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…
Articles Posted in nonimmigrant visas
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B Final Rule takes Effect
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…
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025
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…
DHS Strengthens H-1B Program, Allowing U.S. Employers to More Quickly Fill Critical Jobs
On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new rules for H-1B foreign workers to help employers fill job vacancies more quickly and more securely! The updates are intended to strengthen the H-1B visa program! Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas stated, “American businesses rely on…
DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), working with the Department of State (DOS) announced the list of countries that are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs. *The H-2A and H-2B visa programs allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United…
DHS expects to add Additional H-2B Visas for Fiscal Year 2025!
On Friday, November 15th, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they expect to add an extra 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for (FY) 2025. This addition will be added to the statutory cap of 66,000 H-2B visas allowed per fiscal year. DHS feels this will help U.S. businesses!…
Reminder – USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of Fiscal Year 2025
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, USCIS announced that it has reached the H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2025. September 18, 2024 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2025. The “final receipt date” is the date…
Help Shape the USCIS Online Account Experience (High Volume of H-1B)
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is looking for petitioners, legal representatives, and paralegals who have prepared and/or submitted a high volume of H-1B registrations online to be participants to help enhance and improve the online experience with the USCIS! To participate, the USCIS is looking for: Be at…
H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 9/3/24
The H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. There is a cap limit of 33,000 for the first half of the fiscal year and 33,000 for the second half for a total of 66,000 per year.…
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the Early Second Half of FY 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced-on Thursday, April 18, 2024, that they have received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 19,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2024! They will continue to accept petitions for H-2B workers for…