This week, the USCIS reached a settlement agreement stemming from a Federal lawsuit brought on behalf of H-4 and L-2 EAD holders. The lawsuit was brought by AILA and a number of partners. The USCIS then released a new policy memo implementing the settlement and also included E dependents. In pertinent part, the new policy… Continue reading H-4, L-2, and E dependents Win over EAD issues !
Category: US Immigration Policy
USCIS Takes it on the Chin
Ever been frustrated by the USCIS and wondered how a government agency can be so inefficient ? You may enjoy reading this briefing from the Migration Policy Institute. This is not a political piece and the lead author is the former INS Commissioner. If this were a movie it would be a tragedy at times… Continue reading USCIS Takes it on the Chin
More H-1b Visas ?
Although the H-1b lottery season is still 6 months away, the high demand for IT workers along with the shortage of qualified workers is causing many to ask the question of whether it is time to raise the H-1b cap ? Although in theory, it would be nice if our politicians would consider market conditions… Continue reading More H-1b Visas ?
Talent Shortage
Recent reports show that hiring demand is high but, there remains a major talent shortage. Check out this recent report from Manpower Group. Although certainly not a panacea, there are a number of workers in the U.S. being prevented from being available in the talent pool due to inefficiencies and outdated policies from the USCIS… Continue reading Talent Shortage
Another Trump Era H-1b Rule is Declared Invalid
Last week, a Federal judge declared the last of the Trump Era (Stephen Miller creations) regulations illegally issued and declared it invalid. This last regulation would’ve changed the way H-1b cap cases were selected moving from a random lottery to a system that selected petitions by salary. This would’ve been a major boost to international… Continue reading Another Trump Era H-1b Rule is Declared Invalid
Chats with Charlie-Visa Bulletin
If you are impacted by the Visa Bulletin issued each month and are curious about the movement of dates forward and backward (retrogression) and are not listening to the monthly youtube live streaming event hosted by the Department of State, I encourage you to start listening. Here is a link to the event held last… Continue reading Chats with Charlie-Visa Bulletin
H-1b Visas in the News
The H-1b Visa, always a hot political topic, has been in the news a lot lately. Now that the H-1b lottery numbers have been released by the USCIS and we know that over 300,000 registration were submitted, we can quickly calculate that about 35% of those seeking a visa were selected. Check out this recent… Continue reading H-1b Visas in the News
Biden Administration Defends Trump’s H-1b Lottery Rule
As part of a Federal Court action pending in California, the Biden Administration submitted briefs defending the Trump Administration’s rule which prioritized the selection of H-1b visas by salary levels. This change from the current random process would have a negative effect on international students but, would be welcome news to large international employers who… Continue reading Biden Administration Defends Trump’s H-1b Lottery Rule
Agency in Meltdown ?
The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman office recently released the 2021 Annual Report and to characterize the Agency as overwhelmed, underfunded and in chaos would be kind. There are over 1.3 million applicants waiting for biometric appointments and a total of over 7 million applications and petitions awaiting adjudication. The most immediate concern is the… Continue reading Agency in Meltdown ?
NIE Conference Call
Got questions about getting an NIE so you or your international employees can obtain a visa and enter the U.S. ? We are hosting a free conference call for clients and friends on July 7th. Please register here.
Technical Talent Scarcity Exacerbated by the COVID Pandemic
Recent research published by the New American Economy provides findings that support the notion that demand for high skilled labor has increased yet the supply has decreased. This scarcity of labor is expected to negatively impact the economic recovery. Check out the full report here.