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05 Jun 2020

June 2020 Visa Bulletin Check-In

Most months, Charles Oppenheim, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Oppenheim is currently working from home, and therefore is unable to access certain government databases....

16:58 / Consulates / EB5 Investor / Employment Based / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / Investor / NewsBrief / Resident / USCIS News / Visa Bulletin
03 Jun 2020

My H1B petition is pending with the USCIS. Today, the online system was updated to say “Name Was Updated.” My employer says they did not submit any type of name change request. What should I do?

Answer The USCIS has been using this strange "Name Was Updated" status alert for a number of years, and it has long created confusion. It is not entirely clear what this actually means, but it appears to at least sometimes be used by the USCIS as...

07:52 / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / USCIS News / Worker
29 May 2020

NewsFlash! Premium Processing Service Being Phased In, Starting 01.Jun.2020

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it would resume premium processing service in phases, beginning June 1, 2020. Per the announcement, premium processing will be made available as follows.Effective June 1, 2020, the USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium...

11:56 / Employment Based / For Employers / For Families / NewsBrief / Resident / USCIS News / Worker
28 May 2020

Are there any updates on President Trump issuing an executive order to restrict H1B workers? Will it impact my H1B cap case?

Answer Forbes reported today that the Trump Administration is expected to issue an executive order "soon" that would impact certain high-skilled nonimmigrant workers. The presumption is that, if such an order were to be issued, it would focus on foreign nationals requesting admission, as opposed to...

16:03 / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Student / Travel / Worker
28 May 2020

A company submitted an H1B registration for me in March, but it was not selected in the lottery. Is it possible that a second round of lottery selections will take place?

Answer Yes, if there are not enough H1B petitions filed from the registrations that were selected, it is possible that a second round of lottery picks will take place. (28.May.2020)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE...

15:58 / FAQs / For Employers / For Individuals / Worker
28 May 2020

I read that the USCIS is going to resume in-person biometrics appointments soon. Does that mean the consulates are also being opened for visa appointments?

Answer The consulates are run by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), not the USCIS. So, the USCIS announcement has no impact on the consulates.The U.S. consulates across the globe likely will not all open at the same time. Rather, the U.S. consulates in each country...

15:55 / Consulates / FAQs / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Student / Travel / USCIS News / Worker
28 May 2020

USCIS Provides Flexibility During Pandemic to Physicians Seeking Conrad 30 Waivers

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a policy memorandum containing some limited changes for certain foreign medical graduates during the COVID-19 national emergency. The new policy provides some relief from adverse immigration consequences to international medical graduates working in the U.S. in...

11:39 / For Employers / For Individuals / Medical / NewsBrief / Physicians / Worker
27 May 2020

NewsFlash! USCIS Plans to Resume In-Person Services on 04.Jun.2020

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that routine in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) will resume on June 4, 2020. Per the announcement, the USCIS is following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control...

16:36 / Citizen / Employment Based / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / Travel / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker