The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has provided FY2019 statistics (Fourth Quarter) in the form of program factsheets for each of the major immigration programs. These updated FY2019 statistics (Fourth Quarter) covers July 2019 through September 2019.
The link to each FY2019 (Fourth Quarter) program factsheets is listed below:
• Permanent Labor Certification Program – Select Statistics
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 2020 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/31/19); 22,931 beneficiaries have been approved and 6,411 are pending for a total of 29,342.
The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2020 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/31/19); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.
On Wednesday, October 30th, USCIS announced that beginning December 2, 2019 they would be increasing the fee for some premium processing requests. The premium processing fee for both Forms, I-129 and I-140 will increase. The fee for requesting premium processing for these two forms will increase from $1,410 to $1,440. USCIS states that the increase is tied to an increase in inflation using the Consumer Price Index.
*Premium processing is an optional service currently authorized for certain petitioners filing Forms I-129 or I-140. The system allows petitioners to request 15-day processing of these forms if they pay an extra fee. The premium processing fee is paid in addition to the base filing fee and any other applicable fees. It cannot be waived. * USCIS
For further details please review the USCIS News Release, “USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee”.
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Question #1 – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
My 6-year limit has expired on my H-1B visa. How long do I have to remain out of the US before I can apply again?
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 2020 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/24/19); 21,375 beneficiaries have been approved and 4,444 are pending for a total of 25,819.
The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2020 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/24/19); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.
Six couples have joined a class action suit against the USCIS for allegedly luring them to marriage interviews but when they arrive the immigrant spouse were detained for deportation. A couple from Baltimore, Alyse and Elmer Sanchez arrived for their marriage interview when moments later Elmer was detained and taken away. Alyse Sanchez stated, “We feel it was a trap, a trick, to get us there,”.
For further details please review the SFGate News Article, “Suit says feds using immigration marriage interviews as trap”.
Source of Information:
Several Hispanic Americans tell the story of their heritage. They reflect on immigration, culture, and their identity. The first story is about Julián Castro and the American Dream.
For further details please review the CBS News Article, ““There is a story to my heritage”: Hispanic Americans reflect on immigration, culture, and identity”.
National Hispanic Heritage Month was Celebrated from September 15th – October 15th.
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, November 1, 2019. Act now and submit your questions!
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 2020 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/10/19); 18,188 beneficiaries have been approved and 2,331 are pending for a total of 20,519.
The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2020 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (10/10/19); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr has issued a new rule for the Department of Justice (DOJ), that will allow federal authorities to start gathering DNA information on the approximately 748,000 immigrants annually that present themselves at legal ports of entry. The federal officials said they would create a huge (criminal) database of information of individual migrants. Barr has stated that they just want a “genetic fingerprint” that can uniquely identify a person but without other personal information being disclosed.
Naureen Shah, Senior Advocacy and Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated, “It’s the most intimate information that you can take from someone. It is information you can use to find their family members, to know their histories,”. She also stated, “And we’re going to be taking it from people against their will.”
The Rule: DNA-Sample Collection from Immigration Detainees (.PDF)
H1B Visa Lawyer Blog