The recent wave of public and private university and college closings due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is only going to increase throughout the United States. Many colleges and universities have
Continue Reading Coronavirus and Foreign Student Considerations
Mark D. Harley
F, J, and M Nonimmigrant Unlawful Presence Memorandum Update
A recent federal district court decision from the Middle District of North Carolina has blocked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from enforcing its 2018 Memorandum on F, J, and…
Continue Reading F, J, and M Nonimmigrant Unlawful Presence Memorandum Update
Public Charge Rule Change Update
As of February 24, 2020, all applications for Adjustment of Status will be subject to the enhanced Public Charge Rule after a rule by the U.S. Supreme Court on January…
Continue Reading Public Charge Rule Change Update
Update on Rule on H-1B Registration Fee
To update my September 5, 2019 post, USCIS has announced a final rule that requires a $10 non-refundable registration fee for each cap-subject H-1B submitted by petitioning employers. USCIS announced…
Continue Reading Update on Rule on H-1B Registration Fee
Student Alert – Change to SEVP Portal
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced changes to student’s access to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Instead of allowing students access to their portal accounts indefinitely, in…
Continue Reading Student Alert – Change to SEVP Portal
Proposed Rule on H-1B Registration Fee
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a notice in the Federal Register of a proposed rule to amend its regulations to allow for USCIS to require a $10…
Continue Reading Proposed Rule on H-1B Registration Fee
Reminder – End of Courtesy Premium Processing for Form I-539 filed with I-129 Petitions
USCIS’ previous practice of adjudicating the I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, filed with a qualifying I-129 petition under Premium Processing has ended. USCIS now requires every I-539 applicant pay …
Continue Reading Reminder – End of Courtesy Premium Processing for Form I-539 filed with I-129 Petitions
USCIS Completes FY 2020 H-1B Cap-Subject Data Entry
Yesterday, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency has completed data entry for all fiscal year 2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in the lottery. USCIS is…
Continue Reading USCIS Completes FY 2020 H-1B Cap-Subject Data Entry
Additional H-2B Visas Available for Returning Workers
The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor jointly announced the addition of 30,000 H-2B temporary worker visas for fiscal year 2019. These additional visas are available only to…
Continue Reading Additional H-2B Visas Available for Returning Workers
Alert! Premium Processing for FY 2020 Cap-Subject Petitions
Yesterday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced start dates for premium processing of fiscal year (FY) 2020 cap-subject H-1B petitions. USCIS will review premium processing requests in two phases. …
Continue Reading Alert! Premium Processing for FY 2020 Cap-Subject Petitions