Immigration News & Processing: USCIS Begins Returning Unselected H-1B Cap Petitions for FY 2019

Immigration News & Processing: USCIS Begins Returning Unselected H-1B Cap Petitions for FY 2019
Excerpt: USCIS completed data entry for FY 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions selected in the recent lottery system, and will start returning unselected petitions. USCIS does not have a specific time for petitions return. It will issue an announcement once all unselected petitions are returned. H-1B petitioners will need to wait for their H-1B receipt notices or returned petitions, instead of seeking case status with USCIS.

For additional information, please visit http://immigrationresource.net/mmigration-news-processing-uscis-begins-returning-unselected-h-1b-cap-petitions-for-fy-2019/

May 15, 2018

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as legal advice or attorney-client relationship. By Aik Wan Kok, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & info at tiyaimmigration dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-7728224; http://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; http://immigrationresource.net

Aik Wan Kok Fillali at Tiya represents companies, employers, individuals and families, located nationwide and internationally, in U.S. Immigration & Nationality Law. We focus on diverse immigration cases such as extraordinary ability; national interest waiver; PERM; green card; N-400 Naturalization; various waivers; H cases; L executive, manager and specialized knowledge professional; E treaty investor/trader; cases with USCIS, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Consulates and National Visa Center.

USCIS Received 172,500 H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Visa Quotas, and Random Selection Process (Lottery) Completed on April 10, 2014

USCIS Received 172,500 H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2015 Visa Quotas, and Random Selection Process (Lottery) Completed on April 10, 2014 H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap On April 1, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B Cap Petitions for the annual 65,000 government-mandated cap for the 2015 fiscal year (FY), and the 20, 000 exemption for H-1B under the U.S. advanced degree. On April 7, 2014, USCIS had received 172,500 H-1B Cap Petitions. The USCIS has finished its computer-generated random selection process (lottery) on April 10, 2014 and has begun issuing receipt notices. Those under U.S. advanced degree not selected within the 20,000 visa numbers was processed under random selection for the 65,000 limit. For this H-1B cap-season purpose only, USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B cap cases on or before April 28, 2014. What is an H-1B? H-1B petitions are temporary work visas for positions requiring theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields for qualified foreign nationals to live and work in the U.S. Many H-1B foreign nationals have successfully gone on to apply for and obtain lawful permanent residence status (also known as, green card). Foreign nationals with at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent (equivalent degree and/or work experience) may be sponsored for H-1B petitions. A broad range of positions may fall under H-1B specialty occupations; each case depends on a position’s own set of circumstances. Some H-1Bs Are Not Subject to H-1B Annual Work Visa Cap Not all H-1B petitions are subject to annual visa cap, depending on the types of H-1B petition being filed, or the types of entity-sponsor. For examples, foreign nationals who already have approved H-1B petitions or H-1B status may still have H-1B petitions filed for them to extend their H-1B status, or to change or add H-1B employers. Duration of H-1B In general, H-1B petitions/work visas are approved for three years each time (up to a total of 6 years). Under certain circumstances, H-1B work visas can be extended beyond the 6-year maximum time limitation. H-1Bs Not Selected or Filed When All H-1B Annual Work Visas Are Used Up Potential H-1B candidates who do not make it to the Fiscal Year 2015 H-1B visa quota (October 1, 2014 employment start-date or later) have the options to have their H-1B cap petitions submitted or resubmitted to USCIS on or after April 1, 2015 (October 1, 2015 employment start-date or later) for the Fiscal Year 2016 H-1B visa quota. They can also consider other immigration options such as other nonimmigrant work status and self-petition green card filings, if eligible. April 10, 2014: By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & koka at tiyalaw dot com; Direct dial from abroad: 001-703-772-8224; http://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; http://immigrationresource.net We represent employers, companies, and individuals and their families in green card, citizenship and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on green card cases such as extraordinary ability, national interest waiver, PERM, family; and work visas, family visas, nonimmigrant, and waiver matters. All Rights Reserved.

USCIS Immigration Policy Changes for P-1 Entertainer of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Group

USCIS Immigration Policy Changes for P-1 Entertainer of Internationally Recognized Entertainment Group

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new immigration policy changes for P-1 work visa/petition for: (a) P-1A: internationally recognized athlete, or a member of an internationally recognized athletic team; or (b) P-1B: entertainer of an internationally recognized entertainment group.

USCIS immigration policy changes for P-1B entertainer work visa/petition classification states that P-1B work visa/petition should include individual entertainers coming to the United States to join U.S.-based internationally recognized entertainment groups, and should not be limited to individual entertainers coming to the United States to join only foreign-based entertainment groups.

The relevant regulation at 8 CFR 214.2(p)(3) focuses on whether the group is “internationally recognized”: “having a high level of achievement in a field evidenced by a degree of skill and recognition substantially above that ordinarily encountered, to the extent that such achievement is renowned, leading, or well-known in more than one country.”

Individuals with P visas/status may consider green card/permanent residence sponsorships such as by employer, family and/or self, and eventually U.S. citizenship. Individuals who do not readily qualify for P-1 visas/status may consider other work visas and/or green card options.

July 14, 2012: By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Lawyer USA Immigration Services, at Tiya; Tel: 703-772-8224 & koka at tiyalaw dot com

http://www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; http://immigrationresource.net

We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card and work visa matters in U.S. immigration law. We also have a focus on green card cases such as extraordinary ability, national interest waiver and PERM.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.