H-1B visa application date is approaching

This week in my "Immigration Consultation" column published online by several impreMedia publications including LaOpinión.com, I explain how to apply for an H-1B visa. Here is the column: One of the ways to legally enter the United States on a temporary basis is through the H-1B visa that is extended to professional foreign workers in specialty occupations. A ... Read more

USCIS continues to accept H-1B visa applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that since the registration period opened on April 2, they have received 25,000 H-1B visa petitions that count toward the 65,000 capped quota and another 10,900 that count toward the 20,000 quota dedicated to individuals with degrees ... Read more

New visa quotas go into effect

New quotas for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas went into effect on Friday, April 13, 2012. Fees for most nonimmigrant visa and border crossing card applications have increased, while fees for immigrant visa applications have decreased. The reduction in the cost of ... Read more

USCIS continues to accept applications for FY 2013 H-1B visas

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that in the first week since the registration period opened on April 2, they have received 17,400 H-1B visa petitions that count toward the 65,000 cap and another 8,200 that count toward the 20,000 quota dedicated to individuals ... Read more

How to obtain an H-1B visa

In my column this week in La Opinión, I explain how to obtain an H-1B visa: One of the ways to legally enter the United States is through the H-1B visa that is extended to professional foreign workers in specialty occupations. As of today, April 2, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ... Read more

Changes in immigrant and non-immigrant visa quotas

Effective April 13, 2012, there will be changes to the fees for immigrant and non-immigrant visas and other consular services. Fees for most non-immigrant visa applications will increase, while fees for processing immigrant visas will decrease. The U.S. Department of State announced that the increase is necessary ... Read more

Man fined for abusing immigrant employees

In Sunday's edition of The Post Standard newspaper, there was a story about the abuse of a group of immigrants recruited in Mexico to work in Syracuse, New York at a fair. The account of the abuse and mistreatment suffered by 19 Mexicans horrified me. It also infuriated me to learn that there are such inhumane people willing to practically enslave and ... Read more

Registration period for H-1B visas now open

Beginning tomorrow, April 1, applications for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2012 will begin to be accepted. The number of visas available is 65,000. This number does not include the first 20,000 petitions submitted on behalf of individuals who hold graduate degrees obtained in the U.S. The acceptance date for H-1B visas is April 1, ... Read more

More family visa rollbacks announced, professional visas advance

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced further delays for family-based visas. The March 2011 Visa Bulletin indicates that due to high demand in the second preference family visa category (F-2A) for spouses and children under the age of 21 of permanent residents, the visas will be moved back one year for the first year of ... Read more

USCIS announces 2011 strategy

Yesterday I participated in a conference call hosted by Alejandro Mayorkas, the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). During this telephone meeting, which was attended by stakeholders from across the country, Mr. Mayorkas outlined what the priorities and goals of USCIS will be during 2011. The ... Read more

English