H1B Visa Lawyer BlogAttorney Kellie Lego has been selected to the SuperLawyers, Maryland Rising Stars List for 2020
Attorney Kellie Lego has been selected to the 2020 Super Lawyers – Maryland Rising Stars list in the field of Immigration Law. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. A candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. This is Kellie’s eighth consecutive Maryland Rising Star honor (2013-2020).
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.
The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.
Visa Bulletin – January 2020
The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.
Click the link to view the January 2020 Visa Bulletin
The monthly Visa Bulletin has changed. The bulletin now summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during the reported month for: “Application Final Action Dates” (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins) and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center using Consular Processing (outside of the US) or file on their own with USCIS Form I-485 (within the US).
USCIS Expands Guidance for Naturalization Requirements of Good Moral Character
On Friday, December 13th, USCIS updated and expanded its policy guidance (PDF) regarding unlawful acts that may prevent an applicant for naturalization to meet the Good Moral Character (GMC) requirements.
Note*: The commission of, or conviction or imprisonment for, an unlawful act, during the statutory period for naturalization, may render an applicant ineligible for naturalization should the act be found to adversely reflect on moral character.
*USCIS
USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season
USCIS announce of Friday, December 6, 2019 that they have completed the initial pilot program testing the H-1B electronic registration process which will include a $10 registration fee. This fee is just to register online to be included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap selection. This new H-1B electronic registration process includes those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The government feels that the new electronic registration process will streamline the application process, reduce paperwork and allow for better data exchange leading to an overall cost savings.
For further details please review the USCIS News Article, “USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season”.
Source of Information:
MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, December 13, 2019
MVP Law Group, P.A. makes available the information and materials in this forum for informational purposes only. The information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or any contractual obligations. Further, the use of this site, and the sending or receipt of this information, does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. Therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.
Question #1 – Family Based Immigration
Can I apply for green cards for my in-laws? I am a US Citizen and we are waiting for my spouse’s to get approved?
USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island – Video Documentary & Photos!
USCIS has released a new YouTube video documentary entitled, “USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island”. This documentary describes the operational history of USCIS at Ellis Island and is told from their employees’ point of view!
Ellis Island operated as the nations’ busiest Immigration inspection station from 1892 until 1954. They processed over 12 million immigrants in its 62 years of operation.
For a more detailed history of Ellis Island view the following:
MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, December 13, 2019
We wanted to find a new way to engage our reader base. Every other Friday, we will post the ten (10) best/most frequently asked questions received during the week from our h1bvisalawyerblog, Facebook, and Twitter readers. We will answer those questions and provide the Q&A on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.
If you have a burning question, are seeking assistance with a difficult immigration related case, wish to discuss your views on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, DREAMers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, priority dates, the monthly visa bulletin, adjustment applications, etc., please contact us by submitting your question/comment/viewpoint in our comment box provided on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.
Our next “Q & A Forum” will take place this Friday, December 13, 2019. Act now and submit your questions!
Homeland Security wants to use Facial Recognition on Anyone Traveling Including US Citizens!
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing using facial-recognition technology at all points of entrance and exit from the United States, including on U.S. citizens. DHS has proposed changing regulations to allow them to do just that. Facial recognition technology matches an image of a person from a photo or video with a still image of them in a database.
Michael Hardin, director of exit/entry policy for DHS, stated that the rule was in the “final stages of clearance.” If the rule is approved, it would have to be published for public comments for a period.
For further details please review the CNN News Article, “Homeland Security wants to use facial recognition on traveling US citizens, too”.
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2020
On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, USCIS announced that it has reached the H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2020. November 15, 2019 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2020. The “final receipt date” is the date on which USCIS determined that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of H-2B workers for the first half FY2020. USCIS continues to accept petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated H-2B cap.
The exceptions are listed below:
• Current H-2B workers in the U.S. petitioning to extend their stay and, if applicable, change the terms of their employment or change their employers;