H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

October 15, 2024

Visa Bulletin – November 2024

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the November 2024 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).

October 14, 2024

Columbus Day – Federal Holiday

by Kellie N. Lego

Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October and remembers Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Some groups across the United States celebrate it as, “Indigenous Peoples’ Day“!

Columbus Day in the United States

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

October 11, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 10/11/24

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.

Is the filing fee for an Advance Parole document the same as the filing fee for a Re-Entry permit? Yes, Form I-131 requires a USCIS filing fee of $630.00 whether you are filing to request Advance Parole, or a Re-Entry permit.
How do I find out what documents the Consulate will need for my mother’s case? I am assuming you are referring to Consular Processing for your mother’s Immigrant visa once her I-130 is approved. You can find particular country requirements for civil supporting documents by visiting https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html and selecting the specific country from the A-Z list on the left hand side of the screen. Once you choose a country, you can scroll down and see the country’s requirements for: Birth, Death and Burial Certificates; Marriage, Divorce Certificates; Adoption Certificates; Identity Card; Police, Court, Prison Records; Military Records; etc.

October 10, 2024

USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability

by Kellie N. Lego

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued updated policy guidance as part of their Policy Manual to further explain the types of evidence needed to evaluate and determine eligibility for extraordinary ability EB-1 immigrant visa. Please review the USCIS News Alert for more details, “USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability“!

The EB-1 visa is an employment-based visa available for extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives.

Source of Information:

October 9, 2024

Checking Your USCIS Processing Time Online!

by Kellie N. Lego

You can check USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) processing times at any time online using the link below, it is on their web site. You will need to select your form number, next select the form category, and last select the office processing your case and they will display a processing time. USCIS has made processing times easier to understand and provides a more realistic date range.

Check Case Processing Times

The processing time range is how long it takes for USCIS to process your type of case from the date they received it. USCIS processes cases in the order they receive them, and they normally update this information monthly. The estimated time range displayed is based on data captured over the last two months.

October 8, 2024

Eligible to Naturalize Factsheet: Columbus, Ohio

by Kellie N. Lego

This is a very interesting Factsheet, Eligible to Naturalize Factsheet: Columbus, OH , published by USCIS using Office of Homeland Security Statistics data from September 18, 2024! This well put together Factsheet provides information on selected characteristics of people with Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) status in the Columbus, Ohio area. There are 48,630 (Green Card holders) in this area of the country that are eligible to be naturalized U.S. citizen after meeting the requirements!

For more information, please review the USCIS Factsheet, “Eligible to Naturalize Factsheet: Columbus, OH“!

Source of Information:

October 7, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, October 11, 2024

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, October 11, 2024. Act now and submit your questions!

October 4, 2024

USCIS has changed their Insignia!

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed their organization insignia (Symbol). The new insignia is now a circle with the main feature in the center being the Statue of Liberty! I have included their mission statement below and a link for more details. To see the new USCIS insignia, open their homepage and look in the top left corner!

USCIS Mission Statement:

USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.

October 3, 2024

Diversity Visas for Fiscal Year 2026

by Kellie N. Lego

There will be up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) available for Fiscal Year 2026 and will be open for entries from October 2nd to November 5th, 2024 (noon, EST), so it already started! This program allows people from countries with low U.S. immigration rates and that meet the requirements, to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. For more details, please review the Federal Register Notice: Diversity Visa Instructions for DV–2026 (PDF).

Federal Register Notice: Diversity Visa Instructions for DV-2026

Source of Information:

October 2, 2024

Univision will be holding two separate Presidential townhalls, with Harris and Trump!

by Kellie N. Lego

Univision is a Spanish-language television network owned by TelevisaUnivision and they will be holding two separate Presidential townhall meetings to be broadcast in English and Spanish for the United States! Their townhalls will try to engage undecided Hispanic voters to discuss issues that are important to them, such as the economy, jobs, healthcare, immigration and foreign policy. Univision Journalist Enrique Acevedo will moderate both televised meetings!

Former President Donald Trump’s townhall will be in Miami, Florida and will be aired Tuesday, October 8th at 10:00 p.m. ET on Univision and ViX!

Vice President Kamala Harris’s townhall will be in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be aired Thursday, October10th at 10:00 p.m. ET on Univision and ViX!