U.S. Alerts

March Visa Bulletin Shows Progress The Department of State (DOS) has released the Visa Bulletin for March 2019, showing modest progress for EB-1 for all chargeability areas as well as EB-2 for China and India; EB-3 and Other Workers China, India, and the Philippines; and EB-5 China and Vietnam, with the remainder of the priority

USCIS To Issue New Version of Form I-539 and New I-539A, Effective March 11 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on February 11, 2019, that it has revised Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and is introducing a new Form I-539A. The revised and new forms will be required for filings on and

USCIS Now Accepting Copies of Negative P Visa Consultations Directly from Labor Unions U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said that effective February 8, 2019, the agency has begun accepting copies of negative consultation letters directly from labor unions relating to current or future P nonimmigrant visa petitions. USCIS noted that a consultation letter from

USCIS TO RESUME H-1B CAP PREMIUM PROCESSING The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has just announced that it will resume premium processing for H-1B cap petitions for fiscal year 2019 on Monday, January 28.  In August 2018, USCIS announced that it would suspend premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions until February 2019, due to steadily

USCIS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), have announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2019. For 2019, the

DHS Prioritizes U.S. Advanced Degrees in H-1B Final Rule; Electronic Registration Requirement Postponed The Department of Homeland Security has published a final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The final rule reverses the order by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects

   Interview Waiver Guidance Revised for Petitions to Remove Conditions on Residence U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a policy memorandum revising interview waiver guidance for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. The guidance applies to all USCIS officers adjudicating Forms I-751, and supersedes previous guidance issued in 2005. The memo

    10 H-1B Tips for Employers Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (ABIL) attorneys recommend that employers assess their need for H-1B employees and begin working on their H-1B petitions now. Filing season is expected to open April 1, 2019, for fiscal year (FY) 2020 cap-subject H-1B visas. Annual demand typically far outstrips availability, so