What Will Happen if There is a Federal Government Shutdown?
USCIS has not yet issued any guidance on what will happen if there is a Federal Government shutdown. In the past, it has stated that many of the USCIS functions will continue, since they are primarily...
View ArticleUPDATE ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
We understand that court functions that support detained cases will continue, but other court functions are suspended. Department of Labor’s iCERT and PERM systems are unable to process requests....
View ArticleNOVEMBER VISA BULLETIN IS ISSUED
The State Department released the Visa Bulletin for November 2013. Most family-sponsored preference cut-off dates moved forward slightly and employment-based third preference and Other Worker...
View ArticleVisa Program for Iraqi Nationals Has Been Extended
USCIS has announced that Congress passed a bill extending Special Immigrant Visa program for Iraqi nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government. USCIS may now approve an additional...
View ArticleDOL is Open and Operating
The Department of Labor is open again and operating. This means that LCAs and other documents can now be filed again although the system has been crashing due to over-demand. USCIS continued to...
View ArticleUSCIS Clarifies How to Get 17-Month STEM OPT Extension
USCIS just issued a policy memo clarifying how F-1 students in OPT status can get a 17-month extension for STEM Degree programs. See link to memo here.
View ArticleInfosys Settles Visa Claim for $34 Million
Indian tech giant Infosys has reached a $34 million civil settlement with the US government for allegedly misusing the US visa system. The company was accused of obtaining business visitor, B-1,...
View ArticleDecember Visa Bulletin Issued
The December Visa Bulletin has been issued. The employment-based visa category for India retrogressed from June 15, 2008, to November 15, 2004. See State Department Visa Bulletin for December 2013.
View ArticleWelcome Ambassadors for Foreign Travelers
Airports in San Jose, Miami and Los Angeles are bringing in dogs to greet travelers, as part of a new program aimed at de-stressing the traveling public. While the Miami airport only has one dog, a...
View ArticleImmigration Legislation Update
In 2013, supporters of comprehensive immigration reform had high hopes for a significant overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, a prospect that appears increasingly unlikely as the end of the...
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