USCIS Resumes Premium Processing

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month. Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions…. [Read More]

USCIS Announces Delay in H-1B Cap Petitions Processing

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a delay in data entry and receipt notices for FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions due to health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the memo, USCIS will not begin intake processing until at least May 1, 2020. This announcement impacts H-1B Cap cases selected in… [Read More]

2020 H-1B Alternatives

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated it received approximately 275,000 registrations for the available 86,000 slots in the most recent H-1B registration/lottery. With the initial selection complete, employers not selected should consider these H-1B alternatives – a process that can be daunting any year, and especially now as COVID-19 closures impact USCIS… [Read More]

COVID-19 Impacts to FY2021 H-1B Lottery

With online registration for H-1B petitions closing at noon EST on March 20, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is scheduled to begin the H-1B cap lottery for FY 2021 next week, with notifications to employers expected by March 31st. Suspension of Premium Processing USCIS announced today that it is temporarily suspending premium processing… [Read More]

Immigration Updates on COVID-19

As governments and health organizations worldwide respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. visa and green card holders and sponsors should closely monitor impacts on travel restrictions and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Embassy services. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us via email. We have experienced an influx… [Read More]

Understanding the H-1B Online Registration System

UPDATE 2/17/2021 United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) indicated it will open H-1B registration for FY2021 on March 9, 2021. The window will close March 25, 2021. During the registration period, petitioners can electronically file petitioner and beneficiary information through the electronic registration process. On February 5, USCIS shared the following guidance on this year’s… [Read More]

Public Charge Rule Change: What You Need to Know

Changes to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Public Charge Rule, scheduled to go into effect on February 24th, will fundamentally change how officers will determine inadmissibility for adjustment of status applicants and those seeking an extension or change of their current nonimmigrant status. The Public Charge Rule will NOT apply to: Those… [Read More]

Trump Administration Expands Travel Ban

An expansion of President Trump’s 2017 travel ban adds Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar. With the expansion, announced January 31, 2020, nearly a quarter of the population of Africa is subject to the immigration guidelines, according to the New York Times. The newest travel ban applies to citizens of Nigeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and… [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]