USCIS Adds Hurdle for Refugees and Asylees to Reunite With Family

USCIS Adds Hurdle for Refugees and Asylees to Reunite With Family

A father and child hold a protest sign to demand the closure of detention camps at the U.S.-Mexico border. – Philadelphia, PA / USA – July 12, 2019 (Shutterstock) Washington D.C. – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a new memorandum that will require in-person interviews for most asylees and refugees who petition for […]

State AGs Decry Proposed Limits On Student, Journalist Visas

State AGs Decry Proposed Limits On Student, Journalist Visas

By Sarah Martinson, Law360 Twenty-two state attorneys general have urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to toss a proposed rule limiting the time that international students and journalists can live in the U.S., arguing the rule is unlawful and would hurt local economies. In a letter to DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, attorneys […]

Record Low Refugee Cap Goes Into Effect, Sparking Outcry

Record Low Refugee Cap Goes Into Effect, Sparking Outcry

 Activists participating in the Refugees Welcome protest rally on the steps of the US Capitol, wearing life preservers. They were each later arrested. – WASHINGTON – October 15 2019 (Shutterstock) By Alyssa Aquino, Law360 President Donald Trump on Wednesday formally committed the U.S. to accept up to 15,000 refugees this fiscal year, crystallizing a historically […]

DHS Looks To Ditch H-1B Visa Lottery For Salary Ranking

DHS Looks To Ditch H-1B Visa Lottery For Salary Ranking

By Suzanne Monyak, Law360 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is planning to replace the H-1B specialty occupation visa lottery, in which foreign citizens with college degrees compete for limited slots, with a wage-based selection process prioritizing higher salaries, the department said Wednesday. Under the proposal, DHS would no longer conduct a random selection process […]

The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Publish Final Rule to Restrict Certain Criminal Aliens’ Eligibility for Asylum

The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Publish Final Rule to Restrict Certain Criminal Aliens’ Eligibility for Asylum

Migrants from Central America cross the US-Mexico border to seek asylum in the United States. – El Paso, Texas USA / Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico – May 30, 2019 (Shutterstock) By justice.gov New Mandatory Bars Prevent Convicted Felons, Drunk Drivers, Gang Members, and Other Criminal Aliens from Receiving Asylum Today, the Department of Justice and […]

USCIS’ Changes to ‘Affidavit of Support’ Make It Harder for Americans to Sponsor Immigrant Family Members

USCIS’ Changes to ‘Affidavit of Support’ Make It Harder for Americans to Sponsor Immigrant Family Members

By Walter Ewing, Immigration Impact The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would make it much more difficult for U.S. citizens and legal immigrants—especially those experiencing financial hardship—to sponsor family members for green cards. If the rule goes into effect, the process of family-based immigration will become even more cumbersome and restrictive. […]

What Employers Need to Know About the E-Verify System

What Employers Need to Know About the E-Verify System

By: Beconrad With so much talk about immigration reform and cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, many businesses are nervous, and many of those firms are taking a second look at the processes they use to ensure everyone on their payroll is legally permitted to work in the United States. The Federal […]

The H1-B Visa Lottery

The H1-B Visa Lottery

By Rita Wright Securing an H1-B visa is by far the best way to gain entry into the United States, have immediate job security and a competitive salary. The H1-B visa is the authorization given by the U.S. government for a foreign worker to come to the U.S and work for a U.S company. Each […]

About the EB-5 Visa Classification

About the EB-5 Visa Classification

Visa Classification Description USCIS administers the EB-5 program, created by Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Under a program initially enacted as a pilot in 1992, and regularly reauthorized since then, investors may also qualify for EB-5 classification by investing through regional centers designated […]

USCIS Launches H-1B Employer Data Hub

USCIS Launches H-1B Employer Data Hub

USCIS has launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers. The data hub is part of our continued effort to increase transparency in employment-based visa programs by allowing the public to search for H-1B petitioners by fiscal year (back to FY 2009), NAICS code, employer name, […]