05 Apr 2019

NewsFlash! USCIS Reaches H1B Cap for FY 2020

On Friday, April 5, 2019, the USCIS announced that it had received sufficient filings for regular H1B cap subject cases for fiscal year 2020 (which will begin October 1, 2019). In essence, the USCIS confirmed that they had received more filings than the 65,000 regular...

01 Apr 2019

I am in H1B status and am in the process of applying for a green card. If a doctor gives me a prescription for medical marijuana, will that impact my green card case?

Answer One needs to be VERY careful with this. Although many states have legalized marijuana, it is still classified as a Schedule A drug under federal law (the same classification as drugs like heroin and cocaine). Even if state law allows the use of marijuana for...

01 Apr 2019

I am in F-1 status, and two unrelated companies filed H1B change-of-status petitions for me in this year’s lottery. If the cases are selected, and both are approved, do I have to notify the USCIS as to which employer I am joining?

Answer In general, if one has multiple H1B petitions approved for change of status, it would be possible simply to choose the employer for whom one prefers to work. The other employer/s then would withdraw their approval/s. (01.Apr.2019)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and...

25 Mar 2019

I applied for an H1B visa at the consulate, but was issued a 221(g) several months ago. The U.S. employer grew tired of waiting and fired me. My wife is in the U.S. in H1B status. Can I now apply for an H-4 visa?

Answer There is nothing preventing one in this situation from scheduling another interview and applying for an H-4 visa. You likely will be asked to withdraw the pending H1B, which is of little impact, as the job is no longer available anyway. (25.Mar.2019)In frequent sessions of...