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H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation
This nonimmigrant classification applies to people who wish to perform services in a specialty occupation, services of exceptional merit and ability relating to a Department of Defense (DOD) cooperative research and development project, or services as a fashion model of distinguished merit or ability.
H-3 Visa Trainees
General Information
An H-3 classification applies to an alien who is coming temporarily to the United States:
(1) As a trainee, other than to receive graduate medical education or training, or training provided primarily at or by an academic or vocational institution, or
(2) As a participant in a special education exchange visitor program which provides for practical training and experience in the education of children with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-4 Visa Spouse & Children
Family members of the H-1B foreign worker are admitted to the United States in the H-4 category. Qualifying family members include only the spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old. H-4 dependents are admitted for the same period of time for which the H-1B foreign worker is admitted. H-4 dependents may alternatively be admitted in other nonimmigrant categories for which they qualify. H-4 dependents may undertake studies while remaining in the H-4 category, however, they may not engage in any form of employment.
H Visa Processing times & status checks
Processing Times
- USCIS Service Center Processing Times
- California Service Center
- Nebraska Service Center
- Texas service Center
- Vermont Service Center
Nonimmigrant Visas
H-2 Visa - Temporary Workers
The H-2B visa category is used by U.S. employers to temporarily employ skilled or unskilled foreign nationals in nonagricultural positions for which the employer has a temporary need and for which qualified U.S. workers are unavailable. The company must plan to employ the foreign nationals for a temporary period and the employer’s need for the skills of the foreign nationals must also be temporary. In addition, the employer must seek a “labor certification” from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that:
Guestbook Entry for Sriram, United States
DOL Releases FY2011 PERM Statistics
Please see the attachment to view the PERM Statistics.
New Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2010 Updated
In January 2010 the BLS Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) was updated. This year the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) began issuing prevailing wages using the new SOC occupations and a few transitional occupations. The OFLC iCERT system and FLC Data Center incorporated this data as of July 5, 2011. To read the full text, please click here.
CRS Report On Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues
Please check the attachment to view CRS report on "Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues".
DOL Posted New H-2A FAQ
The Department has posted a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to assist employers and others regarding the H-2A program. The FAQ is available here on the FAQs page of the OFLC website under the H-2A heading.
DOL Posted FAQ to Assist Employers and Others Regarding the H-2B Program
The Department has posted a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to assist employers and others regarding the H-2B program.
Please check attachment.
Guestbook Entry for Mohammed Yaseen, United States
Attention: University of Northern Virginia Students
- On July 28, 2011, pursuant to a review of University of Northern Virginia’s (UNVA) certification, an SEVP representative served school officials at UNVA with a Notice of Intent to Withdraw (NOIW) the school’s SEVP-certification and SEVIS access.
Please see http://www.ice.gov/sevis/UNVA/ for details.
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Nonimmigrant Visas
Agency
Glossary
USCIS Publishes Tips On Filing H-2A Petitions
Please check the attachment.
USCIS New Online Citizenship Resource Center
USCIS inviting visitors to the new Citizenship and Resource Center, a Web portal that has information and resources on U.S. citizenship.
DOS Announces New Website For J-1 Visa Program
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC
May 25, 2011
Also available in Russian
On June 1 the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will launch a new J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website.
Guestbook Entry for Eswara Kakkera, United States
PERM approval for a foreign company with minimal presence in USA
The head-quarters for the sponsoring employer were located outside the United States. The applicant worked in the United States at a branch office, which had fewer than 5 employees. Because of the head-quarters location and the US branch office size, the DOL questioned the existence of the company in the United States. We responded with evidence of the sponsoring employer’s business in the United States and the PERM Petition was certified.
Green Card
USCIS Publishes Policy Memo On Requests To Expedite Adjudication Of Form I-601
USCIS policy memo on how USCIS processes requests to expedite the adjudication of Forms I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, filed by individuals outside of the U.S.
To view the memo please see the attachment.
USCIS Temporarily Suspends the Use of VIBE in the H-2A Program, Offers H-2A Checklist and Q&A
Due to the time-sensitive nature of agricultural work, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expedites all H-2A “temporary or seasonal agricultural worker” petitions. However, some recent H-2A petitions have experienced unexpected delays due to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) resulting from the use of the Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE).