H-1B news. April 1, is just around the corner. The so-called “H-1B season” is upon us with preparations in high gear for early filings. While I won’t give predictions or insight into how long this quota will last, the important thing is to prepare your case well and do it…
Articles Posted in Employment-based visas
March 2012 Visa Bulletin
The March 2012 Visa Bulletin has been published and we are seeing some movement. The family-based chart: The employment-based chart: For those of you who may be seeing the visa bulletins for the first time, or just need a refresher in how to actually read the charts, have a look…
H-4 Work Authorization and Other Reforms to Attract and Retain Highly Skilled Workers
Last week, Department of Homeland Security announced several proposed reforms to “attract and retain highly skilled workers.” These reforms include employment authorization of certain H-4 spouses and other concrete incentives. DHS released a press release describing these administrative reforms, which would impact the benefits and the adjudications process in several…
Employment Based Visa Numbers the Outlook for Fiscal Year 2012
Fiscal year 2012 began on October 1, 2011 and as expected, we saw some movement in the visa bulletin. Here is a brief summary of what the US Visa Office reports seeing in terms of usage in the first 3 months of the FY 2012. Employment-based usage has been quite…
H-1B Petitions – How to Prepare for April 1 Filings
It’s H-1B season again. The beginning of a new year and less than 3 months from the first date that USCIS will accept new H-1B petitions on April 1, 2012. It’s time to prepare your H-1B. The immigration attorneys at Romben Law, APC have been receiving many phone calls from…
Proposed Change May Allow Immigration Waiver for Undocumented
The Obama Administration has proposed a change in immigration regulations which would potentially change the lives of undocumented immigrants in the USA. Maybe the most common problem we see as immigration lawyers is the person who entered the USA with no documentation, or who had a visa but overstayed —…
H-1B Quota Update: No Lottery This Year
Today, the USCIS Service Center Operations released a statement that all properly filed H-1Bs applications received on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 will be accepted under the FY 2012 H-1B cap. USCIS SCOPS also confirmed that there will be no lottery for petitions properly filed and received on November 22. Those…
H-1B Quota Filled: November 22, 2011
The day has come. The fiscal year 2012 H-1B quota was reached yesterday, Tuesday, November 22, 2011. While this comes as no surprise to those who’ve been following our blog, it is remarkable that the final 15,800 applications were received by USCIS in just the last three weeks. So what…
H-1B Quota Filling Fast – Only 15,800 Remain
USCIS has released updated H-1B quota numbers as of October 28, 2011: 49,200 petitions have been receipted out of the 65,000 petitions allotted for the regular cap The advanced degree cap has been met. Those seeking to file during this last phase of the H-1B season should move quickly. Call…
H-1B Quota October 21, 2011 – Advanced Degree Cap Filled
The last update from USCIS announced that the US advanced degree cap for H-1Bs has been filled. The regular H-1B quota has accepted 46,200 petitions leaving 18,800 slots available for new H-1B cases to be filed. We can expect this last batch of H-1B slots to fill up quicker since…