H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

July 15, 2015

DACA Recipients with 3-Year EADs Issued After the Injunction Must Return them!

In response to the injunction in Texas v. United States, USCIS is requiring approximately 2,000 individuals to whom 3-year Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) were issued after the February 16, 2015 injunction, to return their EADs to the USCIS by July 17th or show cause.

The USCIS letter sent to the affected individuals stated, “USCIS must receive your EAD by 7/17/15. Failure to return the invalid EAD without good cause may affect your deferred action and employment authorization.”

This does not affect EADs that were issued before the injunction. Also, and most important – these affected individuals have already been issued a new 2-year EAD as a replacement for the invalid 3-year EAD.

July 14, 2015

Visa Bulletin – August 2015

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the August 2015 Visa Bulletin

As projected by the U.S. Department of State, the August 2015 Visa Bulletin shows the EB2 date for nationals from India stayed at 10/1/08; the EB3 date for nationals from India moved from 2/1/04 to 6/1/04; the EB2 for Chinese Nationals moved from 10/1/13 to 12/15/13; the EB3 for Chinese Nationals retrogressed from 9/1/11 to 6/1/04 due to large demand; and EB3 for WW moved from 4/1/15 to 7/15/15; and the F2A category moved from 11/8/13 to 12/15/13, except Mexico which moved from 9/15/13 to 11/1/13. The F2A category is reserved exclusively for Spouses and unmarried children (under the age of 21) of green card holders (LPRs).

July 13, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – Connecticut, Delaware & Florida

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

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).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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; Connecticut, Delaware & Florida.

July 10, 2015

MVP LAW GROUP – Immigration Q&A Forum, Friday, July 10, 2015

by Kellie N. Lego

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 – H4 EAD Eligibility

If my wife has previously held an H-1B status, is she eligible to apply for H-4/EAD?

July 9, 2015

New Delaware Law allows Immigrant Driving Cards

by Kellie N. Lego

On Tuesday, June 30th, the Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell signed a new law, allowing certain undocumented immigrants living in Delaware to gain driving privileges.

This new law allows for a driving privilege card to be issued to undocumented immigrants who:

(1) have filed Delaware state income tax returns for the last two (2) years; OR (2) have lived in Delaware and have been claimed as a dependent on a Delaware state income tax return.

July 8, 2015

Revised – Updated Service Center Processing Times (as of 4/30/15)

by Kellie N. Lego

Processing Time reports for all of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Service Centers were released on 7/2/15 with processing dates as of 4/30/15.

If you filed a petition with one of the Service Centers, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

California Service Center (CSC)

July 7, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – Arkansas, California & Colorado

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

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).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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; Arkansas, California & Colorado.

July 6, 2015

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, July 10, 2015

by Kellie N. Lego

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, July 10, 2015. Act now and submit your questions!

July 3, 2015

Happy Independence Day!

by Kellie N. Lego

“Immigrants signed their names to our Declaration and helped win our independence. Immigrants helped lay the railroads and build our cities, calloused hand by calloused hand. Immigrants took up arms to preserve our union, to defeat fascism, and to win a Cold War. Immigrants and their descendants helped pioneer new industries and fuel our Information Age, from Google to the iPhone. So the story of immigrants in America isn’t a story of “them,” it’s a story of “us.” It’s who we are. And now, all of you get to write the next chapter.” – President Barack Obama

(Part of Speech given during military naturalization ceremony for active duty service members in the East Room of the White House, July 4, 2012)

No matter what your plans are for this Fourth of July, make it a memorable day by spending time with your family and friends. Have a picnic, go to the fireworks, watch a parade or just celebrate with a quiet moment. Please remember those brave men and women who gave their lives to defend our country and its freedoms.

July 2, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – Georgia, Hawaii & Idaho

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

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).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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; Georgia, Hawaii & Idaho.