USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap
Release Date: April 7, 2017
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has reached the congressionally mandated 65,000 visa H-1B cap for fiscal year 2018. USCIS has also received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, also known as the master’s cap.
The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not duplicate filings.
Form I-914 Update
USCIS recently updated the following form:
- Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status. New edition dated 02/27/17. You can also use the 01/18/17 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
Employment Authorization Documents Issued by the Potomac Service Center
On April 17, 2017, the Potomac Service Center (PSC) will begin handling corrections to Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that were issued by the PSC that may have incorrect information due to USCIS error. Previously customers were instructed to send EAD’s issued by the PSC to the Nebraska Service Center to be corrected.
How to Request an EAD Correction
Written testimony of DHS Secretary John F. Kelly for a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing titled “Improving Border Security and Public Safety”
Release Date: April 5, 2017
342 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member McCaskill, and distinguished Members of the Committee:
It is a great honor and privilege to appear before you today to discuss the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) crucial missions of protecting the homeland and securing our nation’s borders. During the past 45 years, I have been privileged to serve this nation as both an enlisted Marine and an officer. I am humbled to once again answer the call to serve, this time with the men and women of DHS.
US Department Of Labor Announces Plans To Protect American Workers From H-1B Program Discrimination
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced plans to protect U.S. workers from H-1B program discrimination by providing greater transparency and oversight.
Form I-698 Update
USCIS recently updated the following form:
- Form I-698, Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Under Section 245A of the INA): New edition dated 03/03/17. You can also use the 12/23/16 edition.
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
USCIS Announces Further Measures to Detect H-1B Visa Fraud and Abuse Inbox
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced multiple measures to further deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. The H-1B visa program should help U.S. companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country. Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing, and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in employment-based immigration programs is a priority for USCIS.
Justice Department Cautions Employers Seeking H-1B Visas Not to Discriminate Against U.S. Workers
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Monday, April 3, 2017
H-1B for Programmers - 2017 Guidance
Note From Rajiv:
There is nothing new in this memo that we have not encountered before. What USCIS has said in this memo is that the IT title “Programmer” is not necessarily a job that requires a degree AND further a degree in specific discipline. If we claim otherwise, we have to prove our case. We have to do that in many, many cases anyway. Like I noted earlier, this is not new.