Immigration Blog
Our blog is a source of latest immigration news, policy updates and trends for thousands of readers every month.
What to Do If You Weren't Selected in This Year's H-1B Lottery
There’s no denying that the H-1B visa is arguably the most popular category on the market. But with many more petitioners than visas allocated, it’s also very difficult to obtain. This year’s lottery, FY 2024, saw the largest influx of registrations in history, but the US Citizenship and Immigration Services can only provide 85,000 visas. If you weren’t one of the chosen few, you still have options, as we’ll discuss here.
A Call for Changes to the Current H-1B Lottery System
The H-1B visa program, as it is structured today, began in 1990. The lottery system is more than ten years old, yet it has not changed since its inception. Opponents of the current system have called for a change for years, but after the FY 2024’s lottery results, this request has become increasingly vocal, and here is what they’re saying.
How Laid-Off Tech H-1B Holders Are Staying in the US Legally
If you’ve paid attention to the immigration climate in the United States, you’ve heard about the massive layoffs in the tech sector. Many of these workers were H-1B visa holders who rely on steady employment to keep their legal status in the country. Per the H-1B visa’s terms, workers have 60 days to find another employer willing to sponsor their visa status, or they must return to their home country. But with so many people searching for work within similar industries, this is a challenging endeavor. However, a recent workaround may keep thousands of these laid-off tech workers in the US legally while they look for employment, even after their 60-day grace period ends by changing from an H-1B to a B-1 or B-2 visa.
Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases Are Effective Now
Followers of the immigration law landscape in the United States have been bracing for rising fees for months. One of those increases is slated for May 30, 2023. This rate hike affects anyone applying for a nonimmigrant visa. What does this mean for you? We have the details here.
National Interest Waiver Changes and Who They Benefit
The National Interest Waiver program benefits those wishing to enter the United States without a sponsored job offer. Once there, they can take the Green Card path to permanent residency — provided it’s in the nation’s best interest to approve this waiver. However, recent changes make this challenging process a little more accessible to certain categories of people. What are these adaptations, and will they benefit you? Read on to find out.
Does Florida’s Immigration Enforcement Legislation Impact Your H-1B Visa?
There are 50 states and multiple territories in America, plus Washington, DC. Each of these regions must follow federal laws, but in many cases, the states have individual authority to decide how to implement the guidelines that pertain to each law. So, while states like Florida must allow immigration per the terms of federal law, the state can determine the legislature behind the law. Florida’s recent legislative package, introduced on March 7, 2023, hit the headlines because of its potential adverse effects on immigrants in the state and those who would come to that part of the US in the future. How might these changes impact your H-1B visa? We’ll explain everything you need to know here.
Changes to Premium Processing in 2023
Changes to how the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department handles premium processing have begun, and the latest round began on April 3, 2023. These adjustments directly affect students in certain F-1 categories and those petitioning for nonimmigrant foreign worker visas. This blog explains how you may be affected by the new regulations for premium processing.
Can Your H-1B Dependent Transfer to a Student Visa?
The H-1B visa is highly sought after, partly because it allows the beneficiary to bring their dependents with them to the United States. The document permits the holder to work and live in the US for three years, with an optional three-year extension. But during that time, minors grow up and are no longer dependents. When that happens, they must obtain their own visas, such as the F1 student visa. If your child is in the transition period where they’re going to need a visa of their own to stay with you in the States, read on to find out what their options are and if transferring to an F1 status from your H-1B dependency is possible.
Common H1B Cap Filing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
It’s no secret that this year’s cap filing numbers were substantially higher than predicted or that many registrations are being inspected for potential fraud. Whether the fraudulent claims are based on legitimate abuse or simply careless mistakes remains to be seen, but the fact is that you want your H-1B registration to stand up to scrutiny. To ensure your petition is adjudicated successfully, avoid these common filing mistakes in the future.
Does Your H-1B Dependent Qualify for Residency Under the Dream Act?
For decades, hundreds of thousands of families have entered the US under work visas like the H-1B, which allows the holder to bring their dependent spouse and children. The H-1B permits the beneficiaries and their families to remain in the US for three years, with an optional three-year extension. But what happens to those minors who outgrow their dependent category during that time? Without a visa, they might be deported. However, the Dream Act of 2023 could change that.
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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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