Blog
News & EventsCharacteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers for FY 2012 – Where Do We Go From Here?
In a month or two, new freshman class of international students will be swarming all the college campuses excited about their future. Sophomores will be deciding their majors, most hoping to follow their passions. Some juniors may have a change of heart and look to...
Equal Rights Wins! DOMA Loses!
Sitting in the enormous Grand Ballroom at the Westin Hotel in San Francisco, surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of immigration lawyers, the room pulsed with long-awaited anticipation and an undeniable sense of victory. On that June 27, 2013 early morning – it was my...
Your F-2A Will Be Current In August
AILA Liaison announced that the August 2013 Visa Bulletin contained significant changes for the family-based 2A (spouses and children of lawful permanent residents). The F-2A category, which in July had a cut-off date that hovered around September/October 2011, will...
The Bill For Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The talk in congress is getting heated on the immigration debate. I would like to bring your attention to several items in the bill The bill for Comprehensive Immigration Reform is an overall positive bill and the Senators and all involved must be applauded for their...
New I-94 System
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announced that it has submitted a rule that will automate Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to streamline the admissions process for individuals lawfully visiting the United States. Form I-94 provides international...
New I-9 Form
On March 8, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately, all NEW hires by U.S. employers should fill out the new version of Form I-9. Starting May 7, 2013, use of the new version of the form is mandatory. The new Form...
B-1 In Lieu Of H-1B – Will This Useful Category Survive?
The visa category known as B-1 in lieu of H1B is a lesser-known and frequently misunderstood option. This category is intended to permit foreign companies to send their employees to the United States temporarily, for the purpose of performing duties related to their...
H-1B Entrepreneurs
Historically, foreigners have been instrumental in the creation of many successful companies in the US. However, the US immigration laws have become less and less welcoming to foreigners who wish to create their own companies. In 2010, a memo was promulgated that made...
ITIN Numbers
The obtaining of individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) became significantly harder in 2012. ITIN's are used by many undocumented immigrants to pay taxes on monies earned in the United States. We also use them for foreign nationals who are not eligible for...
Did You Know?
The USCIS Adjudicator’s Field Manual (USCIS AFM) which is the manual the CIS uses to adjudicate cases, says that a branch of a foreign entity CANNOT sponsor an L-1A manager for a green card through the I-140 process. Although the USCIS AFM does not have the same force...