The USCIS recently announced that there are more visas available in the EB-1 and EB-2 employment-based categories than the number of pending I-485 applications in these categories. USCIS is encouraging certain applicants to request that the agency “transfer the underlying basis” of their pending I-485 application to the EB-2 category, if eligible. This transfer request… [Read More]
Immigration Options for Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs
Northeastern University’s announced opening of The Roux Institute in Portland has sent shockwaves of excitement through Maine’s tech industries – and for good reason. Northeastern’s cooperative education model leverages corporate partnerships to design curriculum that responds to business needs – helping ensure students have the practical and technical skills to thrive in the global marketplace… [Read More]
Understanding Priority Dates: How Quotas Impact EB-1 and NIW Petition Timelines
Traditionally, EB-1 and NIW green card preference categories have been an expeditious way for employers to sponsor foreign employees with extraordinary ability for permanent resident status, and for foreign nationals with extraordinary ability to self-petition for a green card. But as immigration policy has fluctuated under President Trump’s administration, so have the timelines of these… [Read More]
Understanding the Evidence: Why Letters of Support are Important Components of Extraordinary Ability Petition
Compiling the evidence is an integral part of the petition process for EB-1 and National Interest Waiver (NIW) petitions. Gathering letters of support from professionals in your field can help illustrate your “extraordinary ability” and/or provide detailed information about your achievements in your area of expertise for your Extraordinary Ability Petition. While obtaining letters of… [Read More]
The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected — What Type of Evidence Should You Include in Your Extraordinary Ability Petition?
One of the most important components of an extraordinary ability petition is showing evidence to support your case – in other words – what makes YOU so extraordinary? If you are considering an extraordinary ability petition, you will need to be prepared to show that you are the best of the best, a person of… [Read More]
EB Visa Availability Update
Retrogression of visa category priority dates impact EB petition applications According to recent information that the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) gained from the U.S. Department of State, the EB-1 Worldwide category is likely to remain retrogressed through December 2018. When visa categories are retrogressed, applicants can still file I-140 petitions; however once the I-140… [Read More]
Green Card and Visa Solutions for Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs
What do Sergey Brin (co-founder, Google), Liz Claiborne (founder, company namesake), Andrew Grove (co-founder, Intel), Jerry Yang (co-founder, Yahoo!), and Elon Musk (CEO, Tesla) have in common? They are all entrepreneurs who immigrated to the United States and helped to revolutionize the industries where they made their mark. Attracting remarkably talented people to the United… [Read More]
The Basics of Business Immigration: Understanding the EB-2 Visa Category
As an employer who utilizes a global workforce, how can you combat the turnover issues inherent in hiring employees to work for your company on temporary, nonimmigrant visas? Nonimmigrant work visas certainly have their benefits, but what if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of having to regularly apply for extensions or brand… [Read More]
The Basics of Business Immigration: Understanding the EB-1 Program
The US immigration code is complicated to say the least. But whether you are an employer looking to hire an immigrant, or you’re a non-American hoping to find work in the US, understanding how to navigate the law is critical. In this blog entry, we’re going to examine the basics of the EB-1 visa category…. [Read More]
