H1B Visa Lawyer Blog

August 27, 2025

AAO Processing Times – FY 2025 3rd Quarter

The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) provides an updated ‘processing times’ in table form, with information on FY2025 third quarterly completions; April 2025 to June 2025. These figures indicate the time that it takes from the date the case is received at AAO coming from the Service Center or District Office to completion.

AAO Processing Times were released with processing dates as of 7/17/25. If you filed an appeal, please review the link below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

Note: Starting with the January 2017 Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times Report, the AAO has changed how it presents processing time data. The AAO will now provide, by form type, the total number of case completions for the fiscal year quarter and the percentage completed within 180 days, cases completed divided by their projected case goal.

August 26, 2025

Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers

by Kellie N. Lego

California is the largest food producer in the United States, accounting for around 11% of the country agricultural output. The New York Times published an opinion piece/ guest essay, entitled, “Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers”! This essay was written by Mr. Rivas, Speaker of the California State Assembly and Ms. Douglass, President of the California Farm Bureau and is well written!

For more information, please read the NY Times Opinion, “Wilted Lettuce. Rotten Strawberries. Here’s What Happens When You Round Up Farmworkers“!

Source of Information:

August 25, 2025

Immigrants in each State (fact sheets): Alabama, Alaska and Arizona – 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; Alabama, Alaska and Arizona!

August 22, 2025

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – 8/22/25

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.

1. As a business owner, should I conduct an internal audit of my I-9 forms to be prepared in case of a formal audit by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)?

Yes, you should conduct an internal audit of your company’s I-9 forms to be prepared in case of a formal audit by ICE or HSI (Homeland Security Investigations). In this environment, the best defense is a good offense (it is better to be proactive and prepared). Our law firm routinely conducts internal Form I-9 Audits for our clients. If you are interested in discussing the I-9 audit process, please contact our office.

August 21, 2025

Update – Visa Bulletin – September 2025

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the September 2025 Visa Bulletin

UPDATE: When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: September 2025

August 20, 2025

Immigration News – Top News Stories – Immigration & U.S. Workforce

by Kellie N. Lego

List of some of the Top News Stories related to “Immigration & U.S. Workforce”:

Latin Times.com (latintimes.com), 8/15/25, News Article:

Report: U.S. Economy Has Lost as Many as 1.2 Million Foreign-Born Workers Since January

August 19, 2025

Fiscal Year 2026 H-2B Cap Count – 8/11/25

by Kellie N. Lego

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 2026 (October 1 – March 31) is 33,000. As of the last count (8/11/25); 4,094 beneficiaries have been approved and 6,902 are pending for a total of 10,996.

The H-2B cap limit for second half of FY 2026 (April 1 – September 30) is 33,000. As of the last count (8/11/25); 0 beneficiaries have been approved and 0 are pending for a total of 0.

August 18, 2025

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, August 22, 2025

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, August 22, 2025. Act now and submit your questions!

August 15, 2025

Immigrants in each State (fact sheets): West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming – 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; West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming!

August 14, 2025

Visa Bulletin – September 2025

by Kellie N. Lego

The Department of State has released its latest Visa Bulletin.

Click the link to view the September 2025 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).