In just under four weeks, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) will begin accepting new H-1B petitions filed under the Fiscal Year 2016 (October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016) H-1B quota. No more than 85,000 new H-1B visa numbers, which include 20,000 Master’s exempt numbers, are available for the […]
Certain H-4 Spouses Eligible to Apply for Work Authorization Beginning May 26th
24 Feb
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
On Tuesday, February 24th, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension of employment authorization benefits to certain H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants working in the United States. Beginning May 26th, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) will begin accepting applications from qualifying H-4 nonimmigrants. To be eligible, […]
CANADA – New Filing Fees and Procedures for LMIA-Exempt Work Permit Applications
19 Feb
by Foster, on Immigration Updates
Effective February 21, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will implement new procedures for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exempt Work Permit applications, which include Intra-Company Transfer, NAFTA Professional, and Reciprocal Benefit applications. The changes are part of a new initiative to institute additional compliance measures, including inspections of employer sites. […]
On Monday, February 16th, Judge Andrew Hanen of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas Brownsville Division granted a temporary injunction halting key elements of the President’s recent immigration executive actions. The order temporarily halts the implementation of both the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood […]