The Ox (牛) is the second of the 12-year periodic sequence (cycle) of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar, and also appears in related calendar systems. The Chinese term translated here as ox is in Chinese niú (牛), a...
Washington, D.C., February 12, 2021: The U.S. Department of State published a new policy effective February 10, 2021, that again exempts F-1 and M-1 students on student visas traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland from travel restrictions to the United States. 14-Day Travel...
Washington, D.C., February 11, 2021: The initial registration period for FY2022 H-1B cap will open at noon (ET) on March 9 and run through noon (ET) on March 25. During this period, employers seeking an H-1B visa for a new skilled foreign worker will be...
Washington, D.C., February 10, 2021: A Federal Court in Washington, D.C. is considering a new case that may decide the future of the DACA program. What is DACA? DACA is a program created by President Obama in 2012, and is formally called “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.”...
On February 2, 2021, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) issued targeted Notifications of Interest (NOIs) to candidates who may qualify for Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream and have specific work experience. The OINP in its latest tech draw targeted candidates with a (Comprehensive Ranking...
On February 02, 2021, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued 208 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Skills Immigration (SIBC) and Express Entry (EEBC) categories to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. These streams are intended for workers or international...
The Government of Alberta on January 27, 2021, launched a new immigration pathway to encourage international graduates to open businesses in Alberta that will create new high-paying jobs for Albertans and help diversify the economy. The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS) is an economic immigration...
Washington, D.C., February 5, 2021: Does filing I-485 Adjustment of Status (“AOS”) cure the denial of an H-1B extension that occurred prior to filing AOS? The answer, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California is, sadly, “no”. Lawful Visa Status and Period of...
Why is there an H-1B Visa Lottery? Annually, USCIS issues a maximum of 65,000 new H-1Bs, plus 20,000 H1Bs reserved persons holding a Master’s or Ph.D. from a U.S. university. The popularity of the H-1B visa program is great. Recent data confirms that annual demand for new H-1B visas more than double,...
