H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

February 29, 2024

USCIS Webinar – H-2B Visa Program: Overview and Country Specific Allocations Recruitment (3-7-24)

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a national webinar, “H-2B Visa Program: Overview and Country Specific Allocations Recruitment Webinar“, Thursday, March 7, 2024, between 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Eastern). The webinar covers the H-2B visa program and will provide an overview of country-specific allocations recruitment for workers from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Haiti.

Review the USCIS Upcoming National Engagements Web Page for more details: H-2B Visa Program: Overview and Country Specific Allocations Recruitment Webinar

To Register for this webinar:

February 28, 2024

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 2/22/24

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 2024 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/11/23); On October 11, 2023, the H-2B cap for the first half of FY 2024 was reached!

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2024 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (2/22/24); 13,476 beneficiaries have been approved and 7,861 are pending for a total of 21,337.

February 26, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, March 1, 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 1, 2024. Act now and submit your questions!

February 23, 2024

2024 USCIS Forms Updates – 2/21/24

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 21, 2024!

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February 22, 2024

AAO Processing Times – FY 2024 1st Quarter

by Kellie N. Lego

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) provides an updated ‘processing times’ in table form, with information on FY2024 first quarterly completions; October 2023 to December 2023. These figures indicate the time that it takes from the date the case is received at AAO coming from the Service Center or District Office to completion.

AAO Processing Times were released with processing dates as of 1/19/24. If you filed an appeal, please review the link below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

Note: Starting with the January 2017 Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times Report, the AAO has changed how it presents processing time data. The AAO will now provide, by form type, the total number of case completions for the fiscal year quarter and the percentage completed within 180 days, cases completed divided by their projected case goal.

February 21, 2024

Update – Visa Bulletin – March 2024

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the March 2024 Visa Bulletin

UPDATE: When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: March 2024

February 20, 2024

Reminder – USCIS Webinar – FY 2025 H-1B Electronic Registration Process (2/21/24)

by Kellie N. Lego

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a national webinar, “FY 2025 H-1B Electronic Registration Process” on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, between 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm (Eastern).

The USCIS announcement states that during this webinar, USCIS representatives will:

Share updates on changes to the FY 2025 H-1B electronic registration process;

February 16, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 2/16/24

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.When will the Registration period open for the H-1B CAP for FY2025? March 6, 2024 at noon (est.) and it will close on March 22, 2024 at noon (est.).

2. Who may submit an H-1B CAP registration? A U.S. employer (Petitioner) and their Representatives (Attorney).

February 14, 2024

Completing an Unprecedented 10 Million Immigration Cases in Fiscal Year 2023, USCIS Reduced Its Backlog!

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed an unprecedented 10 million immigration cases in Fiscal Year 2023! USCIS has finally reduced its backlog of cases for the first time in a Decade or more. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated, “We’ve completed a record number of cases, responded to emerging crises around the globe with essential humanitarian relief, and applied innovative solutions to improve customer experience and reduce backlogs.”! For further details please review the USCIS News Release, “Completing an Unprecedented 10 Million Immigration Cases in Fiscal Year 2023, USCIS Reduced Its Backlog for the First Time in Over a Decade“.

Source of Information:

USCIS (USCIS.gov), 2/9/24, News Release:

February 13, 2024

Visa Bulletin – March 2024

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the March 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).