20 May 2019

I am in H-4 status and my H1B petition was approved for consular notification. Do I have to go to my home country to get my H1B visa stamp?

Answer Normally, one can apply for a visa "stamp" in any country, outside the U.S., where one is physically present. However, check the consulate's website before traveling, as some have unique rules for third-country nationals. Also, if you apply at a consulate other than the one...

15 May 2019

June 2019 Visa Bulletin: EB1 India Retrogresses, EB5 India Retrogression Coming Soon

The June 2019 Visa Bulletin has been released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). The most notable movement is that the employment-based, first preference (EB1) category for India retrogresses significantly, albeit only temporarily. In addition, the latest visa bulletin cautions that the employment-based, fifth...

13 May 2019

My H1B cap case was selected in this year’s lottery and it is still pending. My OPT will expire soon. If I apply for a STEM OPT extension, will this impact my pending H1B change-of-status request?

Answer In general, no, this would not impact the H1B change-of-status request because OPT is not a status - one's status during OPT would still be F-1. Once an H1B change-of-status is approved, the F-1 status and corresponding OPT are terminated as of October 1st (or...