07 Aug 2019

I have an approved I-140 and am in H1B status. However, my H1B extension was just denied, so I will soon be departing the U.S. Do I have any options of returning? Will this impact my I-140?

Answer An H1B extension denial normally would have no impact on an approved I-140. As for returning to the U.S., one typically could have another H1B petition filed on one's behalf for consular notification. Assuming it is approved, it should be possible to apply for an...

31 Jul 2019

My H1B petition was selected in this year’s lottery, and an RFE was issued. My project just ended, so my employer says he is going to file an H1B amendment for the case. Will this cause any problems?

Answer One in this situation should talk to a qualified attorney before taking any action. Normally, it is not possible to amend a cap H1B that has not yet gone into effect (i.e., the start date, which is typically October 1st, has not been reached and/or...

24 Jul 2019

August 2019 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. Following the release of the August 2019 Visa Bulletin, Mr. Oppenheim discussed some of the higher-than-normal demand in various categories, and...

12 Jul 2019

Bill to Remove Per-Country Limits Advances, but Significant Hurdles Remain

On July 10, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1044, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019. If passed into law, the bill would eliminate the per-country cap on employment-based green cards, and increase the per-country limit for family-based categories. While this news...