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H-1B Premium Processing is Further Suspended

Tiyalaw — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 22:54:37 +0000

H-1B Premium Processing is Further Suspended

Effective September 11, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is further suspending premium processing until February 19, 2019 for all H-1Bs Petitions filed with California and Vermont Service Centers except for the following:

1. Cap-exempt H-1B Petitions by cap-exempt employers filed with California Service Center.

2. H-1B Petitions without any change or amendment filed with Nebraska Service Center.

Previously, USCIS has been suspending H-1B premium processing for H-1B Cap Petitions only until September 10, 2018.

Outside of premium processing, USCIS may still consider expedite request on a discretionary and case-by-case basis.

Premium processing is filed via Form I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service for USCIS to adjudicate a petition within 15 calendar days from its receipt (e.g. approval, request for evidence or RFE, or denial within 15 days). With this temporarily suspension, there will be processing delay for many types of H-1B Petitions, and FY 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions or Visas that are fortunate enough to be selected in the H-1B lottery process.

For additional information, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-extends-and-expands-suspension-premium-processing-h-1b-petitions-reduce-delays

August 28, 2018

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, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & info at tiyaimmigration dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-7728224; https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

Aik Wan Kok at Tiya represents companies, employers, individuals and families, located nationwide and internationally, in U.S. Immigration Law. We focus on diverse immigration cases such as extraordinary ability; national interest waiver; PERM; green card; N-400 Naturalization; various waivers; H cases; L executive, manager and specialized knowledge professional; E treaty investor/trader; cases with USCIS, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Consulates and National Visa Center.

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Processing Delay for H-1B Petitions for Visa Cap 2019 with Temporary Premium Processing Suspension

Tiyalaw — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:12:34 +0000

Processing Delay for H-1B Petitions for Visa Cap 2019 with Temporary Premium Processing Suspension

There will be processing delays for H-1B petitions that are lucky enough to be selected in the lottery system for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. This is because effective April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be suspending premium processing, temporarily, for FY 2019 H-1B Petitions that are subject to visa cap. Foreign nationals waiting for H-1B lottery results will still need to maintain or extend their immigration status. They may also consider additional immigration application(s) as back-up, if eligible.

For more information, please visit https://immigrationresource.net/uscis-suspends-premium-processing-service-for-h-1b-petition-fy2019-visa-cap/ .

March 20, 2018

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, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & info at tiyaimmigration dot com; International: 001-703-772-8224; https://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; https://immigrationresource.net

We represent employers, companies, individuals, and families in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law in the U.S. and internationally in diverse immigration cases: extraordinary ability (EB-1A, EB-1B, EB-1C); national interest waiver NIW; PERM; I-130 for families; I-140 for employment Green Card; I-485 to adjust status; I-765 work permit; I-131 for international travel and returning to the U.S; I-601/I-601A extreme hardship waivers; I-751 joint filing or waiver; N-400 Naturalization/Citizenship; N-648 Medical Waiver; I-212 waiver for deportation or removal order; J waiver; H-1B professional workers and other H cases; ; L executive, manager and specialized knowledge professionals transferring from overseas; E treaty investors/traders; B-1 business visitor to the U.S.; B-2 visitor to the U.S.; F-1 student coming to study in the U.S.; matters pertaining to consular processing with U.S. consulates and National Visa Centers; cases with USCIS and U.S. Department of Labor DOL; PERM audit; RFE Request for Evidence (RFE); NOID Notice of Intention to Deny (NOID); and many more.

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USCIS Immigration Services for Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Tiyalaw — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 03:04:20 +0000

USCIS Immigration Services for Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey

On August 30, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces that it is offering services to help people affected by unforeseen circumstances/disasters such as Hurricane Harvey. Services are discretionary, upon request and with an explanation on how Hurricane Harvey is causing a need for such services. The services that may be available are:

* Changing a nonimmigrant status or extending a nonimmigrant stay for an individual currently in the United States. Non-timely extension or change of status may be excused if the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the applicant’s control;

* Re-paroling individuals previously on parole by USCIS;

* Expedited processing of advance parole;

* Expedited adjudication of requests for off-campus employment authorization based on severe economic hardship for F-1 students;

* Expedited adjudication of employment authorization applications, where applicable;

* Consideration of fee waivers due to an inability to pay;

* Assisting those with a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny but were unable to submit evidence or respond timely;

* Assisting those who are unable to appear for a USCIS scheduled interview;

* Expedited replacement of lost or damaged immigration or travel documents issued by USCIS, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); and

* Rescheduling a biometrics appointment.

August 30, 2017

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, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: seven zero three – 772-8224 & info at tiyaimmigration dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-772-8224;

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

Need help with green card, work visas, work permit, sponsoring family, sponsoring employees, sponsoring relatives, hardships or immigration waivers, U.S. naturalization/citizenship, and cases with USCIS, Department of Labor or immigration? We represent employers, companies, individuals, and families in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law. Our clients are based nationwide in the U.S. and internationally. We represent diverse immigration cases including, but are not limiting to: extraordinary ability; national interest waiver; PERM with U.S. Department of Labor; I-130 for sponsoring relatives and families; I-140 for employment green card; 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 relatives 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/specialty occupation; H-2B temporary worker; L executive, manager and specialized knowledge professional transferring from overseas; E treaty investors/traders; B-1 business visitor to the U.S.; B-2 visitor to the U.S.; F-1 student coming to study in the U.S.; matters pertaining to consular processing with U.S. consulates and National Visa Centers; cases with USCIS; cases with U.S. Department of Labor; PERM audit; RFE Request for Evidence; NOID Notice of Intention to Deny; and many more.

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New Interview Requirement for Certain Permanent Residency Cases

Tiyalaw — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:55:49 +0000

New Interview Requirement for Certain Permanent Residency Cases

Further U.S. immigration restriction is taking place. On August 28, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, starting from October 1, 2017, it will begin in-person interviews of certain lawful permanent residence applications, as outlined below. Previously, in-person interviews were not necessary for USCIS adjudication under these categories. Also, USCIS is working on additional incremental expansion of interviews to other types of cases.

Employment-based adjustment of status applications (I-485).
Refugee/asylee relative petitions (Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition) for beneficiaries who are in the United States and are petitioning to join a principal asylee/refugee applicant.

The phase-in of these in-person interviews is for compliance of Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” as part of larger screening procedure to further improve the detection and prevention of fraud in the immigration system.

USCIS will use the in-person interviews to verify information on an application to discover new, relevant information, and to determine the credibility of the individual applying for U.S. permanent residency.

August 28, 2017

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, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: seven zero three – 772-8224 & info at tiyaimmigration dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-772-8224;

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

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Not Selected in the H-1B Cap Lottery? Avoid Immigration Fraud: Maintaining Status in the U.S. and Reapplying.

Tiyalaw — Tue, 10 May 2016 19:36:32 +0000

Not Selected in the H-1B Cap Lottery? Avoid Immigration Fraud: Maintaining Status in the U.S. and Reapplying.

H-1Bs Not Selected or Filed When All H-1B Visa Numbers Are Used Up: Potential H-1B Candidates Who Continue to Stay in the U.S. Must Maintain Legal Immigration Status

H-1B candidates who have not made it to the Fiscal Year 2017 H-1B visa quota (October 1, 2016 employment start-date) have the options to have their H-1B cap petitions submitted to USCIS on April 1, 2017 (with an October 1, 2017 employment start-date) for the 2018 Fiscal Year H-1B visa cap/quota. Such H-1B candidates may also consider other immigration options such as other nonimmigrant status, work permit, and self-petition green card filings, if eligible.

Please note, if potential H-1B candidates are in the U.S. and are considering other immigration options such as the above, they must still continue to maintain legal immigration status in the U.S., in compliance with U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law.

Example of Failure to Maintain Status: Immigration Fraud

On April 5, 2016, special agents of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 21 individuals (e.g. brokers, recruiters) for conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to harbor aliens for profits, and other offenses. In addition to the arrests of the defendants, the international students involved in the student-visa fraud or pay-to-stay scheme were also arrested by ICE for removal (deportation) purposes. The arrests were made in Virginia, Washington, New York, and New Jersey. HSI and ICE are part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The defendants fraudulently enabled around 1,076 international students, primarily from India and China, to enroll as F-1 students under the false pretense that they were participating in full courses of study at the University of Northern New Jersey (UNNJ) in New Jersey. All the international students were considered willing participants in the fraudulent F-1 scheme.

Unbeknownst to the defendants, UNNJ is a sting operation – a storefront serving as undercover operations – by HSI agents posing as school administrators to investigate criminal activities involving student visa fraud and alien harboring for profits. UNNJ was not staffed with any educators, had no actual academic curriculum, and did not have actual classes or educational activities.

The defendants solicited UNNJ and facilitated the international students’ enrollment at UNNJ to fraudulently obtain and maintain F-1 student visa or status, in exchange for commissions or kickbacks. The defendants also created fake student records such as transcripts, attendance records, diplomas, and projects, purchased by international students.

International students were issued UNNJ I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – for Academic and Language Students, for international students to remain in the U.S. These I-20 Certificates and phony student documents were then used to apply for H-1B Cap Petitions with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additionally, the defendants used UNNJ to obtain work permit and employment authorization for their clients (international students).

H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap

On April 1, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B Cap Petitions for the annual 65,000 government-mandated cap for the 2017 fiscal year (FY), and the 20,000 exemption for H-1B under the U.S. advanced degree. On April 7, 2016, USCIS announced it had received more than sufficient H-1B Cap Petitions to meet the cap.

USCIS received over 236,000 H-1B Cap Petitions described above. USCIS had long completed its computer-generated random selection process (lottery system) which started on April 9, 2016.

Those under U.S. advanced degree not selected within the 20,000 visa numbers were processed under random selection or lottery for the 65,000 limit.

For some time now, USCIS has been issuing receipt notices for the above H-1B Cap Petitions filed under premium processing, regular processing, and U.S. advanced degree.

Normally, all USCIS receipt notices for selected H-1B Cap Petitions were being issued within several weeks of the lottery system (random selection process).

USCIS announced on May 2, 2016 that it has completed all its data entry of H-1B Cap Petitions selected in its lottery system. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B Cap Petitions not selected. Due to the overwhelming number of H-1B Cap Petitions received, USCIS is not certain when it will complete returning all the unselected petitions but will issue an announcement once they are all returned to the employers (petitioners). Previously, H-1B Cap Petitions not selected in the lottery system were being returned throughout the summer.

USCIS urges employers (petitioners) not to inquire on the status of their H-1B Cap Petitions until they have received a receipt notice or a return of an unselected petition. This will allow USCIS to better-use their resources such as on adjudicating cases and completing the necessary return of unselected petitions.

On May 12, 2016, USCIS will begin premium processing of H-1B Cap Petitions selected in the lottery system. For H-1B Cap Petitions or eligible cases under premium processing, USCIS will adjudicate the case within 15 calendar days. Additionally, employers have the option to upgrade their selected H-1B Cap Petitions to premium processing.

All H-1B Cap Petitions above not selected in the lottery system will be returned with their filing fees. The filing fees for any H-1B Cap Petitions above with duplicate filings will not be returned.

What is an H-1B?

H-1B petitions are temporary work visas for specialty occupations. They are 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 the position’s overall circumstances, necessitating complex legal analysis.

Some H-1Bs Are Not Subject to H-1B Cap or Quota

Not all H-1B petitions are subject to the annual visa cap or quota. It depends 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. Certain employers are cap exempt.

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.

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, 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, 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. Our clients are based nationwide in the U.S. and internationally. We represent diverse immigration cases in naturalization/citizenship, green card, work visas, waivers and other immigration matters. Some of our cases including, but are not limiting: extraordinary ability; national interest waiver; PERM with U.S. 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 relatives 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/specialty occupation; 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; National Visa Centers; filing cases with USCIS; filing cases with U.S. Department of Labor; PERM audit; RFE Request for Evidence; NOID Notice of Intention to Deny; and Immigration Courts.

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F-1 Student: Unstamped Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility

Tiyalaw — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:00:21 +0000

F-1 Student: Unstamped Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility

With the launch of USCIS ELIS, new online immigration system, on May 22, 2012, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer stamp Forms I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Students Status student (Form I-20). A form I-20 certificate does not need a stamp to be valid. USCIS ELIS stands for USCIS Electronic Immigration System. Currently, certain (but not all) immigration applications can be filed via USCIS ELIS which is designed to shorten immigration processing time and improve customer-friendly features.

F-1 students wishing to have USCIS stamp their Form I-20 may make an InfoPass appointment with the USCIS at http://infopass.uscis.gov/ . The USCIS may stamp their Form I-20 at the USCIS office; a transitional service that USCIS field offices will discontinue in the near future.

F-1 students using USCIS ELIS to file a Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, can scan and upload, online, their supporting documentation, including the Form I-20. Once approved, the USCIS will issue an approval notice on Form I-797 but the I-20 will not be returned with a stamp.

A stamp is different from an endorsement on Form I-20. A Form I-20 is endorsed when a Designated School Official (DSO) signed the Form I-20 for specific purposes. A DSO’s endorsement on the original Form I-20 is required before a student may travel internationally or apply for employment authorization.

May 30, 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.

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

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F-1 Student Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Expanded STEM degrees

Tiyalaw — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:27:33 +0000

F-1 Student Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Expanded STEM Degrees

In an effort by the Obama administration to improve United States of America (USA)’s economic, scientific and technological competitiveness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 11, 2012 an improved program to attract international students to study and remain to apply their expertise in USA. The improved program is the expanded list of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) designated-degree programs that qualify eligible graduates on student visas for the F-1 student visa Option Practical Training (OPT) extension, to include fields of studies such as pharmaceutical sciences, econometrics and quantitative economics.

Under the OPT program, international students who graduate from colleges and universities in the USA are able to remain in the country to receive work experience training in their field of studies for up to 12 months. Students who graduate from a science, technology, engineering, and math designated STEM degree program can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension.

For a full list of expanded STEM degrees, please see http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stem-list.pdf .

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & koka at tiyalaw dot com

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

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and all 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.

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