Immigration Blog
Our blog is a source of latest immigration news, policy updates and trends for thousands of readers every month.
The Redesigned Green Card and EAD
Immigration law is a serious business, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services continually strives to increase its security measures. The latest change impacts the design of Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The redesigned cards came out on January 30, 2023, and have been making waves since then. What do you need to know about these newly modified documents? We have the details here.
New Legislation on Bundled Dependent Applications for H-1B Holders
The H-1B visa is in high demand, but the process of obtaining one is challenging. When H-1B holders can bring their families with them to the United States, it gets even more complex. Now, legislation signed on January 19, 2023, “bundles” the forms together to reduce the complications that are often part of working and living in the US as a family.
Traveling Through E-Gates With Your H-1B Visa
As technology continues to streamline life, government officials are quickly jumping on board. Tasks that once took hours are now automated, and some travelers will notice these big changes in 2023. Instead of the manual process of reviewing passports and applying the requisite stamps, electronic entry systems using biometrics have been unveiled. This system, called e-Gates, is expected to speed up the process of customs entry, reduce human error, and, essentially, replace customs officers in standard interactions. What do you need to know about traveling through e-Gates with your H-1B visa? Read on to find out!
2023 H-1B Lottery Registrations Likely to Exceed Expectations
The filing window for Fiscal Year 2024’s H-1B visas may have closed, but the results are still in progress. This year projects that the number of submitted petitions will surpass all expectations. With the backlog of previous years’ applications from countries like India, where H-1B requests far outweigh the available visas, it gets more difficult to obtain this coveted document. What does this next fiscal year look like, and what does that mean for H-1B applicants? Read on to find out.
Changing Addresses and Other Statistics When You're on an H-1B Visa
You might not have realized it, but when you accepted your new H-1B visa (or sponsored an employee for one), you entered a contract with the United States government. The details printed on that contract, including the employer’s name and location and the employee’s place of residence, must stay the same throughout the visa’s validity period. If something changes, it’s your responsibility to update USCIS — and they have the right to decide if your visa is still valid after those changes have occurred. This guide explains what you need to know to change your address and other statistics when you’re on an H-1B visa.
New COVID Rules Mean China's H-1B Visas Are Back, With Restrictions
Everyone has heard about the severe COVID restrictions China has had in place since the outbreak in 2020. These rules significantly impacted one’s ability to obtain and transfer their H-1B and other visas. With the recent relaxation of China’s COVID policies, travel to and from the country has become slightly easier. However, there are still restrictions you should know about before you attempt to obtain an H-1B visa.
How DHS's New Public Charge Rule Could Affect You
Immigration laws in the US began in the 1880s as people were welcomed into the country for various reasons. Within those laws is the term “public charge,” referring to someone in the care of the public. However, in 1999, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (the agency before the Department of Homeland Security) defined this term more thoroughly. In the 1999 Interim Field Guidance release, the definition of “public charge” was adapted to refer to anyone primarily dependent on public cash assistance or long-term care at the expense of the government. This standard has remained until recent rulings, and the DHS’s new “public charge” rule could affect visa and green card holders.
Recent Challenges to the H-1B Specialty Occupation Definition
H-1B nonimmigrant visas have impacted the US economy and the professions and lives of hundreds of thousands of foreign workers over the years. These visas are designed for those with skills that classify as a “specialty occupation,” but that definition has evolved and continues to change depending on the political and social climate of the country. Recent challenges to the H-1B specialty occupation are in process, and if you’re applying for a new or renewed work visa, you should know what these changes mean for you.
Changes to the H-1B and Other Filing Fee Increases
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services filed a petition recently requesting permission to raise its rates. If this proposed rule is approved, certain applications and petitions will see filing fee hikes. As with any fee request, there are advantages and disadvantages to this change, but USCIS and the government aren’t making this decision unilaterally. Those affected by this rule and anyone with an opinion on the proposed rule may be heard, but the public comment period ended on March 13, 2023. What does this mean for you? Read on to learn the details.
How to Hire a Foreign Worker When You're a US Employer
Certain fields are known to have job openings that are notoriously difficult to fill. These industries, such as those in the STEM categories, have high-skill requirements and fewer people who meet the criteria to choose from. For that reason, many of these US employers must reach beyond the pool of native applicants and attempt to find foreign workers who can help them. But this action, although it's a last resort, does not get performed lightly. You must follow government guidelines as a US employer looking to hire a nonimmigrant. We've summarized them here to help you get started.
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H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa provides the opportunity for foreign professionals to work in the United States. It allows employers to hire qualified foreign workers in the U.S.
O-1 Visa
An O-1 visa is designed to allow foreigners at the very top of the arts, sciences, sports, education, business, motion picture or television industries entry into the United States.
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