Archives

The Immigration and Nationality Act sets limits on how many green cards or immigrant visas may be issued each Fiscal Year (October 1st through September 30th ) in all visa categories. Every year, the government (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “USCIS,” and the Department of State, “DOS”) specifically issues a certain number of employment based […]

On April 30, 2013, Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) began automating the issuance of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record for foreign nationals entering the U.S. by eliminating the paper form I-94. The form I-94 will be available in an electronic format for foreign national nonimmigrants arriving by air and sea, and does not apply to individuals […]

The USCIS implemented a new Immigrant Visa fee effective February 1, 2013. Applicants for an Immigrant Visa package issued on or after February 1, 2013, at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad (including Canada and Mexico) are required to pay two Immigrant Visa fees: one to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and one to […]

The H-1B visa category is used by employers hiring a foreign national in a professional level position (“specialty occupation”) requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will begin accepting H-1B petitions on April 1, 2013 , with a start date of October 1, 2013 (FY 2014). […]

According to a study released last month by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. is experiencing a steady decline in the percentage of immigrant founded start-ups. Nationwide, the percentage of immigrant founded start-ups declined from 25.3 to 24.3 percent since 2005. In Silicon Valley, the situation is even more pronounced with the percentage of […]

How would you respond if a clients asks, “I am a Canadian citizen, but I was born Iran. Do I need to comply with Special Registration?” The answer is not altogether clear from current immigration policies and regulations, but it is advisable to err on the side of compliance—even if it proves unnecessary. Your client […]

By: Gary Chodorow (gary@fwhonglaw.com) and Jacqueline Lentini McCullough (jacki@lentinivisas.com) Date: Aug. 20, 2009 Do you have a pending immigration case that will require you to prove the validity of your marital relationship to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) or to a U.S. Consulate? If you are applying for a K-1 fiancée visa, you […]

Legal Permanent Resident (“LPR”) What is a green card? –Allows foreign nationals to work in the US for any employer –Permits self-employment –Cannot vote –Can be deported if commit a crime that would rise to the level of deportation Immigration Agencies -U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) -Customs and Border Protection (CBP) -Immigration and Customs […]