Experiencing Green Card Delays? Waiting for Immigrant Visa Numbers?  Opening a business or investing in the U.S.?  Are you an Inventor or skilled worker in the U.S.?  November 20, 2014 Executive Actions

The President announced various executive actions on November 20, 2014 relating to, among other things, green card and temporary visa matters.  Some of them are outlined below.

The executive actions are calling for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to make efficient use of authorized immigrant visa numbers, and better determination of immigrant visa number availability.  Various types of green card cases are subject to visa number quota.  [Hopefully, the changes may improve visa number availability such as immigrant visa numbers becoming current.]

Additionally, the executive actions are requesting the USCIS to relax job or adjustment portability for delayed or lengthy adjustment of status cases.  I-485 Adjustment of Status is the final stage in a green card process.  Many adjustment cases remain pending or are delayed because of immigrant visa number unavailability (immigrant visa number not current).  Currently, a foreign national in an employment green card may change or port to a different employer before his/her green card is approved, when the adjustment case has been pending for a certain period of time.  Presently, such job change or portability is restricted to the same or similar green card job classification, which is narrowly interpreted.  Thus, a foreign national who has changed job under the adjustment-of-status portability but who does not have an H-1B or another temporary work visa for the new job may possibly face removal or deportation proceeding. [Hopefully, the changes may allow eligible adjustment applicants to transfer or port to a wider range of jobs.]

In improving the U.S. economy, the executive actions are asking the USCIS to:

1. Clarify the standard for green card national interest waiver cases for founders of start-up businesses, foreign investors or researchers.  National interest waiver is a process for an eligible foreign national who has an advanced degree or exceptional ability to apply for green card without the PERM permanent labor certification process.  His/her contributions or skills must be of U.S. national interests. [Hopefully, these changes may mean widening the range of evidence that would constitute exceptional ability or U.S. national interests.]
2. Parole, on a case-by-case basis, eligible founders of start-up businesses, foreign investors or researchers.  This is for a foreign national who has not yet met the national interest waiver standard, and:

(a) Who has been awarded substantial U.S. investor financing; or

(b) Who has the potential for innovation and job creation through the development of new technologies or cutting-edge research.

Spouses of certain H-1B employees who are in certain green card process may apply for work permit (employment authorization document/EAD).  H-1B visa is for job that requires at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

There may be further clarification and consistency on what constitutes specialized knowledge for employee transferring from company overseas into the U.S.

The above executive actions are not effective yet.  The government will provide further clarifications and guidelines in the coming months.  Please stay tune and sign up for our eNews for future updates.

For additional information on other types of recent executive actions, please visit:  https://immigrationresource.net/in-the-u-s-illegally-need-to-fix-u-s-immigration-status-consider-applying-for-dapa-around-may-19-2015-expanded-daca-february-18-2015/

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as legal advice or attorney-client relationship.

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & koka at tiyalaw dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-772-8224; https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

Need help with green card, work visas, work permit, illegal status, sponsoring family, sponsoring employees, sponsoring relatives, hardship waivers, marriage waiver, and cases with USCIS, Department of Labor or immigration? We represent employers, companies, individuals and families in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law.

We represent diverse immigration cases in naturalization/citizenship, green card, work visas, waiver and other immigration matters. For examples including, but are not limiting, extraordinary ability; national interest waiver; PERM with Department of Labor; I-130 for sponsoring relatives and families (child, spouse, brother, sister, stepchild); I-140 for employment; I-485 to adjust status; I-765 work permit/employment authorization; I-131 for international travel and returning to the U.S; I-601 extreme hardship waiver for spouse, parent, son and/or daughter of U.S. citizen or green card holder; I-751 joint filing or waiver; I-212 waiver for deportation or removal order; J waiver; H-1B professional worker; H-2B temporary worker; L executive, manager and specialized knowledge professional transferring from overseas; B-1 business visitor to the U.S.; B-2 tourist visiting the U.S.; F-1 student coming to study in the U.S.; consular processing with U.S. consulates; consular processing via National Visa Centers; filing cases with the USCIS; filing cases with the U.S. Department of Labor; PERM audit; RFE Request for Evidence by USCIS; NOID Notice of Intention to Deny from USCIS; and Immigration Courts.

All Rights Reserved

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• Citizenship Civics Test in 7 Languages & Exemption for Green Card Holders of at Least 20 Years Who Are Over 65 Years Old
• Washington, DC USCIS in Fairfax, Virginia: Saturday I-485 and I-751 Interviews
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• Job Creation Via Part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
• 36,700 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 14,800 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 11, 2012)

USCIS Received 172,500 H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Visa Quotas, and Random Selection Process (Lottery) Completed on April 10, 2014

H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap 

On April 1, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B Cap Petitions for the annual 65,000 government-mandated cap for the 2015 fiscal year (FY), and the 20, 000 exemption for H-1B under the U.S. advanced degree.   On April 7, 2014, USCIS had received 172,500 H-1B Cap Petitions.   The USCIS has finished its computer-generated random selection process (lottery) on April 10, 2014 and has begun issuing receipt notices.  Those under U.S. advanced degree not selected within the 20,000 visa numbers was processed under random selection for the 65,000 limit.

For this H-1B cap-season purpose only, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases on or before April 28, 2014. 

What is an H-1B? 

H-1B petitions are temporary work visas for positions requiring theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields for qualified foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. Many H-1B foreign nationals have successfully gone on to apply for and obtain lawful permanent residence status (also known as, green card). 

Foreign nationals with at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (equivalent degree and/or work experience) may be sponsored for H-1B petitions. A broad range of positions may fall under H-1B specialty occupations; each case depends on a position’s own set of circumstances. 

Some H-1Bs Are Not Subject to H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap 

Not all H-1B petitions are subject to annual visa cap, depending on the types of H-1B petition being filed, or the types of entity-sponsor. For examples, foreign nationals who already have approved H-1B petitions or H-1B status may still have H-1B petitions filed for them to extend their H-1B status, or to change or add H-1B employers. 

Duration of H-1B

 In general, H-1B petitions/work visas are approved for three years each time (up to a total of 6 years). Under certain circumstances, H-1B work visas can be extended beyond the 6-year maximum time limitation.

 H-1Bs Not Selected or Filed When All H-1B Annual Work Visas Are Used Up 

Potential H-1B candidates who do not make it to the Fiscal Year 2015 H-1B visa quota (October 1, 2014 employment start-date or later) have the options to have their H-1B cap petitions submitted or resubmitted to USCIS on or after April 1, 2015 (October 1, 2015 employment start-date or later) for the Fiscal Year 2016 H-1B visa quota. They can also consider other immigration options such as other nonimmigrant work status and self-petition green card filings, if eligible.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as legal advice or attorney-client relationship.

More News

• Quota for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Been Reached for FY2013 (June 11, 2012)
• Filing for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Begun and 5,900 H-1B Cap Petitions Received (April 8, 2011)!
• Experiencing Green Card Delays? Waiting for Immigrant Visa Numbers? Opening a business or investing in the U.S.? Are you an Inventor or skilled worker in the U.S.? November 20, 2014 Executive Actions
• H-1B Work Visa Cap Has Been Reached on November 23, 2011 for FY2012
• 10,200 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (May 6, 2011)
• US Immigration Completes its Random Selection Process for 2017 H-1B Cap
• USCIS Begins Accepting Fiscal Year 2015 H-1B Visa Cap Cases
• U.S. Work Visas and Options for Nurses

London E Visa Services Temporary Closure Due to 2012 Olympics

The E Visa Office of the Embassy of the United States of America in London, England will be closed from July 16, 2012 to August 17, 2012 due to the 2012 Olympics.   This E Visa Office will provide very limited or possibly no services in the months of July and August 2012.   Normal services are expected to resume on August 20, 2012.

July 5, 2012:  By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224; Email: koka at tiyalaw dot com

https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

We represent companies, employers, individuals and families in green card, work visa and citizenship matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on green card cases such as extraordinary ability and national interest waiver.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only; and should not be relied on as legal or any advice, or attorney-client relationship.

More News

• Experiencing Green Card Delays? Waiting for Immigrant Visa Numbers? Opening a business or investing in the U.S.? Are you an Inventor or skilled worker in the U.S.? November 20, 2014 Executive Actions
• USCIS Received 172,500 H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Visa Quotas, and Random Selection Process (Lottery) Completed on April 10, 2014
• U.S. Embassy in Paris, France: Changes to Nonimmigrant Visa Application Procedures
• Quota for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Been Reached for FY2013 (June 11, 2012)
• 42,000 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 16,000 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 18, 2012)
• 36,700 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 14,800 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 11, 2012)
• H-1B Work Visa Cap Has Been Reached on November 23, 2011 for FY2012
• TPS for Haiti Has Been Extended for an Additional 18 Months, Until January 22, 2013

42,000 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 16,000 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 18, 2012)

What is H-1B?

H-1B petitions are temporary work visas for positions requiring theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields for qualified foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. Many H-1B foreign nationals have successfully gone on to apply for and obtain lawful permanent residence status (also known as, green card).

Foreign nationals with at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (equivalent degree and/or work experience) may be sponsored for H-1B petitions. A broad range of positions may fall under H-1B specialty occupations; each case depends on a position’s own set of circumstances.

H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap

As of May 18, 2012, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received 42,000 H-1B Regular Cap, and 16,000 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption.

On April 2, 2012, the USCIS began accepting H-1B nonimmigrant petitions that are subject to the government-mandated annual H-1B cap of 65,000 and the 20,000 U.S. advanced degree cap exemption. The advanced degree exemption applies to an H-1B beneficiary who has successfully obtained a U.S. Master’s degree or higher. These H-1B petitions are for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013) visa quota (for employment start-date of October 1, 2012 or later). The FY2012 visas quota (for October 1, 2011 employment start-date or later) was already closed. Up to 6,800 visas are set aside from the 65,000 cap during each fiscal year for the H-1B1 program under the terms of the legislation implementing the U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements. Unused numbers in this pool are made available for H-1B use for the next fiscal year; in recent years, all visa numbers had been exhausted eventually.

H-1B petitions can be filed under premium processing (faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications). Premium processing H-1B petitions filed during an initial five-day filing window are undergoing a 15-day processing period that began April 9. For all other H-1B petitions filed for premium processing, the processing period begins on the date that the properly filed petition is physically received at the correct USCIS Service Center.

When the H-1B cap is exhausted is the date USCIS informs the public that the cap has been reached (“final receipt date”), and this may differ from the actual final receipt date. In ensuring a fair system, on the final receipt date, the USCIS may utilize the random selection approach by selecting the number of petitions that will be considered for final inclusion within the cap. The USCIS will reject H-1B cap petitions that are not selected, as well as those received after the final receipt date. The final receipt date will be the date the USCIS physically receives the petition, and it is not based on the date that the H-1B petition has been postmarked.

Some H-1Bs Are Not Subject to H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap

Not all H-1B petitions are subject to annual visa cap, depending on the types of H-1B petition being filed, and the types of entity-sponsor. For examples, foreign nationals who already have approved H-1B petitions or H-1B status may still have H-1B petitions filed for them to extend their H-1B status or to change H-1B employers. These H-1B petitions may not be subjected to the annual visa cap.

Duration of H-1B

In general, H-1B petitions/work visas are approved for three years each time (up to a total of 6 years). Under certain circumstances, H-1B work visas can be extended beyond the 6-year maximum time limitation.

H-1Bs Not Selected or Filed When All H-1B Annual Work Visas Are Used Up

Potential H-1B candidates who do not make it to the Fiscal Year 2013 H-1B visa quota (October 1, 2012 employment start-date or later) have the options to have their H-1B cap petitions submitted or resubmitted to the USCIS on or after April 1, 2013 (October 1, 2013 employment start-date or later) for the Fiscal Year 2014 H-1B visa quota. They can also consider other immigration options such as other nonimmigrant work status and self-petition green card filings, if eligible.

May 24, 2012:  By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224; Email: koka at tiyalaw dot com

https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

We represent companies, employers, individuals and families in green card, work visa and citizenship matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on self-petition green card cases such as extraordinary ability and national interest waiver.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only; and should not be relied on as a legal or any advice, or an attorney-client relationship.

More News

• USCIS Will Begin Accepting Fiscal Year 2016 H-1B Visa Cap Cases on April 1, 2015
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• 36,700 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 14,800 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 11, 2012)
• H-1B Work Visa Cap Has Been Reached on November 23, 2011 for FY2012
• TPS for Haiti Has Been Extended for an Additional 18 Months, Until January 22, 2013
• Temporary Immigration Relief Measures for Foreign Nationals Affected by Civil Unrest or Natural Disasters
• Filing for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Begun and 5,900 H-1B Cap Petitions Received (April 8, 2011)!

TPS for Haiti Has Been Extended for an Additional 18 Months, Until January 22, 2013

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti has been extended for another 18 month (until Jan. 22, 2013).  The re-designation was published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2011, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages applicants to review the Federal Register (at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-05-19/html/2011-12440.htm ) which contains filing instructions for initial TPS application.    TPS applicants (new or re-registration) may also visit www.uscis.gov/tps for additional information on application and/or re-registration procedures on TPS and work authorization.

Under the 2010 designation, TPS applicants were required to show that they had continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010.  Under the re-designation, eligible individuals who arrived up to one year of the earthquake in Haiti may now apply for TPS.  However, individuals who are now attempting to enter the United States illegally will not be granted TPS.

The re-designation of TPS for Haiti encompasses the following TPS applicants:

A. Individuals who do not have TPS or a pending TPS application may begin filing immediately, starting May 19, 2011 and no later than Nov. 15, 2011.

• Individuals filing for the first time and who do not currently have TPS:  Additional Haitians (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) who have continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2011, can apply for TPS, if they meet all other Haiti TPS eligibility criteria.
• Individuals with pending TPS applications:  Individuals who have already applied for TPS under the initial designation announcement in January 2010 and whose applications are still pending as of May 19, 2011, will not need to file a new Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. These applicants with pending I-821 who need to extend or request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) must file a new Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, starting May 23, 2011.

B.    Individuals who already have Haiti TPS must wait to file for re-registration when a Federal Register notice describing the re-registration procedure is published on May 23, 2011.

• Individuals re-registering for TPS: Individuals who already have approved TPS for Haiti must re-register starting May 23, 2011, and ending Aug. 22, 2011, once the Federal Register notice with re-registration instructions is published.  For expedited processing, TPS beneficiaries are encouraged to file for re-registration as soon as the re-registration period begins on May 23, 2011.

All individuals registering for the first time or re-registering for TPS must file a Form I-821 and a Form I-765, with any required fees or a fee waiver request.  Applicants of TPS re-registration will need to check the Federal Register, being published on May 23, 2011, for fee information.  Eligible applicants may also request a waiver of application fees by filling an additional form I-912, and can obtain more information on fee waiver procedures at USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=6fbad59ae8a8e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=fe529c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD .

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224

www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net 

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on self-petition green card cases such as extraordinary ability and national interest waiver.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

More News

• Temporary Immigration Relief Measures for Foreign Nationals Affected by Civil Unrest or Natural Disasters
• 42,000 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 16,000 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 18, 2012)
• 36,700 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 14,800 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 11, 2012)
• Employment-Based ( EB ) Immigrant Visa Numbers for June 2012
• H-1B Work Visa Cap Has Been Reached on November 23, 2011 for FY2012
• 10,200 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (May 6, 2011)
• 7,100 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (April 15, 2011)
• Filing for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Begun and 5,900 H-1B Cap Petitions Received (April 8, 2011)!

Temporary Immigration Relief Measures for Foreign Nationals Affected by Civil Unrest or Natural Disasters

On April 13, 2011, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced temporary immigration relief measures for foreign nationals affected by their home country conditions, such as civil unrest or a severe environmental disaster.  For examples, home country conditions of the foreign national may impede his/her ability to return home as originally planned, or may create temporary financial difficulties for the foreign nationals and his/her families; extreme situations beyond your control also may affect your ability to maintain lawful immigration status while in the United States.

The available temporary immigration relief measures you may apply include:

1. A change or extension of nonimmigrant status for an individual currently in the United States;
2. Expedited adjudication and approval, where possible, of requests for off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship;
3. Expedited processing of immigrant petitions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and relatives of lawful permanent residents whose priority dates are current;
4. Expedited employment authorization, where appropriate;
5. Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program may contact a USCIS local office for assistance at https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=LO ; and
6. Where applicable, humanitarian parole may be available.

Currently, the regions or countries that are affected by civil unrest or natural disaster include, but are limited to, the  Middle East region, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Syria, Libya, and Japan.

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224

www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on self-petition green card cases such as extraordinary ability and national interest waiver.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

More News

• 10,200 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (May 6, 2011)
• TPS for Haiti Has Been Extended for an Additional 18 Months, Until January 22, 2013
• Recent Reports on Lost of Expiring Original Certified PERM form ETA 9089 for Permanent Labor Certification
• 7,100 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (April 15, 2011)
• Filing for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Begun and 5,900 H-1B Cap Petitions Received (April 8, 2011)!
• Processing Delays for Some I-130 Immediate Relative Petitions Pending with the USCIS Texas Service Center or California Service Center
• EAD and Advance Parole in One Single Card!
• New PERM Labor Certification Update: Supervised Recruitment

Filing for H-1B Cap Work Visas Has Begun and 5,900 H-1B Cap Petitions Received (April 8, 2011)!

On April 1, 2011, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B nonimmigrant petitions that are subject to the government-mandated annual H-1B cap of 65,000 and the 20,000 U.S. advanced degree cap exemption.   The advanced degree exemption applies to an H-1B beneficiary who has successfully obtained a U.S. Master’s degree or higher.

H-1B petitions are temporary work visas for foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S.  Many H-1B foreign nationals have successfully gone on to apply for and obtain green card status.

Foreign nationals with at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (equivalent degree or work experience) may be sponsored for H-1B petitions.  A broad range of positions may fall under H-1B specialty occupations; each case depends on a position’s own set of duties.

As of April 8, 2011, USCIS has received approximately 5,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 4,500 petitions counting toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees.

These H-1B petitions are for Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012) visa quota (for employment start-date of October 1, 2011 or later).   The FY2011 visas quota (for October 1, 2010 start-date or later) was already closed on January 27, 2011.

H-1B petitions filed under premium processing (faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications) during an initial five-day filing window are undergoing a 15-day processing period that began on April 7, 2011. For all other H-1B petitions filed for premium processing, the processing period begins on the date that the petition is physically received at the correct USCIS Service Center.

When the H-1B cap is exhausted, the date USCIS will inform the public that the cap has been reached, and this may differ from the actual final receipt date.  In ensuring a fair system, on the final receipt date, the USCIS may utilize the random selection approach by selecting the number of petitions that will be considered for final inclusion within the cap.  The USCIS will reject H-1B cap petitions that are not selected, as well as those received after the final receipt date.  The final receipt date will be the date USCIS physically receives the petition, and it is not based on the date that the H-1B petition has been postmarked.

Not all H-1B petitions are subject to the annual visa cap, depending on the types of H-1B petition being filed, and the types of entity-sponsor. For examples, foreign nationals who already have approved H-1B petitions or H-1B status can still have H-1B petitions filed for them to extend their H-1B status or to change H-1B employers. These H-1B petitions are not subject to the annual visa cap.

Normally, H-1B petitions/work visas are approved for three years each time (up to a total maximum of 6 years).  Under certain circumstances, H-1B work visas can be extended beyond the 6-year maximum time limitation.

Potential H-1B candidates who do not make it to the Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B visa quota (October 1, 2011 start-date or later) have the options to have their H-1B cap petitions submitted or resubmitted to the USCIS on or after April 1, 2012 (October 1, 2012 start-date or later) for the Fiscal Year 2013 H-1B visa quota.   They can also consider other immigration options such as self-petition green card filings, if eligible.

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224

www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

More News

• 36,700 H-1B Regular Cap Work Visas, and 14,800 H-1B Master’s Degree Exemption Visas Received for FY2013 (May 11, 2012)
• 12,300 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (May 20, 2011)
• H-1B Work Visa Cap Has Been Reached on November 23, 2011 for FY2012
• 10,200 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (May 6, 2011)
• 13,600 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (June 1, 2011)
• 7,100 H-1B Cap Work Visas Have Been Received for FY2012 (April 15, 2011)
• Experiencing Green Card Delays? Waiting for Immigrant Visa Numbers? Opening a business or investing in the U.S.? Are you an Inventor or skilled worker in the U.S.? November 20, 2014 Executive Actions
• USCIS Received 172,500 H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Visa Quotas, and Random Selection Process (Lottery) Completed on April 10, 2014

Online or Paper Filing, or Both, for Change-of-Address Forms AR-11 and AR-11 SR?

During an open house informational session held on March 5, 20 11 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Fairfax, Virginia, it is suggested that, due to system-interface issues, Change-of-Address applicants should consider filing paper change-of-address forms in addition to online filing to increase the chances that pending applications also accurately reflect the applicants’ new addresses. 

Starting March 15, 2011, all Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR) must be sent to a new location in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Most foreign nationals and each dependent family member in the United States are required to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with updates of any address changes within ten (10) days of such change via Change of Address form (AR-11, or AR-11 SR for special registration foreign nationals). One separate form must be filed for each applicable foreign national.  Change of Address form is also used for changing a foreign national’s address for a pending immigration application.

This Change-of-Address requirement also applies to green card holders.

Certain exceptions apply to the Change-of-Address requirement.  For example, non-U.S.-citizens under 14, or holding A or G status do not need to file the Change of Address form.  U.S. citizens are also not required to file an AR-11 Change of Address form but if a U.S. citizen has previously submitted a Form I-864  on behalf of someone who has become a permanent resident, the U.S. citizen is also legally required to notify the USCIS by completing a Form I-865 a Sponsor’s Change of Address form, within ten days of the completion of the move.  Form I-865 can be located at USCIS website at

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ba892623014d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD .

For those subject to the AR-11 Change-of-Address requirement, failure to timely file the Change of Address form may be a ground for removal from the U.S.

On February 28, 2011, the USCIS announced that as of March 15, 2011, all Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR for special registration foreign nationals) will change filing locations, and must be sent to the following address: 

DHS/USCIS

Harrisonburg File Storage Facility

Attn: AR-11

1344 Pleasants Drive

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

The USCIS will forward Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR forms) mailed to the old location to the new filing location for 45 days beginning March 15, 2011 until April 28, 2011.

In addition, applicants continue to have the option to file their Change of Address form online or electronically with the USCIS at: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa .  Both AR-11 and AR-11 SR forms can be submitted online at this USCIS website.

The USCIS announcement did not specifically address what would happen to Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR) mailed to the old address after April 28, 2011.  Since the USCIS has indicated that it would only forward Change of Address forms filed to the old address until April 28, 2011, after this date, these Change of Address forms sent to the wrong address would, therefore, be considered improperly filed or rejected.

In minimizing erroneous filing location and for other reasons, Change-of-Address applicants may consider filing their AR-11 or AR-11 SR forms online in addition to paper mailing.

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224 www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card, work visa and waiver matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved. This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

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Processing Delays for Some I-130 Immediate Relative Petitions Pending with the USCIS Texas Service Center or California Service Center

Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a notification indicating delay in their processing of approximately 36,000 immediate relative petitions (Form I-130) that were transferred from the California Service Center (CSC) to the Texas Service Center (TSC). Some cases have been transferred back to the CSC. TSC and CSC are USCIS service centers.

As of February 22, 2011, the USCIS’ updates on the above cases (CSC and TSC) are:

Approved: 18,572

Denied: 165

Request for Evidence (RFE)/Intent to Deny: 6779

Referred to District Office for Interview: 4023

The petitioners or beneficiaries are encouraged to monitor their I-130 case progress on the USCIS My Case Status online at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do . However, by March 1, 2011, if the parties concerned do not see any action on their cases, such as an approval, denial or an RFE, they may contact USCIS at: I-130Inquiries.Tsc@dhs.gov

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224 www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card, work visa and waiver matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

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Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is considering a proposal to expedite the adjudication, based on extraordinary circumstances, of I-601, Application or Waiver of Grounds of inadmissibility (“I-601 extreme hardship waiver”) filed by individuals outside the United States.

Foreign nationals or non-U.S. citizens (including green card holders) with certain histories may need I-601 and/or other waivers, etc to be allowed to enter, remain or return to the U.S. These certain histories include, but are not limited to: (a) the commission of certain crime, or even possible commission of misrepresentation/fraud to obtain or attempt to obtain immigration benefits in or to the U.S.; (b) certain medical conditions; (c) certain period(s) of illegal presence in the U.S.; (d) abandonment (intentional/unintentional) of green card; and/or (e) certain removal/deportation experience within the U.S. immigration law. At present, the wait-time for an I-601 extreme hardship waiver varies widely between the immigration adjudication offices, from 6 months to 1 year. Certain adjudication offices can take several years to adjudicate an I-601 waiver while an extremely small number of adjudication offices may only take several days to several weeks. As a result, family separation is often lengthy and uncertain, and for the unfortunate ones, permanent.

Under the proposed expeditious adjudication policy, each expeditious request would be handled on a case-by-case, and discretionary basis. Since a strong desire to immigrate to the United States immediately would not be considered an “extraordinary circumstance”, it follows that extreme hardships from family separation would not by itself qualifies for the proposed expeditious handling of I-601.

The proposed “extraordinary circumstance” may apply if there is compelling and urgent, or time-sensitive reason necessitating the foreign national’s presence in the United States sooner than the regular I-601 extreme hardship processing time. For example, “extraordinary circumstance” may include, but are not limited to:

1. I-601 applicant’s urgent or critical medical reasons;
2. A (qualifying) family member in the United States has life-threatening medical condition necessitating immediate need of assistance from the I-601 applicant;
3. Urgent or critical circumstances such as terminal illness or death of a (qualifying) family member;
4. Vulnerable individual due to age or disability of the I-601 applicant or qualifying family member;
5. I-601 applicant is at risk of serious harm due to personal circumstances unrelated to the general safety conditions of those living in the applicant’s country;
6. It would be in the national interest of the United States to have the applicant in the United States (for example, applicant’s special skills, applicant’s urgent contribution is sought by the U.S. government entity); OR
7. Member of the Armed Forces of the United States:
(a) I-601 applicant’s qualifying member is a member of the military who is deployed or will soon be deployed; and
(b) I-601 applicant demonstrates compelling reasons (impact to the applicant, qualifying family member or their children) for expeditious adjudication of the I-601 extreme hardship waiver in light of the deployment.

The above and recently proposed policy on expeditious handling of I-601 extreme hardship waiver is currently under review by the USCIS and has not yet been adopted.

Please also visit http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com/2010/06/improvements-in-adjudication-standards.html and http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com/2010/04/permanent-or-long-term-residency-in-us.html .

By Aik Wan Kok, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224
www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved.
This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

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