The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reached its annual quota of 85,000 new H-1B filings for the fiscal year 2024, following the registration process in March 2023. This significant development affected thousands of applicants worldwide. Were you affected by this development? This article aims to clarify the complexities of the H-1B cap lottery and […]
2023
The Department of State (DOS) just announced a significant development in US visa processing: Starting January 29, 2024, a pilot program for stateside visa renewal will commence, concluding on April 1, 2024. This program aims to streamline the visa renewal process for certain nonimmigrant categories and reduce global visa wait times. Individuals affected by these […]
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently clarified, through their Policy Alert (PA-2023-29) dated October 20, that a sole proprietorship cannot file an L-1 visa petition for its owner. This decision stems from the fact that a sole proprietorship, unlike other business structures, is not recognized as a separate legal entity from its […]
The concept of a “public charge” in US immigration law dates back to 1882, but it wasn’t formally defined until the Immigration and Naturalization Service—now replaced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—introduced the “1999 Interim Field Guidance.” This guidance defined a “public charge” as an individual primarily dependent on government support for subsistence. This […]