H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

January 17, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security’s H-2 Final Rule takes Effect

On December 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new H-2 final rule and it will take effect on January 17th, this Friday! USCIS Alert stated, “The H-2 final rule significantly strengthens worker protections by, among other things, imposing new consequences on companies that charge prohibited fees or violate our labor laws, and provides greater flexibility for H-2A and H-2B workers.”

For more information, please review the USCIS News Alert, “H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025“!

Source of Information:

January 16, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B Final Rule takes Effect

by Kellie N. Lego

On December 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new H-1B final rule and it will take effect on January 17th, this Friday! USCIS Alert stated, “The H-1B final rule modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program.”

For more information, please review the USCIS News Alert, “H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025“!

Source of Information:

January 15, 2025

Visa Bulletin – February 2025

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the February 2025 Visa Bulletin

The monthly Visa Bulletin has changed. The bulletin now summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during the reported month for: “Application Final Action Dates” (consistent with prior Visa Bulletins) and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center using Consular Processing (outside of the US) or file on their own with USCIS Form I-485 (within the US).

January 14, 2025

Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Friday, January 10, 2025, that they have received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2025! They will continue to accept petitions for H-2B workers for the other 20,000 additional visas which have been allotted for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.

For more information, please review the USCIS News Alert, “Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025“

Source of Information:

January 13, 2025

USCIS’s Citizenship Resource Center

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a great resource web page, “Citizenship Resource Center”! They have centralized available online information about becoming a U.S. Citizen. This web page includes citizenship preparation materials and activities and is divided into three main sections:

Learners – Prepare for U.S. Citizenship
Educators – Welcome Teachers

January 10, 2025

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 1/10/25

by Kellie N. Lego

MVP Law Group, P.A. makes available the information and materials in this forum for informational purposes only. The information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or any contractual obligations. Further, the use of this site, and the sending or receipt of this information, does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. Therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.

I would like to work part time 2-4 Saturdays or any off days during the week, is that possible on a concurrent visa? Yes, it is possible to work part time for another H-1B employer through the filing of a concurrent H-1B petition. The part-time concurrent H-1B filing would need to be filed PRIOR to you starting the part-time employment. To ensure that you can successfully maintain your existing employment and the part-time concurrent employment, it is advisable that you schedule a consultation with an Immigration Lawyer at MVP Law Group.
Can I upgrade a pending I-765 for a STEM OPT to premium processing? Yes, you may upgrade your pending I-765 to premium processing to obtain a decision on your STEM OPT within 30 business days of the USCIS receiving your Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation.

January 8, 2025

USCIS Offices will be Closed on January 9 in Remembrance of Former President Carter!

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS Offices will be closed on Thursday, January 9, 2025, in Remembrance of Former President Carter who passed away on December 29, 2024! President Biden has declared Thursday as a Day of Remembrance and ordered all Federal Executive Branch offices closed!

For more detailed information, review the USCIS News Alert, “USCIS Offices Closed Jan. 9, 2025”!

Source of Information:

January 7, 2025

President Biden closing the Federal Government on January 9. 2025, as a day of National Mourning!

by Kellie N. Lego

President Biden has ordered that all Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to be closed on Thursday, January 9th, as a National Day of Mourning for James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States! President Carter passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the age of 100!

For more detailed information, review the White House Presidential Actions, “Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025”!

Source of Information:

January 6, 2025

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, January 10, 2025

by Kellie N. Lego

We wanted to find a new way to engage our reader base. Every other Friday, we will post the ten (10) best/most frequently asked questions received during the week from our h1bvisalawyerblog, Facebook, and Twitter readers. We will answer those questions and provide the Q&A on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

If you have a burning question, are seeking assistance with a difficult immigration related case, wish to discuss your views on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, DREAMers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, priority dates, the monthly visa bulletin, adjustment applications, etc., please contact us by submitting your question/comment/viewpoint in our comment box provided on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

Our next “Q & A Forum” will take place this Friday, January 10, 2025. Act now and submit your questions!

January 3, 2025

Archive – Holiday Post – Immigration Q&A Forum – Originally posted 11/22/24

by Kellie N. Lego

This blog entry was originally posted on 11/22/24. We here at the MVP Law Group would like to wish every one of our blog readers Happy Holidays!

MVP Law Group, P.A. makes available the information and materials in this forum for informational purposes only. The information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or any contractual obligations. Further, the use of this site, and the sending or receipt of this information, does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. Therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.

1. I have TPS and I’m worried about what will happen to it under the Trump Administration. Is TPS safe?