Friday, March 30, 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
New USCIS H-1B Policy Memo
From USCIS:
| The following immigration policy memorandum is now available on the Policy Memoranda section of the USCIS website: For purposes of the bar to filing multiple H-1B cap-subject petitions for the same beneficiary, Matter of S- Inc. clarifies that the term “related entities” includes petitioners, whether or not related through corporate ownership and control,that file cap-subject H-1B petitions for the same beneficiary for substantially the same job. Absent a legitimate business need to file multiple cap-subject petitions for the same beneficiary, USCIS will deny or revoke the approval of all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed by “related entities” for that beneficiary. |
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
USCIS Updates Form N-300
Good afternoon,
We recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
03/28/2018 12:00 AM EDT
New Version of N-300, Application to File Declaration of Intent. New Edition Dated 03/13/18.
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Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Monday, March 26, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
USCIS Form I-912 Updated
From USCIS:
| Good afternoon, We recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
03/22/2018 12:00 AM EDT
Update to Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
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Thursday, March 22, 2018
USCIS: Final Policy Memorandum: Matter of S-P-, Inc., Adopted Decision
From USCIS:
The following immigration policy memorandum is now available on the Policy Memoranda section of the USCIS website:
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USCIS Updates Webpage to Share More Accurate Processing Times
From USCIS:
| WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched a pilot to test a redesigned processing times webpage that displays the data for all forms in an easier-to-read format and also tests a new way of collecting data and calculating the processing times for some forms. The pilot will test four forms using a new automated methodology for calculating processing times. The four forms are:
For the four pilot forms, the information on the webpage reflects a new methodology for collecting and calculating processing times. The new methodology is automated, more accurate, and allows USCIS to post data on processing times within two weeks, compared to six weeks under the old methodology. The updated page displays processing times in a range for each form based on the date USCIS receives it. The low end of the range for pilot forms shows the time it takes to complete 50 percent of cases, and the high end shows the time it takes to complete 93 percent of cases. The high end for the non-pilot forms will be adjusted by 30 percent above current cycle times to reflect the time it takes to complete a majority of the cases. Applicants, petitioners, and requestors can create an online account at uscis.gov/casestatus to track the status of their cases. They may make an “outside normal processing time” case inquiry for any cases pending longer than the time listed for the high end of the range by submitting a service request online or USCIS will continue to seek user feedback during the test phase and expand this methodology to additional forms in the future. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook (/uscis). |
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions
From USCIS:
| Starting April 2, 2018, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 cap. We will temporarily suspend premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. This suspension is expected to last until Sept. 10, 2018. During this time, we will continue to accept premium processing requests for H-1B petitions that are not subject to the FY 2019 cap. We will notify the public before resuming premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions or making any other premium processing updates. During this temporary suspension, we will reject any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, filed with an FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petition. If a petitioner submits one combined check for the fees for Form I-907 and Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, we will reject both forms. When we resume premium processing, petitioners may file a Form I-907 for FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petitions that remain pending. Requesting Expedited Processing While premium processing is suspended, a petitioner may submit a request to expedite an FY 2019 cap-subject H-1B petition if it meets the criteria on the Expedite Criteria webpage. It is the petitioner’s responsibility to demonstrate that they meet at least one of the expedite criteria, and we encourage petitioners to submit documentary evidence to support their expedite request. We review all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis and will grant requests at the discretion of USCIS office leadership. Why We Are Temporarily Suspending Premium Processing for These Petitions This temporary suspension will help us reduce overall H-1B processing times. By temporarily suspending premium processing, we will be able to:
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USCIS Will Begin Accepting CW-1 Petitions for Fiscal Year 2019 on April 2, 2018
From USCIS:
First-time CW-1 Lottery Ensures Fairness to CNMI Employers
On April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting petitions under the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) program subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2019 cap. Employers in the CNMI use the CW-1 program to employ foreign workers who are ineligible for other nonimmigrant worker categories. The cap for CW-1 visas for FY 2019 is 4,999.For the FY 2019 cap, USCIS encourages employers to file a petition for a CW-1 nonimmigrant worker up to six months in advance of the proposed start date of employment and as early as possible within that timeframe. USCIS will reject a petition if it is filed more than six months in advance. An extension petition may request a start date of Oct. 1, 2018, even if that worker’s current status will not expire by that date. Since USCIS expects to receive more petitions than the number of CW-1 visas available for FY 2019, USCIS may conduct a lottery to randomly select petitions and associated beneficiaries so that the cap is not exceeded. The lottery would give employers the fairest opportunity to request workers, particularly with the possibility of mail delays from the CNMI. USCIS will count the total number of beneficiaries in the petitions received after 10 business days to determine if a lottery is needed. If the cap is met after those initial 10 days, a lottery may still need to be conducted with only the petitions received on the last day before the cap was met. USCIS will announce when the cap is met and whether a lottery has been conducted. Employers must submit the most recent version of Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker, along with:
For more information on the CW-1 cap, visit the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) Cap page. |
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Friday, March 16, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Friday, March 9, 2018
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Monday, March 5, 2018
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Friday, March 2, 2018
Thursday, March 1, 2018
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