In their few weeks in power, the incoming administration made many changes to immigration policy. One thing that has not changed is the H-1B lottery. On Wednesday, USCIS announced the dates for submission and processing for...more
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump returned to the presidency. Within two hours of assuming office, he executed a series of executive orders intended to carry out a restrictive and enforcement heavy immigration agenda. While...more
1/24/2025
/ DACA ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-9 ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Temporary Protected Status ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promised mass deportation, ending of birthright citizenship, and “sealing” the southern border. While Trump’s rhetoric is largely aimed at the undocumented population, his electoral victory will...more
On August 1, 2024 UCSIC conducted a second draw from the H-1B lottery pool.
Federal law authorizes the issuance of 85,000 new H-1 visas per year....more
On February 1, 2024, USCIS issued two regulations that will dramatically change the operation of the H-1B visa program. H-1B visas are available to employers who wish to employ foreign nationals in positions that typically...more
In early 2020, Alco Harvesting, LLC hired Jesus Guzman, a citizen of Mexico, to perform agricultural work in Santa Maria under the H-2A visa program. The H-2A visa program allows employers to hire foreign nationals to engage...more
12/1/2023
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Agricultural Workers ,
Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Litigation ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-2A ,
PERM ,
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ,
Visas ,
Vulnerable Victims
Employers who recently hired F-1 foreign students and wish to continue to employ them beyond the one or three years of Optional Practical Training employment authorization should contact immigration counsel and start making a...more
2/2/2023
/ F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Students ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
OPT ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
USCIS ,
Visas
On January 30, 2023, US Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) will permit employers petitioning for multinational managers and individuals seeking a national interest waiver to select premium processing for their...more
On January 3, 2023, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (”USCIS”) released its long-anticipated updated fee schedule that proposes dramatic increases to the fees employers pay to employ foreign nationals using...more
A recent change in visa processing allows Mexican TN visa applicants to receive a five-year visa. Before this change, Mexican citizens were issued a visa valid for only one year. This policy change allows Mexican TN visa...more
An accounting firm hires a new graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from a local university for its audit team. This new graduate is a foreign student utilizing the one-year Optional Practical Training...more
4/25/2022
/ F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Students ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
US Citizenship & Immigration Service announced that it will accept initial applications for first time H-1B visa petitions from March 1, 2022 until March 18, 2022. An H-1B visa allows an employer to employ a foreign national...more
2/18/2022
/ Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Job Applicants ,
Lottery ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On October 1, 2021, immigrants to the US will be required to supply evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of immigrant visa issuance or approval of an adjustment of status application....more
8/25/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Popular ,
Requests for Evidence ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
On April 27, 2021, USCIS issued guidance to its officers instructing them to give deference to prior USCIS determinations when adjudicating petitions and applications involving the same facts and parties. This guidance...more
Yesterday, USCIS published a regulation changing the manner new H-1B visas or “Cap Subject H-1B” visas are allocated. Federal law limits the number of new H-1B temporary worker visas issued every year to 85,000 with 65,000...more
1/8/2021
/ Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Prevailing Wages ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On October 8, 2020, the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security issued interim final rules changing the regulations governing the H-1B visa program. These rules sought to restrict access to H-1B visas by redefining the...more
12/2/2020
/ Chamber of Commerce ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Domestic Hiring Policy ,
Foreign Workers ,
Good Cause ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Joe Biden ,
Motion to Set Aside the Verdict ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas