Students / CPT / OPT / STEM

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan and Venezuela.

TPS for Afghanistan will be extended and redesignated for 18 months, from November 21, 2023m to May 20, 2025. Those who already have TPS (approximately 3,100 individuals) should re-register and apply for a renewal of

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its Policy Manual (PM) to provide guidance to USCIS officers on evaluating eligibility criteria for the EB-1A (extraordinary ability) and EB-1B (outstanding professor or researcher) employment-based immigrant visa classifications.

The EB-1 immigrant visa classifications are important methods for employers to sponsor outstanding talent in the United States

As the United States carries out projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act, the manufacturing industry must prepare to face staffing challenges in meeting future demand. Immigration can help address the demand. Please see our full article here.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending and redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan for 18 months, from November 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025, due the ongoing armed conflict and other ongoing extraordinary conditions.

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate and redesignate a “foreign country for TPS due to conditions

USCIS has been issuing challenges and even denials to some H-1B petitions based upon allegations of suspected lottery fraud. USCIS appears to be taking the position that fraud occurs when multiple registrations are submitted on behalf of the same individual.  

Of course, it is possible for more than one company to file a valid

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending and re-designating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for both Ukraine and Sudan for 18 months from October 20, 2023 to April 19, 2025. 

The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate and re-designate a “foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s

As part of the Biden Administration’s initiative to retain high-skilled foreign nationals in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is adding eight new fields as qualifying fields of study for STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) Optional Practical Training (OPT).

STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of Optional Practical Training

Years ago, people employed in manufacturing were seen as bit players in an industrial machine, but no longer. Many manufacturing jobs today require high-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills. 

Despite encouraging U.S. students, veterans, and those in underrepresented communities to pursue careers in manufacturing, not enough prospective employees are available. 

Manufacturers have their

An alliance of U.S. technical workers has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to find the OPT and STEM OPT programs invalid.

Since 2014, WashTech has been challenging the validity of OPT and STEM OPT through litigation. The alliance’s major concern is the allegation that the programs harm U.S. workers. Questions about the validity of these

As demand for talent surges in the fast-growing life sciences industry, U.S. employers continue to face challenges in their search for immigration options to retain their high-skilled foreign workers. Please see our full publication here.