By Cyrus D. Mehta and Gianna Boccanfuso∗ The USCIS continues to strictly scrutinize H-1B petitions. According to an NFAP report, denial rates for H-1B petitions have increased significantly, rising from 6% in FY 2015 to 33% through the second quarter of FY 2019 for new H-1B petitions for initial employment. In recent times, seeking review […]
The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act has divided the immigrant community as well as immigration attorneys. The bill seeks to eliminate per-country caps without expanding the number of visas in the EB categories. The House version, HR 1044, has already passed with an overwhelming majority on February 7, 2019. The Senate version, S. 386, […]
The State Department Visa Bulletin for October 2019 reflects forward movement as anticipated with the beginning of the federal fiscal year, except for the employment-based first preference (EB-1). It also does not look promising for many EB categories involving India. According to Charlie Oppenheim, there is normally full recovery or almost full recovery of the […]
by Stacy Caplow and Maryellen Fullerton* The laws and policies protecting refugees and asylum seekers in the United States are under sustained assault. Since 1980, Congress has provided that noncitizens in the United States or at its borders “whether or not at a designated port of arrival” may apply for asylum.[1] Disagreeing with the statute, […]
Filing lawsuits in federal court to challenge erroneous denials of visa petitions by USCIS have become more frequent. There is more of a shot at a reversal when a federal judge reviews a denial of the USICS. Under the Administration Procedures Act, a court must set aside an agency action that is “arbitrary, capricious, an […]
Many US citizens, especially those who have recently naturalized, desire to sponsor their senior parents for lawful permanent residence, also colloquially known as the green card. A US citizen can sponsor a parent for a green card as an immediate relative by filing Form I-130 under INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i). Immediate relatives are not subject to quotas […]
DHS promulgated the F-1 STEM optional practical training (OPT) benefit, with the publication of the “24-month STEM OPT Rule” that became effective on May 10, 2016. See 81 FR 13039. This rule has been the subject of contentious litigation. The Washington Alliance of Technology Workers (WashTech) filed suit against both the 24-month STEM OPT rule and […]
The Supreme Court announced on June 28, 2019 that it would consider the legality of President Trump’s ending of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. Although federal courts in New York, California and Washington DC have blocked Trump’s efforts to block DACA, the Supreme Court decided to take up the matter striking fear in […]
The Department of State Visa Bulletin is eagerly anticipated each month. It tells aspiring immigrants their place in the green card queue, and whether one has moved ahead, remained static or gone backwards. There are many people stuck in the green card backlogs, some stretching to several decades, hoping each month to move ahead in […]
On May 31, 2019, the State Department added new questions to visa application forms, DS-160/DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application and Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Application. Visa applicants now have to disclose the social media platforms that they have used within the previous five years and provide their user names or handle for each platform. This information […]
