Headlines: 1. H-1B Premium Processing Has Begun -On April 27, 2015, USCIS began premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions requesting it, and for petitions seeking an exemption from the H-1B cap for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. 2. District Court Grants Extension to DOL for H-2B Program -DOL will continue to process temporary labor certification applications […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Reaches H-1B Cap for FY 2016; Premium Processing Starts Soon -USCIS received almost 233,000 H-1B petitions in the first week of April. 2. Senators Seek Multi-Agency H-1B Program Investigation -The senators expressed concerns about U.S. workers being displaced by H-1B workers following allegations that Southern California Edison replaced approximately 400 information technology workers with H-1B workers. […]
Headlines: 1. Reminder: File H-1B Petitions Early! -USCIS said it expects to receive more petitions than the H-1B cap during the first five business days of this year’s program, which began on April 1. 2. USCIS Updates L-1B ‘Specialized Knowledge’ Guidance -The memo provides guidance on how L-1B petitioners may demonstrate that an employee has specialized knowledge. 3. USCIS Provides […]
The Italian government has released new quotas for subordinate work and autonomous work. The Italian government has announced the issuance of 17,850 new quotas for subordinate work and autonomous work. Applications have been available online since December 23, 2014, but they can only be submitted once a decree is officially published and comes into force. […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Will Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2016 Beginning April 1, 2015 -USCIS expects to receive more petitions than the H-1B cap during the first five business days of this year’s program. 2. USCIS Temporarily Suspends Adjudication of H-2B Petitions Following Court Order -USCIS has temporarily suspended adjudication of Form I-129 H-2B petitions for temporary nonagricultural workers […]
Headlines: 1. Court Blocks Expanded DACA, DAPA; Obama Administration Appeals – The blocked programs include an expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which had been set to start in February, and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), which was scheduled to begin in May. 2. DHS Extends Eligibility for Work Authorization To […]
Since January 2015, when Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced Express Entry, a new permanent residence immigration process, the process has solidified and immigration practitioners are learning to navigate the online Express Entry system. Express Entry is a points-based system that ranks candidates according to various human capital and personal criteria and allows CIC to […]
Belgium has established 2015 salary thresholds for fast-track work permits B and the European Union (EU) Blue Card. One of the requirements for some Belgian fast-track work permits B and for the Blue Card is a salary threshold: the annual gross remuneration must exceed an amount that is adjusted on a yearly basis. Work permits […]
Headlines: 1. Expanded DACA Starts February 18, USCIS Updates FAQ – Expanded DACA extends the deferred action period and employment authorization to three years from two years, and allows those to be considered for DACA if they meet certain conditions. 2. H-2B Cap Reached for First Half of FY 2015 – USCIS said that it is rejecting new cap-subject […]
Headlines: 1. DHS Considers ‘Known Employer’ Program To Aid Business Travel – DHS expects to launch a pilot by late 2015 to test the program. 2. HHS Updates Poverty Guidelines – Among other things, the poverty guidelines are used in determining minimum income requirements for Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and Form I-912, Fee Waiver Request. 3. USCIS Issues Reminder […]