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 »
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 »
Questions and Answers: Extension of Post Completion Practical Training and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the Cap Gap Regulations
These Questions & Answers address the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of October 1, 2009 under the FY 2010 H-1B cap. What is the H-1B [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Employ American Workers Act and its Effect on H-1B Petitions
Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional requirements for employers, who receive funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act before they may hire a foreign national to work in the H-1B specialty occupation category. Background On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law [...] Read more »
USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2010 Beginning April 1, 2009
Petitioners Are Reminded to Follow Regulatory Requirements U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2010 (FY 2010) cap on April 1, 2009. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of the petition; not the date that the petition is postmarked. The [...] Read more »
USCIS Announces New Requirements for Hiring H-1B Foreign Workers
Changes Apply to Companies that Receive TARP Funding U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional requirements for employers, who receive funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (covered funding), before they may hire a foreign national to work in the H-1B specialty occupation category. The [...] Read more »