This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the February 2016 Visa Bulletin. Once again, there is no change in the dates for filing (DF) chart for the employment-based categories. But, there is some forward movement in the final action (FA) chart.For India, the employment-based,...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule, on December 30, 2015, entitled "Retention of EB1, EB2, and EB3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers." Included in the proposed rule is the long-awaited provision for the ability to obtain an...
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The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is nearing its goal of fully staffing the field representative program. These representatives are involved with the F-1 and M-1 school certification process. They also play a key role in assuring school compliance with F-1 and M-1 related...
This morning, a proposed rule was published in the Federal Register that would provide a number of immigration benefits, including grace periods for certain nonimmigrant workers, improved job flexibility, and greater clarity on a number of existing immigration rules. Some of these benefits include:Once an...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has filed a motion requesting a delay in the termination of the existing STEM optional practical training (OPT) rule. The reason for this request is that the DHS needs more time to put a new STEM OPT regulation...
As previously reported, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a final guidance memorandum on July 21, 2015 that details the requirements for filing an amended H1B petition based on an H1B employee being moved to a different worksite location. This memo implements the decision...
Each month, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) explains key aspects of the visa bulletin contents through Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. The January 2016 Visa Bulletin information discusses the expectations for the employment-based, second preference (EB2) India category as...
A draft version of a revised form I-765, application for employment authorization has been released, and the corresponding instructions appear to reveal the eligibility criteria for the proposed I-140 employment document authorization (EAD) rule. Unfortunately, it appears that the proposed rule will be more restrictive than hoped....
On December 22, 2015, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concluded its review of a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would "allow certain approved immigrant petition for alien worker (form I-140) beneficiaries to obtain work authorization…" The rule...
