Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions nearly every month. The update for the May 2017 Visa Bulletin brings mostly bad news. Further, Mr. Oppenheim provides no information or...
... If my petition is denied, will I still be able to transfer to another program to continue in F-1 status? Answer You should be eligible for the cap-gap benefit extending your F-1 status with employment authorization beyond the expiration of your STEM OPT and until September...
In recent months, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reinterpreted a long-existing rule in a manner that impacts applications to change from B-1/B-2 business / visitor status to F-1 full-time student status. The net result is greater uncertainty and expense for B-1/B-2 visitors...
On April 7, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the H1B cap for fiscal year 2018 (FY18) was reached. The USCIS then completed the H1B lottery selection process on April 11, 2017. Some 199,000 petitions were filed this year, which is...
On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order calling for a multiagency review of the H1B skilled worker visa system. Titled "Buy American and Hire American," a portion of the order ostensibly aims to pinpoint areas of H1B fraud and abuse, and restructure...
... USCIS has just denied my STEM extension application, saying that my school was not accredited when I applied. What options do I have now and how much time, if any, do I have to get back in status? Answer The USCIS has indicated that students in...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that only the cutoff dates in the 'final action' (FA) chart of the May 2017 Visa Bulletin may be used for purposes of applying for adjustment of status. This applies to both employment-based and family-based cases....
President Trump has announced his intentions to nominate Lee Francis Cissna to serve as the new Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Mr. Cissna currently serves as the Director of Immigration Policy for the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department...
As expected, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) entitled Buy American and Hire American. The ‘hire American’ section of the EO has no direct impact on existing immigration laws. Rather, it directs various executive agencies to "propose new rules and issue new guidance …...
Our nation is renowned for embracing the idea that dreams can come true through hard work and perseverance, regardless of the circumstances one is born into. This simple yet radical notion has become the foundation of our collective identity, and it has made the United...
