Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
Online Visa, ESTA Applications Include New Social Media Question
The Department of State's (DOS) online visa application forms (Form DS-160 and Form DS-260) now include a new question about social media. The applicant is instructed to provide the names of each social media platform used within the last five years and the "username...
USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) aims “to understand challenges and pain points of the application or petition process” concerning the EB-5, and has invited attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, and petitioners to provide...
State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories
The Department of State's (DOS) Visa Bulletin for the month of June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories: There continues to be an "extremely high rate of demand" for India employment first preference (EB-1) visa numbers, which has...
Presumptions and Entrepreneurs: A Review of Recent BALCA Decisions for Entrepreneurs
By David Wilks and Brooke Ireland* The labor certification process allows companies to obtain green cards for current or future employees through a test the labor market. In this test, the employer conducts regulation-governed recruitment to document that no available...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr co-authored a New Policy Brief and Quoted on Migrant Children
Steve Yale-Loehr co-authored a new policy brief. "Noncitizens in the U.S. Military: Navigating National Security Concerns and Recruitment Needs," published by the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). The report notes, among other things, that close to 8,000 noncitizens...
Miller Mayer’s H-1B Success Story
Miller Mayer's Rosanne Mayer recently achieved an H1-B approval that allows a J-1 waiver surgeon to be employed by a major medical institution in a chronically underserved area. A request for evidence (RFE) asked for the surgeon's work itinerary, questioned her start...
USCIS Director Cissna Out Effective June 1
On May 26, 2019, L. Francis Cissna, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) since October 2017, submitted his resignation "at the request of the President," effective June 1, 2019. In an email, Mr. Cissna thanked USCIS staff and said, "As an...
Texas Service Center Is Accepting Certain H-1B Petitions
As of May 20, 2019, the Texas Service Center has begun processing certain H-1B cap-exempt petitions requesting a change in employer or previously approved employment, concurrent employment, change of status to H-1B, and others. USCIS said this does not include H-1B...
USCIS Accelerates Transition to Digital Immigration Processing, Announces I-539 Online Filing
On May 22, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new strategy, eProcessing, to accelerate USCIS's transition to a "digital business model." USCIS said eProcessing "will be a complete digital experience, from applying for a benefit, to...
Regulatory Agenda Includes Stripping Employment Eligibility From H-4 Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders, Other Actions
The Trump administration recently announced its spring 2019 regulatory agenda. On the list for the Department of Homeland Security are proposals (not final yet), among others, to: Revise the definition of "specialty occupation" to "increase focus on obtaining the best...
