Archives
AILA: Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waivers
Below is a flyer from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The Department of State has been issuing nonimmigrant visa interview waivers to more people due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. A company’s nonimmigrant foreign national may be eligible to apply for an interview waiver. However, it all depends on how a particular U.S. Consulate operates. For […]
USCIS Information on Options when Terminating Nonimmigrant Workers
Photo by Craig Whitehead on Unsplash Recently, USCIS released a new webpage outlining the details of what happens after a nonimmigrant gets terminated from their employment, voluntarily or involuntarily. The full webpage can be found here. First and foremost, workers facing termination on an E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, or TN classification have […]
The Top 5 Mistakes Employers Make When Preparing H-1B Petitions
The H-1B season is off and running! Though United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) has not specified the dates the online lottery will be open this year, we know it will occur in March. I recommend that all petitions be ready for submission by March 1. Please know USCIS has proposed a rule […]
Biden Brightens Immigration Outlook, H-1B Visa Details TBD
President Biden Brightens Immigration Outlook It feels like a cloud has been lifted from the immigrant community and everyone who serves it. Last November I mentioned that the Trump Administration enacted over 400 immigration policy changes during their tenure. The changes added burdens to visa petitions, delayed processing, and made life more challenging for everyone […]
Navigating the U.S. Immigration Labyrinth Right Now
Photo by Susan Yin on Unsplash Two summers ago, before my sons entered high school, we took a family trip to Italy. It seemed like the perfect time – my sons were old enough to appreciate the trip but not so busy they could not go. I could never have imagined then how grateful I’d […]
Charting the Course for H-1Bs and Other Visas Through COVID-19
U.S. Immigration laws and regulations have always required immigration attorneys to have a certain level of creativity to problem solve. Keeping current on regulation changes, combined with creativity, helped me navigate the paths to my clients’ goals even when they took unexpected turns. Over time, I got to know the terrain well and could […]
An H-1B Season of Transition Begins
On February 3, 2020 a coding flaw in a mobile app delayed the tabulation and reporting of the Iowa Democratic Caucus results. This high-profile failure reminds us that technological glitches can show up any time but especially when a system is put to extreme use. This reminder is the guiding principle for my H-1B preparation […]
Stateside Visa Renewal Announced by Department of State
Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash The State Department (DOS) has recently announced a pilot program of domestic visa renewals for H and L visa holders later this year. Ever since 2004, H and L holders must travel back to their home country, renew their visa at the home-country’s U.S. Consulate, and then travel back […]