There have been many changes, suspensions, and extensions at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USCIS has had to close its physical offices to implement social distancing, and, as a result, the USCIS now has quite a hefty backlog in its p…
On the 18th of March, USCIS closed all of its offices from person-to-person contact in an attempt to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus. This suspension of these services involved the complete canceling of applicant interviews that were scheduled previously. That being said, unofficially, ther…
Part of standard employment procedures is completing a physical Form I-9 review with your new employee. Since life is operating remotely for the foreseeable future, completing an in-person inspection of I-9 documents is pretty much impossible for most employers. What can you do if you have a new emp…
Navigating the aftermath of an H-1B transfer denial requires a clear understanding of the reasons behind such decisions and the subsequent steps to uphold your legal status in the United States. When confronted with a denial, comprehending the legal basis and common reasons for rejection is essentia…
USCIS received about 275k registrations for the 2024 season of H1B visas. All of these requests were processed using their new online tool for H1B registrations. In most cases, the system will have to go through a number of tests, and only be launched when it is pretty much perfect – but now and aga…
At a Glance H1B extension allows extension beyond the initial 3 years, up to a total of 6 years. Reasons for extension denial include employer not meeting requirements, lack of specialized knowledge, insufficient proof of employer/employee relationship, unpaid or insufficient fees, inability to pay …
The current coronavirus pandemic has affected almost all activities and processes around the world. Nothing seems to be immune to it. In the United States, many states have restricted travel and immigration. The USCIS has limited its operations, and most processing work is on hold. The latest additi…
At a Glance H4 visa holders can extend their EAD by applying for a replacement and following specific steps. They can also benefit from automatic EAD extensions and are eligible for federal unemployment benefits. COVID-19 insurance options are available. Staying informed is crucial for managing the …
USCIS recently just made some changes to the H1B petition submissions due to the COVID-19 situation that erupted earlier this year. Apparently, there was a policy memorandum that accepted reproduced signatures on every petition for H1B submitted after the date of March 21, 2020. Because social dista…
At a Glance The COVID-19 pandemic has led to layoffs for many non-citizens in the US, including those on H1B and H4 visas. H4 visa holders have the advantage of being able to work for any employer, making it easier for them to find new jobs. Fortunately, H4 visa holders are eligible for unemployment…