I. Premium Processing Option for H-1B Extensions Is Temporarily Suspended -
On May 19, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it will temporarily suspend 15-day premium processing...more
AAO Issues Precedent Decision Requiring Employers to File Amended Petitions When an H-1B Employee Changes Work Locations -
On April 9, 2015, the Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”) issued an important precedent...more
On April 7, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it had reached the H-1B cap for fiscal year 2016. The USCIS also announced that it had received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B...more
On February 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule that extends eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based...more
Happy New Year!!!
All of us in the Immigration Law Group at Epstein Becker Green wish you the very best for a healthy and prosperous 2015. We hope that all your petitions and applications are approved and that...more
1/19/2015
/ Barack Obama ,
Executive Orders ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
J-1 Visas ,
OPT ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visa Bulletins ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Sixth Circuit Expands the Liability of Health Care Employers for Sponsorship Costs -
On August 20, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued its decision in Kutty v. U.S. Department of Labor, No....more
9/22/2014
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Appeals ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Discrimination ,
EB-2 ,
EB-3 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Form I-9 ,
H-1B ,
Health Care Providers ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Hospitals ,
J-1 Visas ,
National Origin Discrimination ,
Sponsors ,
Staffing Agencies ,
USCIS
On July 21, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") released a policy memorandum ("PM"), dated July 11, 2014, which provided the first new guidance on H-1B eligibility for nurses in 12 years!...more
We confirmed today that the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Canada all will limit nonimmigrant visa appointments by third-country nationals (TCNs) not working and residing in Canada for the summer due to staffing concerns...more
DHS Proposes to Issue Employment Authorization to Certain H-4 Spouses -
On May 12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") proposed a rule that would authorize employment authorization for certain H-4...more
I. USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2015 H-1B Cap -
As most H-1B employers know, there is an annual quota on the number of new H-1B petitions that can be approved each federal fiscal year. The quota is 65,000 for regular H-1B...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year ("FY") 2015. USCIS also announced that it had received...more
I. H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2014, for Fiscal Year 2015 -
As most H-1B employers know, there is an annual quota on the number of new H-1B petitions that can be approved each federal fiscal year. The...more
2/4/2014
/ Affordable Care Act ,
E-2 ,
E-3 ,
Employee Rights ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Form I-9 ,
H-1B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
OCAHO ,
Termination ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visas
I. USCIS Instructs on Immigration Benefits for Same-Sex Spouses -
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States ("SCOTUS") held that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") was unconstitutional....more
10/30/2013
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Discrimination ,
DOMA ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Form I-9 ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Reform ,
Marriage ,
Same-Sex Marriage ,
SCOTUS ,
US Department of State ,
US v Windsor ,
USCIS ,
Visas
The Department of State ("DOS") has announced the registration period for the DV-2015 Diversity Visa ("DV-2015") lottery. It will begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 12:00 p.m. EDT (GMT-4), and will conclude on Saturday,...more
The looming prospect of a Government shutdown will have a significant impact on the immigration process. Activities of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be largely unaffected because it is funded by...more
I. SCOTUS Holds DOMA Unconstitutional -
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States ("SCOTUS") held that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") was unconstitutional. United States v. Windsor,...more
7/22/2013
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
DOMA ,
Estate Tax ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Reform ,
Marriage ,
Same-Sex Marriage ,
SCOTUS ,
US v Windsor ,
USCIS ,
Visas
In This Issue: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Debate Begins! USCIS Reports That H-1B Cap Is Reached in First Week; New Form I-9 Becomes Effective on May 7, 2013; CBP Announces Form I-94 Automation; DOS Permits Access to...more
5/2/2013
/ Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Discrimination ,
EB-5 ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Form I-9 ,
Fraud ,
H-1B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Reform ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
In this issue:
- H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2013, for Fiscal Year 2014
- Report Finds Immigration Laws Frustrate the Admission of Critical Health Care Professionals
- Senators Offer...more