H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

January 17, 2024

Visa Bulletin – February 2024

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the February 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).

January 16, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, January 19, 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, January 19, 2024. Act now and submit your questions!

January 15, 2024

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Federal Holiday

by Kellie N. Lego

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream…”

Excerpt from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech, delivered on August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial!

Related link:

January 12, 2024

DHS Webinar – Human Trafficking 101 (Spanish) (1/16/24)

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign will be holding a webinar, “Human Trafficking 101 (Spanish)” on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 2:00 pm (EST). This session is about Human Trafficking and will include information on how to recognize and report potential cases, and how you can raise awareness within your communities.

How to join this webinar:

REGISTER HERE to join the Spanish webinar on January 16, 2023, at 2:00 PM EST.

January 11, 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.

January 10, 2024

DHS Webinar – Human Trafficking 101 (English) (1/10/24)

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign will be holding a webinar, “Human Trafficking 101 (English)” on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm (EST). This session is about Human Trafficking and will include information on how to recognize and report potential cases, and how you can raise awareness within your communities.

How to join this webinar:

REGISTER HERE to join the English webinar on January 10, 2023, at 2:00 PM EST.

January 9, 2024

New York City announces lawsuit against bus companies sending migrants to city, seeks $708 million

by Kellie N. Lego

The New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city has filed a lawsuit against the bus companies that delivered or helped deliver bus loads asylum-seekers to their city from Texas. New York City is seeking over $700 million from 17 transportation companies for the care of these migrants. The Mayor stated, “These companies have violated state law by not paying the cost of caring for these migrants, and that’s why we are suing to recoup approximately $700 million already spent to care for migrants sent here in the last two years by Texas.”

For more information review the ABC News Article, “New York City announces lawsuit against bus companies sending migrants to city, seeks $708 million“.

Source of Information:

January 8, 2024

Immigrants in each State (fact sheets): Mississippi, Missouri and Montana – Update

by Kellie N. Lego

UPDATE: Explore American Immigration Council’ interactive map to get more comprehensive information on U.S. immigration data and its impact!

The American Immigration Council (AIC) has released all fifty states and the District of Columbia, for a total of fifty-one updated state-by-state fact sheets highlighting immigration data and facts. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants in each state.

With national immigration policy being discussed, we thought that it would be a good time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this AIC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Mississippi, Missouri and Montana!

January 5, 2024

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 1/5/24

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.

What is a crime of moral turpitude? A crime involving moral turpitude has been defined as a depraved or immoral act, or a violation of the basic duties owed to fellow man, or as a “reprehensible act” with a mens rea of at least recklessness. Matter of Silva-Trevino, 24 I&N Dec. 687 (AG 2008).

Examples of CIMT’s include: Murder; Domestic violence; Sexual abuse; Child abuse; Kidnapping; Rape; Incest; Certain Drug-related crimes; Robbery; Theft; Fraud; Accessory to a crime of moral turpitude; Arson; etc.

January 4, 2024

USCIS Announces Inflation Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees

by Kellie N. Lego

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 27th, 2023, that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published in the Federal Register, “Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees” a final rule. This rule will allow an increase in the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing to allow for adjustment for inflation. The USCIS News Alert stated, “Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The adjustment increases certain premium processing fees from $1,500 to $1,685, $1,750 to $1,965, and $2,500 to $2,805”. For more information review the USCIS News Alert, “USCIS Announces Inflation Adjustment to Premium Processing Fees”.

Source of Information:

USCIS (USCIS.gov), 12/27/23, News Alert: