OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING, DELIVERING CUTTING EDGE SOLUTIONS!

by

President Obama signed Public Law 111-230 on August 13, which requires an additional $2,000 in filing fees for some H-1B petitions and an additional $2,250 for some L-1A/L-1B petitions. The fees apply to any company that employs over 50 people within the United States, with more than fifty percent of them having either an H-1B or L1 nonimmigrant status.

These petitions must be postmarked after August 14, 2010 and the provision will be effective until September 30, 2014.

USCIS is asking all petitioners to send in the new fee or an explanation as to why the fee does not apply to their company with the petition. If this is not done, USCIS could require a Request for Evidence (RFE).

by

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times were released with processing dates as of October 1, 2010.

If you filed an appeal, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

Administrative Appeals Office

Continue reading

by

Annually, the United States government issues a maximum of 55,000 green cards through a computer-generated random lottery drawing. Applications for the DV 2012 random lottery will begin to be accepted today Tuesday, October 5, 2010 through Wednesday, November 3, 2010. Paper entries will not be accepted, eligible participants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) to apply during this period.

These green cards are only available to those eligible participants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. For DV-2012, persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible. No countries have been added or removed from the previous year’s list of eligible countries..

Natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply because the countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Continue reading

by

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has updated the count of H-1B petitions received and counted towards the 65,000 cap.

As of October 1, 2010, 40,600 H-1B Regular CAP subject non-immigrant visa petitions have been filed with the USCIS towards the 65,000 cap.

As of October 1, 2010, 14,900 H-1B Masters Degree CAP subject non-immigrant visa petitions have been filed with the USCIS towards the 20,000 cap.

Continue reading

by

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. And, therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.

Question #1 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa

What is the grace period on H-1B extension? I reside in California, my current H-1B visa expires on 9/25/2010 and I’ve filed for an extension on 9/7/2010. Got certified mail receipt for it. I was told by my lawyer that I have 240 days grace period when an extension application is pending. I need to have some sort of documentation proof on this fact for my employer. Is there anyway I can obtain it?

Continue reading

by

Annually, the United States government issues a maximum of 55,000 green cards through a computer-generated random lottery drawing. Applications for the DV 2012 random lottery will be accepted Tuesday, October 5, 2010 through Wednesday, November 3, 2010. Paper entries will not be accepted, eligible participants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) to apply during this period.

These green cards are only available to those eligible participants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. For DV-2012, persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible. No countries have been added or removed from the previous year’s list of eligible countries..

Natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply because the countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Continue reading

by

The large population of illegal immigrants in the United States has greatly contributed to the Social Security fund. The Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration estimated that by 2007, the Social Security trust fund had received a net benefit of somewhere between $120 billion and $240 billion from illegal immigrants in the US. The Social Security crisis we face now would be far worse if not for the contribution made by illegal immigrants. Ironically though, it is the people that benefit most from and receive social security that want to force illegal immigrants out of the country.

The recent decline in illegal immigration due to tighter restrictions and hostile attitudes ultimately means that the contributions to Social Security from illegal immigrants will decrease as well.

by

According to the Justice Department, Andrew Cole of Missouri pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and fraud in foreign labor contracting charges. The Prosecution Unit Trial Attorney Jim Felte argued to the court that Cole was involved in recruiting Dominican Republic nationals under false terms and promises with the underlying knowledge that these workers would be exploited and their labor coerced. The charges came out of his role in a criminal enterprise that engaged in numerous criminal activities, including forced labor, fraud in foreign labor contracting, visa fraud, mail fraud, identity theft, tax evasion and money laundering. Specifically, Mr. Cole misrepresented their wages, working conditions, and type of employment. Mr. Cole sent the workers to a factory in Alabama where they were threatened with deportation and consequences if they didn’t comply with the orders. Other co-defendants also plead guilty in relation to the case and the remaining defendants await their trial on October 18. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FBI, the Department of Labor (DOL), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Independence, Mo., Police Department.

by

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has updated the count of H-1B petitions received and counted towards the 65,000 cap.

As of September 24, 2010, 39,600 H-1B Regular CAP subject non-immigrant visa petitions have been filed with the USCIS towards the 65,000 cap.

As of September 24, 2010, 14,400 H-1B Masters Degree CAP subject non-immigrant visa petitions have been filed with the USCIS towards the 20,000 cap.

Continue reading

by

Recent scams have targeted New York’s immigrants, causing them to face substantial fees and possible deportation. Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has taken a stand against these scams by shutting down and filing lawsuits against seven different companies. Specifically, these companies have been targeting and misrepresenting themselves to immigrants, falsely promising legal citizenship, and giving their cases over to non-attorneys who have provided them with incorrect legal advice. Under New York State law, it is unlawful to mislead or defraud any person in immigration-related services. These companies and their owners have been permanently barred from operating any immigration services businesses and must collectively pay $370,000 in damages to the State of New York.

As a result of Cuomo’s efforts these companies are now facing monetary penalties, they must report any complaints, and they are required to inform their clients they no longer offer immigration services.

Contact Information
1177 Annapolis Rd #70
Odenton, MD 21113
Toll Free: 1-800-447-0796Local: 240-390-0600Fax: 240-390-0603

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Copyright © 2024, MVP Law Group, P.A.
JUSTIA Law Firm Blog Design