nonimmigrant visas

May 19, 2021

DHS Issues Final Rule to Remove Vacated H-1B Rule!

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue a final rule on Wednesday, May 19^th, that will remove the interim final rule (IFR) issued on October 8, 2020, Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program which was put in place by the Trump Administration. On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated that IFR. This new final rule restores the regulatory text as it appeared before the October 8, 2020 IFR.

Please view this USCIS News Alert for more details: DHS Issues Final Rule to Remove Vacated H-1B Rule from Code of Federal Regulations

Source of Information:

February 25, 2021

USCIS Reaches the H-2B Cap for the Second Half of Fiscal Year 2021

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS announced that it has received a sufficient number of H-2B petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap (33,000) for the second half of FY 2021. February 12, 2021 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before October 1st. The “final receipt date” is the date on which USCIS determined that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of 33,000 H-2B workers for the second half of FY2021, for a total of 66,000 for the year.

USCIS will reject new H-2B petitions that were received after February 12, 2021 and that request an employment start date before October 1, 2021, but there are some exceptions!

The exceptions are listed below:

January 26, 2021

Biden Admin withdrawing the USCIS Final Rule Strengthening H-1B Visa Program

by Kellie N. Lego

Biden Administration is withdrawing the USCIS Final Rule Strengthening H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program!

Last week, the new White House Chief of Staff, Ronald Klain issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies within the Federal Government and directs them to freeze any pending regulatory changes until reviewed. This Regulatory Freeze calls for 1) all rules pending at the Federal Register that have not been published must be immediately withdrawn and 2) agencies must “consider” postponing the effective dates for regulations that have been published, but not yet taken effect, for 60 days from the memo’s date. As a result, the USCIS Final Rule Strengthening H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program will be withdrawn along with others. As we find out more on this subject, we will post it!

Whitehouse.gov, 1/20/21, Briefing Room Memorandum: Regulatory Freeze Pending Review

January 15, 2021

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that they have published a notice in the Federal Register listing the countries that are eligible for the H-2A and H-2B temporary immigration programs for 2021!

For 2021, DHS working with the Department of State (DOS) have agreed to:

Add the Philippines to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2B program;

January 12, 2021

USCIS Modifies H-1B Selection Process!

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS announced that they have published the final rule in the Federal Register, implicating the Trump Administration’s modifications to the H-1B Visa Program! These changes will affect H-1B cap selection process, amend current lottery procedures, and prioritize (increase) wages!

Joseph Edlow, USCIS Deputy Director for Policy stated, “The current H-1B random selection process makes it difficult for businesses to plan their hiring, fails to leverage the program to compete for the best and brightest international workforce, and has predominately resulted in the annual influx of foreign labor placed in low-wage positions at the expense of U.S. workers.”

For complete details, please review USCIS News Release, “USCIS Modifies H-1B Selection Process to Prioritize Wages”.

November 23, 2020

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2021

by Kellie N. Lego

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2021

On Wednesday, November 18, 2020, USCIS announced that it has reached the H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year 2020. November 16, 2020 is now the “final receipt date” for cap-subject H-2B worker requesting employment start dates before April 1, 2021. The “final receipt date” is the date on which USCIS determined that it has received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of H-2B workers for the first half FY2021. USCIS continues to accept petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated H-2B cap.

The exceptions are listed below:

November 18, 2020

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/9/20

by Kellie N. Lego

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/9/20

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. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2021 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/9/20); 27,455 beneficiaries have been approved and 5,455 are pending for a total of 32,910.

November 9, 2020

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/5/20

by Kellie N. Lego

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 11/5/20

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. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2021 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (11/5/20); 24,181 beneficiaries have been approved and 5,558 are pending for a total of 29,739.

October 29, 2020

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/26/20

by Kellie N. Lego

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/26/20

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. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2021 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/26/20); 20,326 beneficiaries have been approved and 2,845 are pending for a total of 23,171.

October 15, 2020

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/13/20

by Kellie N. Lego

H-2B Cap Count UPDATE – 10/13/20

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. If the cap is not reached during the first half of the fiscal year, the extra numbers are then made available for the second half.

The H-2B cap limit for first half of FY 2021 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/13/20); 18,273 beneficiaries have been approved and 2,152 are pending for a total of 20,425.