In each of the past two years, the number of H-1B visa petitions received by USCIS that are subject to the cap has exceeded the cap on the first eligible day for filing: April 1st. This was true for both bachelor’s degree and master’s degree H-1B petitions. We are now less than a month away. […]
New Work Eligibility for Some H-4 Spouses
Following the executive actions by President Obama in November 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in conjunction with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new rules for certain H-4 dependent spouses. These changes are set to be effective on May 26, 2015. An H-1B visa is an employment-based visa that allows certain […]
The Oscars and Immigration
There was a lot of politics/policy at the Oscars last night. Following a tired line from Sean Penn, Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu prayed for “dignity and respect” for the latest generation of immigrants in the United States. The Washington Post has the full quote: I want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans, […]
H-1B Visa Deadline/Lottery
Each year, USCIS accepts 65,000 bachelor’s degree H-1B petitions and 20,000 master’s (and higher) degree H-1B petitions. In 2013, USCIS met and exceeded these numbers. USCIS received over 124,000 H-1B petitions during the first five business days beginning April 1, 2013. Last year, USCIS also met and exceeded these numbers. USCIS received over 172,500 cap-subject […]
How to Read the Visa Bulletin Family-Sponsored Preferences Table
The goal of this post is to provide some basic information to enable you to better understand the U.S. Department of State’s monthly Visa Bulletin with respect a family-sponsored visa petition. It is not a substitute for an attorney. If you need additional information and/or are considering retaining an attorney to help you with your […]