by Kyle Knapp | Feb 6, 2024 | Uncategorized
After a failed attempt in October 2020 to increase filing fees, USCIS redoubled its efforts to improve processing times and clear backlogs and thereby demonstrate its commitment to improved service in exchange for higher filing fees. The October 2020 fee regulation,...
by Kyle Knapp | Jan 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
After much anticipation, the State Department finally is launching a pilot program to allow H-1B visa renewals in the United States. That’s the good news. The other news is that it is available only to persons who previously received an H-1B visa from the U.S....
by Kyle Knapp | Dec 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
In an attempt to provide applicants for immigration benefits with better information about the status of their applications, USCIS launched a new feature for online accounts. Called “myProgress,” the aim is to provide more customized and accurate information...
by Kyle Knapp | Nov 3, 2023 | Uncategorized
Until recently, individuals who applied for work and travel permits, known as Employment Authorization Documents (or EADs) and Advance Parole, along with their I-485 adjustment applications received one- or two-year approval periods. Although there is no separate...
by Kyle Knapp | Oct 2, 2023 | Uncategorized
The annual Diversity Lottery (i.e. green card lottery) opens this week for the 55,000 visas. The registration period this year is from noon Eastern Daylight Time on October 4, 2023 until noon Eastern Standard Time on November 7, 2023. Each year the U.S. State...
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,...
