Working in the United States – Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers

In order for you to come to the United States lawfully as a nonimmigrant to work temporarily in the United States your prospective employer must generally file a nonimmigrant petition on your behalf with USCIS1.   The main nonimmigrant temporary worker classifications are listed in the table below. For more information about the filing requirements for [...] Read more »

O and P Visa Requirements

USCIS Clarifies Requirements for Agents Filing as Petitioners for the O and P Visa Classification Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clarifying for performing arts associations and their members the regulatory requirements for agents who file as petitioners for the O and P visa classification. Background USCIS has received inquiries from the public [...] Read more »

USCIS Announces Resumption of Premium Processing Service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

Effective June 29, 2009, the USCIS will resume Premium Processing Service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(f)(2). After an evaluation of its I-140 backlog reduction efforts and increased I-140 adjudicative efficiencies, USCIS has concluded that it is now able to provide Premium Process Service for this benefit. [...] Read more »

How Do I Use the Premium Processing Service?

What is it? Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications. Specifically, USCIS provides 15 calendar day processing to those who choose to use this service or USCIS will refund the Premium Processing fee and the relating case will continue to receive faster processing. The processing period that is used to [...] Read more »

Cap Count for H-1B and H-2B Workers for Fiscal Year 2010

What is a “Cap”? The word “Cap” used in this Update refers to annual numerical limitations set by Congress on certain nonimmigrant visa classifications, e.g., H-1B and H-2B. Caps control the number of workers that can be issued a visa in a given fiscal year to enter the United States pursuant to a particular nonimmigrant [...] Read more »

USCIS Announces Extension of the J-1 Entry Date for International Medical Graduates to Qualify for “Conrad 30” Waiver

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds customers that Public Law 111-9, signed by President Obama on March 20, 2009, extends the date until Sept. 30, 2009 by which international medical graduates have to have been granted J-1 nonimmigrant status in order to later qualify for the “Conrad 30″ program. Before this latest extension was [...] Read more »