The USCIS announced that the H1B cap for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) was reached on June 11, 2012. Confirmation was issued on June 12, 2012, which also advised for the first time that the advanced-degree cap exemption limit was met on June 7, 2012.Cap-subject cases...
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently expanded the list of approved degree programs that are eligible for the 17-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) extensions. The ICE announcement is available online. Background: Basics of STEM Extensions In April 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)...
On June 4, 2012, the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services issued an updated count of cases filed against the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) cap. This count reflects that the cap filings are getting close to the annual limit, both for the advanced-degree exemption and the...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instituted new procedures designed to facilitate prompt resolution of certain specific, clear USCIS case processing errors. The procedures and case types that may be addressed through this expedited case review are explained here for the benefit of...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed at the end of May 2012, that delays are being experienced in the issuance of receipt notices for Form I-129. The I-129 is used for many employment-based, nonimmigrant categories, including H1B petitions. Increased H1B Cap Filings The USCIS...
For the past four weeks, starting on April 2, 2012, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been accepting H1B petitions to be counted against the fiscal year 2013 (FY13) H1B Cap. As of the latest count at the time of this writing (through...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced major changes to nonimmigrant and immigrant visa fees. These fees are charged to applicants who apply for visas (sometimes referred to as visa "stamping") at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. These new fees became effective April 13,...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed the paper used for Form I-797C, Notice of Action, effective April 2, 2012. The Form I-797C is now printed on plain bond paper, rather than the special paper previously used. The purpose of this change is...
The USCIS issued a cap count for H1B filings as of April 9, 2012. According to USCIS, 25,600 cap-subject H1B cases have been filed thus far this cap season. Of these filings, 8,200 were filed against the advanced-degree exemption; 17,400 were filed against the regular...
The fiscal year 2013 (FY13) H1B cap-filing season began this week. April 2, 2012 was the first day for such filings at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Readers affected by this should regularly check MurthyDotCom and the MurthyBulletin as your reliable source of...
