by Kyle Knapp | Sep 6, 2023 | Uncategorized
One of the more frustrating things in applying for an immigration benefit is not knowing how long it will take U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to act on your case. Quality customer service also has been lacking in recent years. In following President Biden’s...
by Kyle Knapp | Aug 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
In late July, USCIS announced that it did not receive enough H-1B employer petitions from the initial batch of 110,791 selected lottery entries to reach the 85,000 annual cap for visas. Over the weekend of July 29-30, it therefore selected 77,609 more entries and...
by Kyle Knapp | Jul 5, 2023 | Uncategorized
With the next presidential election in 2024, I thought a re-post of my citizenship blog from last year might motivate some more permanent residents to become citizens and vote in what most certainly will be another very important election. Sometimes there is confusion...
by Kyle Knapp | Jun 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
The U.S. State Department is increasing nonimmigrant visa application fees for the first time in about ten years. “Nonimmigrant” visas are for travelers to the United States for specific, time-limited purposes, such as business meetings, tourism, study, or employment....
by Kyle Knapp | May 6, 2023 | Uncategorized
USCIS again conducted the H-1B lottery this March to allocate the statutory maximum of 85,000 visas for “specialty occupation” workers. The H-1B visa is for professional jobs, for which a specific bachelor’s degree or higher is required. Each federal fiscal year,...
by Kyle Knapp | Apr 3, 2023 | Uncategorized
USCIS revised its Policy Manual to eliminate the need to submit the required medical exam report (Form I-693) for permanent residency applications within 60 days of when the doctor signs it. Aside from an exemption of this requirement during the Covid-19 pandemic, the...
by Kyle Knapp | Mar 7, 2023 | Uncategorized
Bloomberg reported last month that the U.S. State Department will allow H and L visa holders to renew their visas without leaving the United States under a pilot program scheduled to begin this year. The State Department has yet to issue any guidance or a timeline. If...
by Kyle Knapp | Feb 6, 2023 | Uncategorized
Processing times are a recurring topic for immigration attorneys and their clients. We want to know how long it will take the government to process, and, we hope, approve, the applications we submit. One of the most common applications is the Department of Labor’s...
by Kyle Knapp | Jan 9, 2023 | Uncategorized
After more than two years since USCIS faced a court challenge over its last fee increase attempt, the agency is back again with tin cup in hand. The proposed rule from January 4, 2023 has moderate increases for some petitions and applications and staggering increases...
by Kyle Knapp | Dec 7, 2022 | Uncategorized
From time to time, we hear reports of naturalization ceremonies around the country. It’s usually around a major federal holiday, such as Independence Day. There often is a scene showing the new citizens holding American flags, and then the news is on to the next item....
