nonimmigrant visas

February 25, 2015

DHS Extends Eligibility for Employment Authorization to Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses

USCIS Director León Rodríguez announced on Tuesday, February 24th, that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR), effective May 26, 2015.

Finalizing the H-4 employment eligibility was one of President Obama’s key elements in his immigration executive actions announced last November.

Eligible individuals include certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who:

February 4, 2015

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 1/26/15

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. There is a cap limit of 33,000 for the first half of the fiscal year and 33,000 for the second half for a total of 66,000 per year. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (1/26/15) this first half cap count has been reached. Please read USCIS update below!

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (1/23/15); 2,156 beneficiaries have been approved and 4,862 are pending for a total of 7,018.

January 8, 2015

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 12/26/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (12/26/14); 18,841 beneficiaries have been approved and 4,729 are pending for a total of 23,570.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (12/26/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 1,231 are pending for a total of 1,231.

December 22, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 12/12/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (12/12/14); 15,579 beneficiaries have been approved and 3,668 are pending for a total of 19,247.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (12/12/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 341 are pending for a total of 341.

December 8, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/28/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/28/14); 12,786 beneficiaries have been approved and 2,344 are pending for a total of 15,130.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/28/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

November 24, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/17/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/17/14); 11,128 beneficiaries have been approved and 1,530 are pending for a total of 12,658.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/17/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

November 21, 2014

The President’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions

by Kellie N. Lego

On Thursday, November 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced his Temporary Plans to fix our broken immigration system.

The President’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions will help secure the border, hold nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants accountable and ensure that everyone plays by the same rules.

As an Immigration Attorney, I see the results of our broken system every day and in the absence of Congressional action, the President had to act. While a lot of the details are still waiting to be filled in, we know that many of these changes will make a real impact. We are aware that these initiatives are not going to help everyone, as not everyone will be eligible. Therefore, we need to continue to pressure Congress into finishing the job by passing a bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.

November 10, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/31/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/31/14); 9,574 beneficiaries have been approved and 1,528 are pending for a total of 11,102.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/31/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

October 30, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/17/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/17/14); 8,670 beneficiaries have been approved and 1,146 are pending for a total of 9,816.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/17/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

October 23, 2014

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/10/14

by Kellie N. Lego

The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2015 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/10/14); 7,790 beneficiaries have been approved and 1,372 are pending for a total of 9,162.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2015 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/10/14); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.