Archives
THE WAITING BEGINS: WILL YOUR H-1B CASE BE SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY THIS YEAR?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 7, 2016, that it received significantly more H-1B petitions than allowed under the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2017. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering and computer programming. […]
The 5 Best Ways to Succeed in H-1B Season
The cork is barely out of the new year’s champagne when I begin working on the H-1B petition process for clients. Yes, H-1B season is upon us and this year looks to be another tight lottery. Here are the five best ways to approach your H-1B process to give you the greatest chance of […]
The STEM OPT Saga and What It Means For Employers Now
Did you know that 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or their children? Yes, 40 percent. Companies such as Kraft, Heinz, Proctor & Gamble, General Electric, Mattel and Disney all fall into that category. Apple and Google are also on the list. Technology and the internet have seemed to accelerate […]
Making Sense of the Simeio Decision
In the six months since the Matter of Simieo Solutions LLC decision, H-1B employers and foreign nationals have experienced much anxiety over the new ruling and what they need to do to comply. Despite the guidelines issued on July 21, 2015, the decision continues to cause confusion. If you would like to better understand the […]
Please join us for The 2016 Immigration Almanac
Please join us on Saturday, November 14, 2015 for “The 2016 Immigration Almanac: Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for H-1B Season & Permanent Residency.” Where: College of DuPage, Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Classroom 3728, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, from 8:30 -11:30 a.m. The event is co-hosted by The Law Office […]
When You Need an Amended H-1B Petition
One of my H-1B clients is often on the go. He travels to customers all over the United States. USCIS classifies him as a “peripatetic” employee, recognizing the significance of his mobility to do his job. H-1B employee mobility makes USCIS uncomfortable. In fact, on April 9, 2015, the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) […]
Premium Processing Resumes for H-1B Extension of Stay Petitions
On May 19, 2015, Premium Processing Service was suspended for Form I-129 H-1B extension of stay petitions. The suspension was required to enable USCIS to begin acceptance of Employment Authorization applications for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses under the new and welcomed regulation. USCIS has now determined that the agency can once again resume Premium […]
Form I-9 Gets Smart
Have you ever had an employee come to you to say that the Form I-9 documentation they gave when you hired them 5 years ago was not correct? Maybe they are coming forward now with the correct documents. Maybe they are just alerting you. Either way, you get an uneasy feeling. Because you know this […]