USCIS has announced that it will accept resubmitted FY 2021 H-1B cap petitions that were rejected or administratively closed solely because the requested start date was after October 1, 2020. Petitioners whose FY 2021 petition was rejected or administratively closed solely because the petition, while being based on a H-1B cap registration selected in FY […] The post USCIS Allows Resubmission Of Certain FY 2021 H-1B Cap Petitions appeared first on VisaPro. […]

USCIS has extended the flexibilities that are currently made available to applicants and petitioners in certain response and appeal submissions. USCIS will, for Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) dated till September 30, 2021, consider any responses submitted within 60 calendar days after the response deadline mentioned in the RFE […] The post USCIS Extends Flexibility In RFE & NOID Response Submissions appeared first on VisaPro. […]

USCIS has recently announced that it is increasing the validity period for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain Adjustment of Status (AOS) applicants from one year to two years. An AOS applicant may, along with Form I-485 AOS application, file a Form I-765 seeking an EAD to be able to work in […] The post USCIS To Issue 2-Year EADs To Adjustment Of Status Applicants appeared first on VisaPro. […]

USCIS has recently issued a policy guidance to address the circumstances in which officers should issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs). Under the new policy, in general, a USCIS officer will issue an RFE or NOID when the officer determines additional information or explanation may potentially establish eligibility for […] The post USCIS Publishes New Policy Guidance on RFE & NOID Issuance appeared first on VisaPro. […]

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule, removing from the Code of Federal Regulations, an October 2020 interim final rule that proposed key changes to the H-1B program including revising the definition of and standards for a “specialty occupation”. The October 2020 interim final rule was vacated by the U.S. District Court […] The post DHS Removes Rules That Proposed Key Changes To H-1B Visa Program appeared first on VisaPro. […]

USCIS is temporarily suspending the biometrics requirement for applicants seeking an extension of stay in, or change of status to, H-4, L-2 and E status in the U.S. The temporary suspension of biometrics submission requirement goes into effect on May 17, 2021 and will be in effect till May 17, 2023, unless revoked earlier by […] The post Biometrics Requirement Suspended For H-4, L-2, And E Status Extensions And Change of Status I-539 Applications appeared first on VisaPro. […]

In a significant development, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has withdrawn a proposed rule published in 2018 that proposed to remove the International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program from its regulations. The IE program, which was first introduced in 2017, offers foreign entrepreneurs creating and developing a start-up entity with high growth potential in the […] The post DHS Signals Continuation Of The International Entrepreneur Parole Program appeared first on VisaPro. […]

President Biden has issued a new Proclamation suspending the entry into the United States of certain foreign national nonimmigrants who have been physically present in India during the 14‑day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. The travel ban will go into effect on Tuesday, May 4 and may be continued […] The post President Biden’s India Travel Ban To Go Into Effect On Tuesday appeared first on VisaPro. […]

USCIS has issued a policy guidance instructing officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests involving the same parties and facts unless there was a material error, material change, or new material facts. USCIS had issued a guidance in 2004 directing officers to generally defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating […] The post USCIS To Give Deference to Previous Decisions When Adjudicating Extension of Stay Requests appeared first on VisaPro. […]

F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can now file the application for Employment Authorization, the Form I-765, online. The option to file Form I-765 online to obtain the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is only available to F-1 students filing under one of these categories: Pre-Completion OPT [(c)(3)(A)]; Post-Completion OPT [(c)(3)(B)]; OPT STEM Extension [(c)(3)(C)]. […] The post F-1 Students Seeking OPT Can Now File Form I-765 Online appeared first on VisaPro. […]