC15, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OMB is expected to respond to the […]