News & Updates
Facebook Settles PERM Dispute with the US Department of Justice
Facebook, Inc. and the United States Department of Justice entered into a settlement agreement on October 19, 2021. The agreement relates to allegations that Facebook
H-1B Dependents – Know About a USCIS Policy Change to Avoid “Gaps” in Immigration Status
Dependents of H-1B visa-holders can only maintain valid nonimmigrant status for so long. Once dependents “age out” at twenty-one (21), their H-1B dependent visas are
H-1B Workers: Understand the DOL Rules for Pay Deductions
H-1B workers are nonimmigrant visa-holders who work for United States employers. These workers obtain H-1B visas, which requires the workers to have a bachelor’s degree
H-1B Workers – Understanding Employer Compliance with DOL Wage Laws
Employers wishing to hire H-1B workers from abroad must comply with numerous requirements under federal law. The H-1B visa program enables professionals to work in
H-1B Workers and Available Benefits – Read Now to Learn More
H-1B non-immigrant visas enable workers from outside of the United States to work for an employer within the country. H-1B visas are specifically for workers
News Flash: India Travel Restrictions Update
As we discussed in a recent blog “News Flash: Limited Travel from India Due to COVID-19,” in light of the public health conditions in the
What Is the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER)
The hard truth is that the U.S. does not have a temporary work visa category specifically geared toward the needs of international entrepreneurs and start-up founders looking to come to the U.S. How can this be? You may wonder how among all the various work visas the U.S. does offer,
News Flash: Lawsuit Accuses SoFi of Denying Loans to Immigrants
On Monday, April 12, 2021 a federal judge refused to dismiss “a civil rights class action against Social Finance Inc. (SoFi), a San Francisco-based online lending platform, that allegedly denied loans to immigrants who were legally residing in the United States when they applied for credit.” The lawsuit was filed
Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Travel Restrictions
COVID-19 has made traveling outside the U.S. a bit more complicated. In addition to the specific rules about the time a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) can be outside the U.S., the pandemic has made staying within those guidelines trickier. Lockdown orders and cancelled flights are just some of the ways
News Flash: DACA and Its Dreamers Are Still in Limbo
DACA, also known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program that has received much attention for almost a decade. Yes, DACA has been around for close to ten years! Yet the program is currently in limbo and is under scrutiny, leading Dreamers to wonder what will happen
News Flash: Citizenship for Essential Workers Act
President Biden is being urged to include the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act in his two-part infrastructure improvement plan. Specifically, Democrats are asking Biden to include this immigration legislation in the second part of his plan, called the American Families Plan, which focuses on education and childcare. Pathway to Citizenship
SCOTUS to Hear Case on TPS and Eligibility for Adjustment
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has agreed to hear a case concerning whether a grant of temporary protected status (TPS) authorizes eligible noncitizens to obtain lawful permanent resident status. The case, Sanchez v. Mayorkas, No. 20-315, comes from the Third Circuit and is set for April 19, 2021.
News Flash: H-1B Visa Suspension Expires Today
President Biden has opted not to renew former President Trump’s executive order banning H-1B visas. That order was enacted in June 2020 and is set to expire today, March 31, 2021. President Biden has allowed the order to expire today to restore the pipeline for skilled foreign workers. This Is
News Flash: Visa Bulletin Updates on YouTube
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin provides vital information to those seeking to file an immigrant visa petition. Each month, a bulletin is made available to the public via the Travel.State.Gov website. It summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during that month for “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing
H-1B Recapture of Days Spent Outside the U.S.
In this blog we address the following question: What happens to the time H-1B holders spend outside the U.S. while working for U.S. employers and still within the maximum six-year stay limitation? You may have wondered this yourself. If you travel abroad for vacation, business, or family matters during your six-year stay
News Flash: India and U.S. in Talks on H-1B Visa Restrictions
The H-1B visa restrictions have been top-of-mind for most foreign nationals seeking employment opportunities in the U.S. Cooperation between India and the U.S., along with an upcoming expiration date of the Trump-era H-1B visa ban, is bringing some good news for work visa hopefuls. India’s Minister of State for External
The H-1B Visa Beyond 6 Years
Subject to certain exceptions, an H-1B visa holder may be allowed to work in the U.S. for an initial period of three years. This status may be extended for an additional three years, but it generally cannot go beyond a total of six years. Once the six years are up, the individual cannot seek an H-1B visa extension or be re-admitted to the U.S. on
News Flash: USCIS May Reopen Denied H-1B Petitions
On Friday, March 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it may reopen, and possibly reconsider, previously revoked or denied H-1B petitions (Form I-129). Who is Eligible? To be eligible for consideration, a motion to reopen and/or reconsider a denied H-1B petition must: Be filed before the end
H-1B Registration Closes March 25
Starting in 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) started a new process employers must go through to apply for H-1B cap visa petitions. The electronic H-1B registration process is a preliminary step an employer must complete now (deadline March 25) before they can file H-1B visa petitions on behalf
How to Create an H-1B Registrant Account
The electronic H-1B registration process is a preliminary step an employer must complete now (deadline March 25) before they can file H-1B visa petitions on behalf of foreign nationals with specialized degrees (also known as “requested workers”) who have never had H-1B status. To register, you must have a myUSCIS
News Flash: Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals wishing to renew a nonimmigrant visa. The visa must be in the same classification and category. This is not the first instance of such an expansion. 48 Months is the Magic Number Originally, only applicants whose
Fiancé Visa: Before You Say “I Do”
Getting engaged is an exciting time, full of possibility and joy. Congratulations on finding the person who makes your heart sing! But while you are sharing the happy news with family and friends, don’t forget about an important process to help you bring your fiancé(e) to the U.S. for your
Do Green Card Holders Pay U.S. Taxes?
The short answer is “yes.” Acquiring a green card makes you a lawful U.S. permanent resident, as such, you automatically assume all the tax responsibilities of a U.S. tax resident. The federal government requires all tax-eligible U.S. citizens to declare their worldwide income sources to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Immigration Fraud
Immigration fraud is very common in the U.S. immigration system. As a result, government agencies evaluating immigration benefits have become highly skeptical and the penalty for fraud can be substantial. Many of the problems stem from a lack of understanding or from the political realities in the immigrant’s home country.
How to Apply for U.S. Citizenship as a Refugee
Many people find themselves in the U.S. after escaping from their home countries due to war or fear of persecution. Some of these immigrants become refugees and asylees in the U.S. The U.S. immigration process for a refugee seeking to become an American citizen can be long and difficult to navigate. However, with the help
Beware of Unauthorized Immigration Law Services
The process of obtaining residency in the U.S. is quite complicated. Yet immigrants face many other problems, in addition to the denial of grant of status. Whether you are seeking permanent or temporary residency in the U.S., you need the service of a Columbus immigration attorney to help you with
How to Find an H-1B Visa Sponsor
The most important thing to know about obtaining employment in the U.S. and obtaining an H-1B work visa is that you should contact an experienced Dublin immigration attorney for sound legal guidance and assistance as you seek to obtain the visa. U.S.-based employers who act as H-1B visa sponsors –