USA Visa Resources

USA Visa Resources

Extension of Interview Waivers for Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: Extension of Interview Waivers, Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

The U.S. Department of State recently announced a significant extension of interview waivers for certain nonimmigrant visa categories. This development heralds a pivotal shift in the visa application process, aiming to streamline procedures and reduce in-person interactions. Why does this matter? For countless nonimmigrant visa applicants, it represents a faster, more…

USCIS Updates Guidance for Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions, Immigration

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification to protect immigrant children present in the US who have been subjected to abuse, neglect, or abandonment by one or both parents.  To qualify, these children must obtain specific findings from a state juvenile court. The SIJ program provides a potential…

USCIS Guidance on "Ability to Pay" for Job Changes by Adjustment of Status Applicants

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: USCIS Policy Manual, EB Visa, Ability to Pay Policy Guidance

Adjustment of Status (AOS) is the process through which an eligible individual already present in the United States applies to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder). The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued new policy guidance on assessing an employer's "ability to pay" the proffered wage when AOS applicants change employers. This…

USCIS to Launch Organizational Accounts, Enabling Online Collaboration and Submission of H-1B Registration

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: H-1B visa, Online Collaboration and Submission of H-1B Registration

The H-1B visa program is a vital pathway for highly skilled foreign workers to contribute their talents to US companies. This program allows companies in the United States to fill specialized roles when qualified US workers are unavailable. But how does the H-1B visa process work, and what challenges might applicants face? Currently, the H-1B application and registration…

FY 2024 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: Immigration, H-1B visa, H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period

Are you a U.S. employer looking to hire skilled foreign workers? The H-1B visa is a crucial pathway for companies to access specialized talent. This visa category is reserved for foreign nationals working in "specialty occupations" that typically require a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. Due to high demand, the H-1B visa has an annual numerical limit ("cap"). …

Additional H-2B Visas for Returning Workers Cap Filled for First Half of FY 2023

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: H-2B Temporary Non-agricultural Worker Visa, Additional H-2B Visas for Returning Workers

The H-2B visa program provides a path for U.S. businesses to hire temporary non-agricultural workers when they face labor shortages. This program is subject to a cap, and all available slots for additional returning worker visas in the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 have now been filled. The H-2B program is essential for various industries, including hospitality,…

USCIS Clarifies O-1B Visa Eligibility Requirements for Artists, Film, and Television

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: O-1B Visa Eligibility Requirements, O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released new guidance to clarify the eligibility requirements for the O-1B visa. This visa category is designed for individuals demonstrating extraordinary ability in the arts, or extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industries.  The updated guidance includes expanded examples of acceptable evidence…

Young Immigrants Get Deadline Extension for SIJ Status

Updated: Feb 23, 2024 | Tags: Special Immigrant Juveniles, Deadline Extension

Every year, thousands of young people find themselves navigating the complex terrain of immigration law in the United States, seeking safety and stability far from the hardships they've faced in their home countries. Among these are Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ), a group…

USCIS Clarifies Policy on L-1 Petitions

Updated: Feb 23, 2024 | Tags: L-1 Visa, Policy Clarification

The L-1 visa category, also known as the intracompany transfer visa, allows multinational companies to transfer qualified employees to their U.S. branches or affiliates. This visa is commonly used for executives, managers, and employees with specialized knowledge. However, recent policy guidance issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration…

Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the Early Second Half of FY 2023

Updated: Feb 25, 2024 | Tags: H-2B Visas, Additional Returning Worker Cap Reached

The H-2B visa program provides a path for U.S. employers to source temporary non-agricultural workers when there is a shortage of domestic labor. The annual cap for H-2B visas is typically 66,000 per fiscal year (FY). For FY 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made an additional 16,500 H-2B visas available specifically for workers who previously…