H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

September 17, 2015

Visa Bulletin – October 2015 (review changes)

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click here to view the October 2015 Visa Bulletin

This month’s Visa Bulletin (October 2015) has changed. The bulletin now summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during October 2015 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).

September 15, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – North Dakota, Ohio & Oklahoma

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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 IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; North Dakota, Ohio & Oklahoma.

September 14, 2015

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, Sept. 18, 2015

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, September 18, 2015. Act now and submit your questions!

September 11, 2015

Alert – USCIS Announces Revised Procedures for Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File for Adjustment of Status

by Kellie N. Lego

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced that they have coordinated with the Department of State (DOS) to revise the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status (Form I-485) or Consular Processing.

This newly revised process will improve DOS’ ability to accurately predict overall immigrant visa (IV) demand and determine the cut-off dates for visa issuance published monthly in the Visa Bulletin. USCIS and DOS are trying to reduce the month-to-month fluctuations in the Visa Bulletin final action dates.

So, what does this mean?

September 9, 2015

DACA Statistics – DACA Quarterly Report FY2015-Q3

by Kellie N. Lego

The USCIS statistics on DACA Initial cases for the third quarter of FY2015, from 4/1/15 to 6/30/15 show a total of 22,158 DACA requests accepted for processing, (N/A) biometric services appointments scheduled, 17,892 requests approved, and 4,943 requests have been denied.

The USCIS statistics on DACA Renewal cases for the third quarter of FY2015, from 4/1/15 to 6/30/15 show a total of 79,919 DACA requests accepted for processing, (N/A) biometric services appointments scheduled, 135,007 requests approved, and 880 requests have been denied.

This DACA Report includes data for FY2012, FY2013, FY2014 and FY2015. The USCIS statistics on DACA cases from 8/12/12 to 6/30/15 show a cumulative total of 1,206,679 DACA requests accepted for processing, 1,221,693 biometric services appointments scheduled, 1,059,112 requests approved, and 49,561 requests have been denied.

September 8, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – New Mexico, New York & North Carolina

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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 IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; New Mexico, New York & North Carolina.

September 7, 2015

Celebrating Labor Day!

by Kellie N. Lego

“The basic bargain of America is that no matter who you are, where you come from or what you look like, if you work hard & play by the rules, you can make it.” — Labor Secretary Tom Perez

The Labor Day holiday in United States is celebrated the first Monday in September. Labor Day was really created by the national labor movements to celebrate the American worker and their achievements, both social and economic! Each of us that work every day, immigrant or citizen, this is our celebration! For more information about the history of Labor Day review the Department of Labor’s (DOL) web page, “History of Labor Day”.

MVP Law Group would like to thank workers worldwide for their contributions to our society!

September 4, 2015

MVP LAW GROUP – Immigration Q&A Forum, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015

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.

Question #1 – H1B Nonimmigrant Work Visa

What qualifies an organization as H-1B Exempt?

September 3, 2015

Alert – USCIS Simplifies the Immigrant Fee Payment Process

by Kellie N. Lego

As part of USCIS’s transition to its online Electronic Immigration System, they have revised payment processing for the Immigrant Fee Payment. The Immigrant Fee can now be paid by anyone including an Attorney as long as the Attorney has the immigrant’s Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and DOS Case ID. Prior to this change, the USCIS instructions for making payment online specified that only the Immigrating Applicant was allowed to pay the Immigrant Fee.

If you are immigrating to the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), you must pay the $165 Immigrant Fee through the USCIS Electronic Immigration System unless you are exempt. The government uses this fee to process the immigrant visa packet and produce an individual’s Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). An Applicant will not receive the physical Green Card until the Immigrant Fee is paid.

Note: The USCIS Electronic Immigration System is an online account-based system that allows you to electronically submit certain benefit requests and fees.

September 2, 2015

Impact of New Americans (2015) – Nevada, New Hampshire & New Jersey

by Kellie N. Lego

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets (2015)

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the United States (Overall), for a total of fifty-two updated fact sheets with accompanying info graphics and other details. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

As Washington D.C. continues the discussion of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, 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 IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on three states at a time. This week we will highlight; Nevada, New Hampshire & New Jersey.