Immigration Blog
Our blog is a source of latest immigration news, policy updates and trends for thousands of readers every month.
Is There an H-1B Overuse in Tech and Outsourcing?
The H-1B visa program has been around for decades, helping American employers fill vacancies in professional fields with skilled foreign labor. By hiring the top talents overseas, these employers help boost the US economy and prevent supply chain issues due to gaps caused by open positions. But there are holes in the system that can be abused, and studies show this may be happening right now in tech industries and companies outsourcing labor. What’s going on in these industries, and how is it affecting the H-1B visa? Read on to find out.
Changes in Florida's E-Verify System You Must Know
If you’ve been following immigration law in the United States, you know that what happens in one state often sets the stage for others to follow. That may be the case in Florida, where recent legislation has made it required for private employers with 25 or more workers to use E-Verify. This is the federal government’s database used to verify work authorization. What does this mean for employers of foreign national workers and the workers themselves? Read on to find out.
The H-1B Petition Deadline is Around the Corner: What You Need to Know
Are you a US-based company in need of skilled foreign labor? If so, it’s time to take notice of the upcoming deadlines. H-1B visas follow a rigid workflow, including many deadlines, throughout the application process. Here are the dates you need to know to stay on top of your employment vacancies.
Everything You Need to Know About the National Interest Waiver
Obtaining a green card is a challenging endeavor. Most people use this path to US residency when they have a family member sponsoring them or a job offer from an employer willing to support their green card journey. But if neither of those options applies to you, you could qualify for a national interest waiver. What is this document, and what are the qualifications for foreign nationals? We have everything you need to know right here!
What is the General Processing Time for an NIW?
There is more than one path to a United States green card, but all of them are complex and time-consuming. When you qualify for a National Interest Waiver, you can cut down part of that wait by skipping job offers from a qualified employer, labor certification approval, and petitions. How long does it take to process an NIW from start to finish? We’ll break it down here.
The Background of H-1B Visa's Fiscal Year 2024
If you’re searching for a way to get into the United States from another country, you’ve come across an H-1B visa. This document is one of the most popular legal methods to live and work in the US, but it’s not for everyone. Congress established the initial program to attract skilled foreign labor to the country and boost the overall American economy. Since its inception, this visa category has evolved, but in general, it is used by US employers to hire skilled workers with specific traits and a bachelor’s or advanced degree. This coveted visa is always highly sought after, but Fiscal Year 2024 has the makings of a record-breaking number of petitions. What’s the scoop behind the demand? We’ll break down the background of FY 2024 here.
How to Apply for the National Interest Waiver
The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is part of the United States EB-2 employment-based visa petition. It’s designed for those with advanced degrees or exceptional abilities that could benefit the national interest of the US. It’s a highly sought-after visa because once the applicant is approved, they become a lawful permanent resident of the country. However, it’s not easy to qualify. Here are the details you must know before you apply for an NIW.
Specialty Worker Visa Fees To Increase in 2023
Each year, hundreds of thousands of specialty workers enter the US or apply for new documents to stay in the country. These applications always have fees attached to them, but the government agency processing the documents, USCIS, is working outside of its budget. To offset rising costs and enhance the working conditions of each processing center, the US Department of State agreed to increase fees for specific nonimmigrant visa applications.
USCIS Investigating Potential H-1B Fraud
USCIS already expected to see a record number of applications for FY 2024 due to various factors, such as lifted pandemic restrictions and massive layoffs in the tech industry. But what wasn’t as predictable was the significant amount of attempted fraud that has been uncovered already. USCIS has caught almost half of the currently submitted applications as multiple registrants. Still, the government branch’s lack of action thus far leaves many questioning how this will affect legitimate applicants, as discussed here.
H-1B Skills Training Grants and Programs Funded by the DOL
The H-1B visa is designed for skilled foreign workers to fill vacancies in the United States. When a US employer can’t find an employee with the qualifications to do the job or one willing to fill that role, the employer can reach out to foreign nationals and extend a job offer. The fees those employers pay are used in part to create training programs for Americans to prepare them for high-skilled jobs. While foreign nationals aren’t eligible for these training sessions, understanding what goes into them can help you prepare your resume if you want to qualify for an H-1B visa in the future.
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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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