The average American may not know that some of the largest real estate developments in recent history were completed by foreign real estate companies. The L-1 nonimmigrant visa classification can provide a useful pathway for such multinational companies. See more in our publication here.
Immigrant Petitions
Prevailing Wage Rule for High-Skilled Foreign Workers Effective November 2022
The effective date of the “Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Immigration and Non-Immigrants in the United States” (Prevailing Wage Rule) related to H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 work visa cases, as well as for PERM cases, is delayed to November 14, 2022. The Biden Administration states that it continues…
To Relieve Healthcare Workers Shortage, Congress Considers Recapturing Unused Visas
By Forrest G. Read IV on
The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (HWRA) has been introduced in the Senate again. The bill would recapture 15,000 immigrant visas for doctors and 25,000 for nurses.
The bill has bipartisan support. Introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME), the bill focuses on…
USCIS Switches to ‘Dates for Filing’ Chart for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status for October
While it typically uses the “Final Action Dates” chart for accepting adjustment of status application filings, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that for October 2020, it will allow employment-based adjustment of status applicants to file based upon the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) October “Dates for Filing” chart.
This means that individuals…
DHS Threatening Furloughs This Summer if Requested Funding Not Granted
Reportedly, USCIS will soon announce the temporary furlough of the majority of its employees – 15,000 employees, or three-fourths of its workforce.
The furloughs will begin in August 2020 if the agency does not receive additional fiscal support.
While being called temporary, the head of the American Federation of Government Employees is concerned the reduction-in-force…
USCIS to Resume Premium Processing in Phases
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Premium processing will resume in stages according to USCIS. Cap-subject H-1B petitions will be included only in the last phase.
June 1, 2020: USCIS will accept requests for premium processing for all eligible Form I-140 Immigrant Visa Petitions. EB1-C Multi-National Manager or Executive and EB2 National Interest Waiver petitions are not eligible for premium…
Lawmakers Seek Additional Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses to Ease Shortage of Healthcare Workers
A bi-partisan group has introduced a new bill in both the House and the Senate that would make additional immigrant visas (green cards) available to doctors and nurses. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (HWRA) would ease the long wait lines for green cards that make the U.S. a less attractive alternative to other countries that…
Presidential Proclamation Suspends Entry by Certain Immigrants for 60 Days during COVID-19 Crisis
By Amy L. Peck & Michael H. Neifach on
A temporary suspension of entry by certain employment-based, family-based, and other immigrants has been enacted. For an analysis of the presidential proclamation suspending that immigration to the United States, please see our full publication here.
USCIS Announces Expanded Premium Processing Suspension, Acceptance of Non-Original Signatures
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Posted in COVID-19, E-1 / E-2, EB-1, H-1B, Immigrant Petitions, L-1A / L-1B, O-1, P-1, Temporary (Non-immigrant) Work Visas, TN / NAFTA, USCIS
Due to COVID-19, USCIS announced that as of March 20, 2020, it is immediately suspending premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice. USCIS also said that petitioners that have already filed a form requesting premium processing will receive refunds if their cases are not acted on within the 15…
Growing USCIS Processing Backlog Continues into New Year
By Sean G. Hanagan on
USCIS is starting the year with a growing backlog of processing delays.
In May 2019, a bi-partisan group of Senators wrote to USCIS requesting information on why the service-oriented agency adjudicating immigration benefits, such as work authorization, is disrupting American businesses through administrative inefficiencies.
Here are some of the facts:
- For FY 2018, the
…