The USCIS has improved their website with the addition of a virtual assistant named Emma. This is an effort to facilitate the public's ability to navigate the USCIS WebSite and gain access to general immigration information. Named after Emma Lazarus, author of the poem at...
Later today, Congress is expected to approve a stopgap bill to fund the federal government through Tuesday, December 22, 2015. More importantly, it appears Congress is poised to pass an omnibus bill later this week that will fund the government through September 2016. The omnibus...
Earlier today, December 15, 2015, a USCIS representative contacted AILA to clarify that no decision has yet been made that STEM optional practical training (OPT) employment authorization documents (EADs) will remain valid after February 12, 2016. The USCIS has now clarified that this question is...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) visa bulletin for January 2016 moves the final action (FA) cutoff date for employment-based, second preference (EB2) for India to February 1, 2008. The dates for filing (DF) cutoff date chart, which cannot be utilized for January 2016 EB...
Congress approved a spending bill this afternoon that will fund the federal government's operations through the evening of Wednesday, December 16, 2015. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law later this evening.This bill delays a possible government shutdown, at least for a few...
In response to the recent attacks in Paris by ISIS operatives, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to tighten the visa waiver program that allows travel to the United States by citizens from 38 nations. Passed by an overwhelming margin of 407 to 19, with...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the January 2016 Visa Bulletin. The dates for filing (DF) chart remains virtually unchanged in the employment-based categories. As expected, however, there is some movement in the final action (FA) chart. For those born in India, the cutoff date...
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has been considering the steps needed to improve the PERM labor certification (LC) process. These efforts are a response to President Obama's executive action seeking to improve the immigration process. The OFLC, which is part of the U.S....
Please Note The latest update from the U.S. Consulate in Chennai says they anticipate opening on December 8th.-----December 3, 2015The U.S. Consulate in Chennai, India has been forced to close December 3 and 4, 2015, because of the widespread flooding in the city. Those with appointments...
On November 20, 2015, the Obama administration petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments related to an injunction issued by an appellate court in Texas v. United States that is halting the implementation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA)...
