On February 4, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the America COMPETES Act of 2022 (H.R. 4521). Among other things the bill would exempt international science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) PhD graduates from the green card numerical cap,...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Labor Shortages, Biden’s Immigration Policies, Justice Breyer
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Baptist News Global in "America's Economy Urgently Needs More Immigrant Labor, Experts Explain." Noting that the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are areas where the...
CBP Expands ‘Simplified Arrival’ at International Airports in the South
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the implementation of Simplified Arrival at six airports in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee: Rogers Municipal Carter Field Airport, Lakefront Airport, Alexandria (Louisiana)...
CBP Announces New COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement for Non-U.S. Travelers Entering Via Land and Ferry From Canada, Mexico
As of January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is requiring non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and...
DHS, DOL Announce Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for First Half of Fiscal Year
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Labor (DOL) announced the availability of 20,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. The visas are for "U.S. employers that are facing irreparable harm...
FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens March 1
The initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B cap will start at noon ET on March 1, 2022, and run through noon ET on March 18, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced. During this period, prospective petitioners and...
USCIS Requests Comments on New Form I-129H1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a notice requesting comments by February 18, 2022, on a new Form I-129H1. USCIS made edits to the I–129H1 form and Instructions in response to previous comments. USCIS also removed form items and instructional...
State Dept. Announces F/M/J Nonimmigrant Visa Processing Posts Outside of Moscow for Applicants Resident in Russia
The Department of State (DOS) announced on January 21, 2022, that due to "severely limited consular operations in Moscow," DOS has designated multiple posts for processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications from persons resident in Russia. Russia-based student...
State Dept. Issues Final Rule Allowing Certain Fee Exemptions
The Department of State (DOS) issued a final rule on January 19, 2022, amending its regulation governing immigrant visa (IV) fees to allow an exemption from such fees for certain applicants previously denied an immigrant visa pursuant to certain Presidential...
USCIS Notes ‘Exceptionally High Number’ of Employment-Based Green Cards Available This Fiscal Year
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued an alert noting that an "exceptionally high number" of employment-based green cards are available this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022). USCIS said that it is committed, in "partnership...
