As per Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced 58 countries whose nationals are eligible for H-2A and H-2B participation. The notice listing eligible countries was published in today’s Federal Register (effective January 18, 2012 for one year). The H-2A and H-2B programs establish a means for U.S. employers [...]

As of January 17, 2012, nonimmigrant visas are not available to the foreign nationals subject to the H-1B cap, which has been reached for fiscal year 2012. Both the 65,000 regular H-1B visas and the 20,000 cap-exempt visas set aside for those with advanced degrees have been exhausted. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will, [...]

The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday, January 6, 2012 of a proposed waiver process change which would allow spouses and children of U.S. citizens, who are present in the U.S., to file for a waiver of unlawful presence while remaining in the U.S. Unlawful presence is when a foreign national originally enters the U.S. [...]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) made clear today, when it announced the filing of a lawsuit against the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, that foreign workers in the United States with proper work authorization have a right to work without encountering discrimination due to their immigration status or national origin. “[T]he medical center [...]

Effective December 1, 2011, all E visa applications for Mission Italy are to be submitted and processed in Rome where all cases will be processed in accordance to the order received. All applications sent to Milan prior to the December 1, 2011 effective date will remain processed in Milan until conclusion. E visas provide nonimmigrant [...]

USCIS announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 for fiscal year 2012. The next filing window for the H-1B specialty occupation category will open on April 1, 2013.