On April 6, 2018, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) announced that the CIS had received enough H-1B petitions to exhaust the 85,000 H-1B quota (which includes 20,000 set aside for U.S. advance degree holders) for Fiscal Year 2019 (October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019). No new cap-subject H-1B […]
Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for FY 2019 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions
21 Mar
by Foster LLP, on Immigration Updates
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting April 2, 2018, premium processing will be suspended for Fiscal Year 2019 cap-subject H-1B petitions, including petitions requesting an exemption for beneficiaries in positions requiring a U.S. Master’s degree or higher. USCIS indicated that the suspension may last until September 10, […]
April 2018 Visa Bulletin – EB1 China and India Priority Dates Retrogress to 2012
20 Mar
by Foster LLP, on Immigration Updates
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the Monthly Visa Bulletin for April 2018, reflecting severe retrogression due to oversubscription for EB-1 China and India and forward progress across several other employment-based preference categories for China Mainland-Born, India, and the Philippines. EB-1 China and India Retrogression in April: Consider Filing for Adjustment of […]
INDONESIA – Streamlined Work Authorization Process for Energy Companies
9 Mar
by Foster LLP, on Immigration Updates
Oil and gas companies seeking to hire foreign employees in Indonesia can now apply directly with the Ministry of Manpower for Work Permits. Regulation ESDM 31/2013 previously required recommendation letters first be obtained from the Dirjen MIGAS, the Directorate General of Oil and Gas, before submitting an application for work […]