This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its STEM OPT webpage to clarify that STEM OPT workers can be placed offsite if certain requirements are met. The update also alters certain reporting requirements for F-1 students working pursuant to STEM OPT and...
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions most months. This month, Mr. Oppenheim provides updated predictions for fiscal year 2019 (FY19), which begins on October 1, 2018. Employment-Based, First Preference...
Answer In general, these types of applications would not affect an OPT extension. (13.Aug.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details on chat participation, click here.Access more FAQs here. Copyright © 2018,...
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the September 2018 Visa Bulletin. This is the final visa bulletin for fiscal year 2018 (FY18), and due to extremely high demand in certain visa categories, there is severe retrogression in many of the employment-based categories....
Answer Assuming the H1B petition included a change-of-status request, international travel would result in the status request being abandoned. This means the petition could still be approved, but essentially it would convert to a request for consular processing. In order to enter in H1B status, it...
Answer If the second work location is within "normal commuting distance" of the original work location, a new LCA might not be needed. However, if the second clinic is not within normal commuting distance, a new LCA and amended H1B petition probably would be necessary. Also,...
Answer To retain the priority date, an I-140 based on the LC must be approved. It may be possible to re-file the I-140 using the existing labor cert, if the problem can be "fixed" (i.e. if the problem was with the I-140 filing, as opposed to...
This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a delay in the implementation of the June 28, 2018 memorandum expanding the situations in which a foreign national is to be issued a notice to appear (NTA).The NTA memo initially called for the USCIS...
This teleconference, which aired July 11, 2018, provides an overview of immigration issues related to employees traveling to the United States from abroad. Discussed are situations employees may face, including extreme vetting, visa processing, and what happens during the immigration inspection process by U.S. Customs...
On July 13, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a policy memorandum that increases the discretion of USCIS adjudicators to deny applications, petitions, or requests for immigration benefits without first issuing a request for evidence (RFE) or a notice of intent to deny...
