The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the H1B cap limit for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) has been reached. This applies to both the 65,000 regular H1B cap limit as well as the 20,000 advanced degree (masters) cap exemptions.The USCIS had to...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the January 2024 Visa Bulletin this afternoon. There is significant movement in the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category, and far more modest movement in some of the other oversubscribed categories. All cutoff dates listed refer to those in...
Most family-based immigration cases require the petitioner to also serve as a financial sponsor for the intending immigrant. To qualify as a sponsor, a petitioner must demonstrate sufficient means to ensure that the beneficiary family member will not become a public charge, in need of...
There are two recent updates that impact how certain nonimmigrant visas are being processed at U.S. consular posts in India. The first update relates to a procedural change that impacts certain foreign nationals who scheduled nonimmigrant visa appointments in India on or after November 15,...
In the United States, Valentine's Day often brings with it an increase in marriage proposals. U.S. immigration law has long-valued the idea of family unity. And, to that end, a U.S. citizen (USC) wishing to bring a foreign national fiancé/e or spouse to the United...
On November 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) held a briefing, which included some updated information on the upcoming pilot program for domestic visa renewals. Per the DOS, the program, which will allow certain foreign nationals to renew visa foils (commonly referred to...
Most petitions filed for an alien relative (form I-130) require the petitioner to also serve as a financial sponsor for the intending immigrant. Among the requirements to qualify as a sponsor, the individual must be domiciled in the United States or a U.S. territory. While...
When conditions in a foreign country temporarily prevent the country's nationals from returning home safely, the United States may designate that country for temporary protected status (TPS). TPS allows a national of a designated country who is present in the U.S. to remain in the...
On November 8, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately, updates are being implemented to the guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual for adjudicating special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) petitions. Background The SIJ classification is designed for noncitizens in the United States who...
On October 30, 2023, U.S. President Joseph Biden issued a wide ranging executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) which, in part, calls for the expansion of immigration opportunities for highly skilled foreign nationals with expertise in AI or other critical and emerging technologies to study,...
