H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

USCIS published the final rule, “Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers” on November 18, 2016 and it goes into effect on January, 17, 2017. This final rule will modernize and improve several aspects of certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs. They have also amended regulations to better enable U.S. employers to hire and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents. Remember, this rule goes into effect on Jan. 17, 2017.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations to:

• Clarify and improve longstanding DHS policies and practices implementing sections of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act and the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act related to certain foreign workers, which will enhance USCIS’ consistency in adjudication.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a stakeholder teleconference on Thursday, November 17, 2016 between 2:00 to 3:30 pm (Eastern). The subject of the event will be “Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification” and will include representatives from USCIS giving an overview of form I-9 and a Q&A session at the end.

All U.S. employers must complete Form I-9 for every new employee hired after Nov. 6, 1986. Form I-9 is used by employers to verify individuals who are authorized to work in the U.S.

Event Information:

The USCIS has sent out an email alerting stakeholders that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced changes to the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program. These changes will require some individuals to renew their ITIN. If your ITIN is expiring soon the IRS will send you a letter stating that renewal is required. More information about the ITIN is available online by visiting the ITIN Expiration Frequently Asked Questions Web page on the IRS website.

The IRS is now accepting ITIN renewal applications and encouraging people to plan ahead so that their ITINs don’t expire. ITINs are used by people who have tax filing or payment obligations under U.S. law but who are not eligible for a Social Security Number.

For further details please review the IRS News Release, “IRS Works to Help Taxpayers Affected by ITIN Changes; Renewals Begin in October“.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

With national immigration policy being discussed as part of Presidential Elections, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Nevada, New Hampshire & New Jersey.

The IPC has compiled research which shows that Immigrants, Latinos and Asians are an essential part of each of these states’ economy, labor force and tax base. Immigrants and their children are a growing economic and political force as consumers, taxpayers and entrepreneurs. With the nation working towards economic recovery, immigrants and their children will continue to play a key role in shaping the economic and political future of each of these states.