H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

March 14, 2024

Visa Bulletin – April 2024

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the April 2024 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).

March 13, 2024

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2024

by Kellie N. Lego

On Friday, March 8, 2024, USCIS announced that it has reached the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year 2024. March 7, 2024 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2024. 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 FY2024. 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;

March 12, 2024

2024 USCIS Forms Updates – 3/7/24

by Kellie N. Lego

The USCIS Forms Updates web page lists their most recently updated forms. The list includes forms as they publish them and includes a brief explanation for the update.

The updated form listed below is their most recent addition to the list, dated February 26, 2024 and March 7, 2024!

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March 11, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, March 15, 2024

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, March 15, 2024. Act now and submit your questions!

March 8, 2024

USCIS Webinar – USCIS Online Filing Engagement (3-28-24)

by Kellie N. Lego

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a national webinar, “USCIS Online Filing Engagement“, Thursday, March 28, 2024, between 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Eastern). This webinar covers how to file Forms I-129 (H-1B Petition) and I-907 (Premium Processing Service) online. USCIS representatives will also give best practice and tips and answer some questions.

Review the USCIS Upcoming National Engagements Web Page for more details: USCIS Online Filing Engagement

To Register for this webinar:

March 7, 2024

FY 2025 H-1B Initial Registration Period has started!

by Kellie N. Lego

The USCIS initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap petitions opened on Wednesday, March 6th and runs through Friday, March 22, 2024, at noon Eastern. Prospective petitioners and their representatives must use a USCIS online account to register. The H-1B selection process will only be run on properly submitted online registrations from this initial registration period. The USCIS stated that the H-1B registration fee for FY 2025 registrations will be $10 and will not increase.

For more details, review the USCIS Web page at H-1B Electronic Registration Process!

Source of Information:

March 6, 2024

USCIS Webinar – National Asylum Engagement (3/6/24)

by Kellie N. Lego

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a national webinar, “National Asylum Engagement” on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, between 2:00 to 3:00 pm (Eastern). The webinar (Stakeholder Engagement) will include USCIS representatives who will give an update on the asylum program! They will also have a Q&A session at the end of the engagement on this subject.

Review the USCIS Upcoming National Engagements Web Page for more details: National Asylum Engagement

How to join this webinar:

March 5, 2024

Certain USCIS Updated Forms Take Effect on April 1 with No Grace Period

by Kellie N. Lego

The USCIS updated forms listed below will take effect April 1, 2024. A new USCIS rule which also goes into effect April 1st, normally would allow a grace period but because of the new fee structure there will be none and the new 04/1/24 editions for certain forms must be used.

March 4, 2024

USCIS Electronic Reading Room

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS has an online Electronic Reading Room with access to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requested documents. The Reading Room is really a Web-based searchable database of public requested FOIA documents; mixed with USCIS documents that the government decided may have a larger public demand. You can use pull-downs to choose different listed subjects and include any month/year date from January 2011 to the present. You can also type in your own keywords to search.

Please visit this page for more information: Electronic Reading Room

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 3/1/24

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.

1 – Is USCIS raising their filing fees for certain forms? Yes, effective April 1, 2024, nearly all USCIS filing fees for certain Forms will change. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-uscis-fee-rule The USCIS has not increased their filing fees since 2016. Generally, there is a $50 discount for those who choose to file their cases online compared to those paper-based filings.

2 -What is the new fee for Form I-539? Filing fees for Form I-539 are currently $370.00, or $455.00 if biometrics are required. Filing Form I-539 online (with/without biometrics) will increase to $420.00 as of 04/01/2024. Filing a paper-based Form I-539 will increase to $470.00 as of 04/01/2024.