The I-9 Employment Verification ProcessU.S. employers are required to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals they hire using the Form I-9:• After being offered the job, on or before the first day of employment, the employee must complete Part 1 of Form I-9.• Within three business days of the start of employment, the… Continue reading END OF COVID-19 I-9 FLEXIBILITIES
Category: Government Agency Actions – USCIS, ICE, etc.
COVID 60 Day Rule Ends
USCIS notices requiring responses such as RFE’s, NOID’s, NOIR’s, etc issued as of March 23, 2023, no longer enjoy the extra 60 days being afforded under the COVID flexibility policies that have been in place since 2020.
HNM and Filing Fee Increases
HNM submitted comments to the DHS opposing the filing fee increases that have been propsed. Special thanks to Attorneys Sherry Neal, Natalie Kreutz, Andres Rosales, and Leah Daughtery who authored the comments.
Premium Processing for OPT
Not to be too cynical but, whenever the USCIS fails to deliver services and benefits for which immigrants are entitled in a timely and efficient manner, they create a premium processing option at a sizable cost to the applicant. For a mere $2500, students entitled to certain types of OPT may now have their applications… Continue reading Premium Processing for OPT
H-1b Cap Lottery Details
The USCIS maintains an excellent web-page providing details regarding the H-1b cap lottery registration process
Predict the Future !
Want to know what the USCIS is considering ? Check out the latest Strategic Plan 2023-2026. published by the USCIS.
COVID Relief Extended……. Again
Once again, the USCIS has announced an additional 60 days extension to respond to certain notices such as RFE’s, NOID’s, appeals, etc due to the COVID pandemic. This latest (and hopefully last) covers notices received through March 23, 2023.
Relief for H-4 and L-2 Petitions
The USCIS has agreed, as part of a settlement in a Federal lawsuit to resume the bundled processing of H-4 and L-2 petitions when filed with the principle H-1 and L-1 petitions, essentially extending premium processing to these dependent petitions.
Premium Processing Expands
As of January 30, 2023 I-140 EB1 petitions filed for multi-national execs and managers and I-140 EB2 petitions filed under he NIW category may be upgraded or initially filed requesting premium processing. The filing fee is $2500 and the timing for an adjudicatory action is 45 days. Further expansion to other types of applications is… Continue reading Premium Processing Expands
Filing Fee Increases ?
The USCIS has published a proposed rule that would increase filing fees for most immigration filings. The fee increases are huge with the L petition cost going up by over 200% and the H-1b over 70%. I-485 filings would double from $1225 to $2820 and H-1b registrations form $10 to $215. The new fees will… Continue reading Filing Fee Increases ?
Visa Interview Waivers Extended
The Department of State ( DOS), has extended until December 31, 2023, the previously approved policy allowing consular officers to waive the in-person interview for certain visa applicants which include H-1, H-4, L, O, and P among others, who meet certain conditions, including that they are applying for a visa in their country of nationality… Continue reading Visa Interview Waivers Extended