Historically, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has been the primary auditor of companies using H-2B visa to hire temporary, seasonal workers. But amid debates over the cap on H-2B visas and an expressed need for more H-2B workers the USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security unit (FDNS) is getting into the
Diversity Lottery Registration to Open
USCIS has announced that the 2020 Diversity Lottery will open for registration at noon EST on October 3, 2018 and run until noon EST on November 6, 2018. Fifty thousand green cards will be available.
Eligibility requirements are set out in the Federal Register. This year, individuals from the following countries are not eligible: …
USCIS Explains New Policy on Discretionary Application Denials
Beginning September 11, 2018, USCIS immigration officers will have more discretion to issue petition and application denials without first issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs).
On September 6, 2018, the Ombudsman’s Office provided further details on the new policy change. The following was noted:
- The new policy takes effect
…
USCIS Raises Premium Processing Fee: Effective October 1, 2018
On October 1, 2018 the premium processing fee for all Forms I-129 (Non-Immigrant Worker) and Forms I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) will be raised from $1,225 to $1,410. USCIS announced this almost 15% increase on August 31, 2018.
According to USCIS, this is the first adjustment in premium processing fees since 2010. The agency…
H-1B Premium Processing Suspension Extended, USCIS Announces
While the hope was that the temporary suspension of premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions would end on September 11, 2018, USCIS announced on August 28, 2018, that the suspension will continue and be expanded to include other H-1B petitions.
As of September 11, 2018, the suspension will apply to the following H-1B petitions:
- All
…
New Foreign-Student Work Restriction Has Outsourcing and Staffing Firm Suing
The Trump Administration is continuing its assault on outsourcing and staffing firms. The latest Administration focus is on the STEM OPT program.
In April 2018, without notice, USCIS made certain changes to its website. It declared, among other things, that a STEM OPT employer “may not assign, or otherwise delegate, its training responsibilities to…
Haitian TPS Update: USCIS Backlog Results in Automatic 6-Month Work Authorization Extensions
USCIS will be issuing Notices of Continued Evidence of Work Authorization for certain Haitian TPS beneficiaries who applied for new EADs, but still have not received them.
In November 2017, DHS announced that Haitian Temporary Protected Status would terminate on July 22, 2019. At that time, individuals with TPS EADs that expired on January 22,…
USCIS Requests for Evidence to Petitioners Before Application Denials to Become Discretionary
As of September 11, 2018, immigration officers will have more discretion to issue petition and application denials without first issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) or Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs).
This is yet another of the new policies in the wake of the Buy American, Hire American Executive Order (BAHA) that are making it…
New USCIS Policy Guidance Emphasizes Initiating Removal, Deportation Cases
USCIS may be issuing Notices to Appear (NTAs) in business immigration cases due to a new policy guidance. NTAs are the initial charging documents in a removal or deportation case.
USCIS grants and denies immigration benefits, but it will be more directly involved in enforcement now. NTAs are served on immigrants or their attorneys.…
Is Israel B-5 Investor Visa for U.S. Citizens Equivalent to E-2 Visa? U.S. to Determine
In 2012, then-President Barack Obama signed legislation allowing nationals of Israel to apply for E-2 treaty investor status, but benefit would not be available until Israel provided similar status to U.S. nationals. In March 2014, the Israeli government passed such a bill creating B-5 status for American investors. Further enabling regulations were necessary, however, because…