The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule, on December 30, 2015, entitled "Retention of EB1, EB2, and EB3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers." Included in the proposed rule is the long-awaited provision for the ability to obtain an...
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is nearing its goal of fully staffing the field representative program. These representatives are involved with the F-1 and M-1 school certification process. They also play a key role in assuring school compliance with F-1 and M-1 related...
This morning, a proposed rule was published in the Federal Register that would provide a number of immigration benefits, including grace periods for certain nonimmigrant workers, improved job flexibility, and greater clarity on a number of existing immigration rules. Some of these benefits include:Once an...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has filed a motion requesting a delay in the termination of the existing STEM optional practical training (OPT) rule. The reason for this request is that the DHS needs more time to put a new STEM OPT regulation...
Each month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) explains key aspects of the visa bulletin contents through Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. The January 2016 Visa Bulletin information discusses the expectations for the employment-based, second preference (EB2) India category as...
A draft version of a revised form I-765, application for employment authorization has been released, and the corresponding instructions appear to reveal the eligibility criteria for the proposed I-140 employment document authorization (EAD) rule. Unfortunately, it appears that the proposed rule will be more restrictive than hoped....
On December 22, 2015, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concluded its review of a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would "allow certain approved immigrant petition for alien worker (form I-140) beneficiaries to obtain work authorization…" The rule...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a policy memorandum updating guidance on the approval of immediate relative spousal petitions after the death of the U.S. citizen spouse in cases where the widow/er has remarried. The memo, and the related revisions to the USCIS Adjudicator's...
On October 07, 2015, a proposed update of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online policy manual was released. This is a centralized policy manual, with new online sections added sporadically. The latest proposed addition pertains to grounds for filing discretionary waivers of inadmissibility, based...
Earlier today, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed an omnibus spending bill that serves to prevent a government shutdown. President Obama has indicated that he will sign the bill into law once it reaches his desk. Included within the massive...
