H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

March 8, 2022

USCIS Notice of Designation of Ukraine for TPS

On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced that they were designating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the country of Ukraine for 18 months. This designation of TPS is based upon ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions in Ukraine making return un-safe. Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 1, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS. *USCIS

For further details please review the USCIS News Release, “Secretary Mayorkas Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months“.

Background:

March 7, 2022

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, March 11, 2022

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 11, 2022. Act now and submit your questions!

March 4, 2022

USCIS Webinar – (3/9/22) – Central American Minors (CAM) Program Stakeholder Engagement

by Kellie N. Lego

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be holding a national webinar, “Central American Minors (CAM) Program Stakeholder Engagement” on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, between 2:00 to 3:30 pm (Eastern). This webinar will provide an overview of the CAM program including updates about the reopening and expansion of this program. There will be experts providing answers and discussion of pre-submitted questions, so they encourage participants to submit questions early.

To Register for this webinar:

Visit our webinar registration page.

March 2, 2022

H-1B Cap (FY 2022) has been reached!

by Kellie N. Lego

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Monday, February 28th, that they reached the H-1B cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2022. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). Remember, USCIS will continue to accept and process H-1B petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap.

For more information, please read the USCIS news alert, “USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2022 H-1B Cap“.

Source of Information:

February 25, 2022

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 2/25/22

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 – Visa Interview

If I do not speak English, when I go to my interview for my visa, will a translator be provided for me or will I need to provide one myself?

February 24, 2022

Update – Visa Bulletin – March 2022

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the March 2022 Visa Bulletin

UPDATE: When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: March 2022

February 23, 2022

USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories

by Kellie N. Lego

On Friday, February 18th, the USCIS released a news alert urging eligible applicants to switch, if possible, to the employment-based categories! The overall employment-based annual limit for fiscal year 2022 is twice as high as usual numbers, because that limit includes all unused family-sponsored visa numbers from fiscal year 2021. There were approximately 140,000 unused family-sponsored visa numbers added to the new total.

The News Alert states, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status application to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, because there is an exceptionally high number of employment-based immigrant visas available in these categories during this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).”

Review the USCIS News Alert for more information: USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories!

February 22, 2022

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, Feb. 25, 2022

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, February 25, 2022. Act now and submit your questions!

February 18, 2022

USCIS Announces New Agency Mission Statement 

by Kellie N. Lego

On Wednesday, February 9th, the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Ur M. Jaddou announced in a news release that they had created a new mission statement for the agency. The Director stated, “USCIS is committed to ensuring that the immigration system we administer is accessible and humane. As we look towards the future, my commitment will remain the same – USCIS will continue to serve the public with respect and fairness, and lead with integrity to reflect America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility today and for generations to come.”

The new USCIS mission statement: “USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.”

Review the USCIS News Release for more details: USCIS Announces New Agency Mission Statement

February 17, 2022

Visa Bulletin – March 2022

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the March 2022 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).