FREE DOWNLOAD: Click Here To Download The Employers Guide to the H-1B Process.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Click Here To Download The Employers Guide to the H-1B Process.

Month: April 2017

Diversity Visa Program: Statistics (2013-2015)

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Diversity-Visa/DVStatistics/DVApplicantEntrantsbyCountry%202013-2015.pdf The Department of State (DOS) provides Diversity Visa Program statistics for Fiscal Years 2013 through 2015; including the total number of entrants and derivatives based on the number of entries received during each online registration period, divided by country of chargeability. Litwin & Smith, assists you and your family with the many immigration forms required for the visa lottery

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USCIS Forms Processing Workload Transfer Update

USCIS from January 5 through March 28, USCIS began sending some cases between service centers in order to balance workloads. They have updated their Workload Transfer Updates page with this information: •· Some Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for F, M, and J nonimmigrants went from the California Service Center (CSC), the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and the Texas

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ACICS Loss of Accreditation Affects ESL and 24-month STEM OPT

On December 12, 2016, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. This determination immediately affects two immigration-related programs: English language study programs, as the programs are required to be accredited under the Accreditation of English Language Training Programs Act. F-1 students applying

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H1B Mission India Website Correction

In a recent meeting with the Department of State (DOS), we advised: The Mission India U.S. Travel Docs website features this question: “I have a valid H-1B visa which contains my previous petitioner’s details. I have changed my employer with valid I-797 and am back india for a short trip. Can I travel back to the U.S. on the same

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USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap

H1B Cap Reached U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reached the 65,000 H-1B regular cap for fiscal year 2018 and 20,000 H-1B U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap. The USCIS will reject and return all cap-subject petitions filed after April 7, 2017. H1B Lottery The USCIS will conduct a random selection process for the advanced degree exemption first.

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DHS to Reconsider the H-4 EAD Rule

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously defending an appeal of a law suit to terminate H4 EAD has now filed a Motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia requesting the court hold the proceedings in abeyance for 180 days to permit DHS to reconsider the H-4 EAD rule. (Save Jobs USA v. DHS, 4/3/17) Revision,

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CA Chief Justice Objects to ICE at California Courthouses

California Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye Objects to Immigration Enforcement Tactics at California Courthouses California Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye issued a letter to Attorney General Sessions and DHS Secretary Kelly expressing her deep concern about reports from trial courts that immigration agents appear to be “stalking undocumented immigrants in our courthouses to make arrests… Courthouses should not be used as bait.”

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USCIS Targeting H-1B Site Visits for Fraud and Abuse

Beginning April 3, 2017, USCIS will make targeted H1B site visits across the country to H-1B petitioners and the worksites of H-1B employees for: • Cases where USCIS cannot validate the employer’s basic business information through commercially available data; • H-1B-dependent employers (those who have a high ratio of H-1B workers as compared to U.S. workers, as defined by statute);

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