Icelandic Volcano Delays for Visa Waiver Program Travelers

USCIS will soon be posting emergency visa extension procedures for visa holders unable to fly home due to airport closures in Europe.  Travelers in the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program that are unable to depart before their I-94 expiration date should contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office at the airport.  CBP [...]

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May 2010 Visa Bulletin

The latest bulletin on available immigrant visa numbers contains some sad news for skilled workers from Mexico: Due to continued heavy applicant demand, primarily by USCIS Offices for adjustment of status cases, the annual limits for the Mexico Employment Third and Third preference Other Worker categories have been reached.   As a result, both categories have [...]

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H-1B Cap Update

The 2011 fiscal year quota for new H-1B workers is still open, according to the latest numbers released by USCIS.  As of April 8, USCIS received 13,500 regular H-1B petitions that will be counted against the 65,000 annual cap.  An additional 5,600 petitions were filed and accepted under the US Master’s degree exemption, which provides [...]

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VIDEO: Naturalization Interviews

USCIS recently released a video for Naturalization applicants preparing for their interviews and exams.  The 16-minute video provides an overview of the naturalization process including the eligibility requirements, the application process, preliminary steps, the naturalization interview, the English tests and the U.S. history and government test (civics). The video includes two simulated interviews between applicants [...]

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Foreign Students can wait for H-1B start date

Most foreign students are granted a one-year work permit upon graduation from college to gain practical training in their field.  But almost all of these permits expire in the summer, long before the October 1 start date for new H-1B visas. Current regulations allow certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions to remain in [...]

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Tax Resources for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals living in the United States are subject to federal income tax laws.  Permanent residents, even those residing outside the U.S., are also responsible for filing federal income tax returns each year.  The Internal Revenue Service publishes several helpful guides each year for employers and foreign nationals: U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens (Publication 519) [...]

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E-Verify Video for Employers

USCIS released video reenactments of real-world hiring scenarios in which employers and employees work together through the E-Verify process. “Understanding E-Verify: Employer Responsibilities and Worker Rights,” aimed at employers, explains E-Verify rules, procedures, and policies to employers with an emphasis on safeguarding employee privacy. To learn more about E-Verify requirements for your business, schedule a [...]

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H-1B Filing Season Now Open

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting new petitions for H-1B workers on April 1, 2010. With only 65,000 visas available each fiscal year, U.S. employers have to start filing their petitions six months in advance of the October 1 start date to assure their best chance at the quota numbers. USCIS will monitor [...]

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