NEWSLETTER EXTRAS: August 1, 2016 24-MONTH STEM OPT EXTENSION DUE BY AUGUST 8, 2016 On March 11, 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule allowing certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees, and who meet other specified requirements to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion Optional Practical Training. The...
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Newsletter - Immigration Update: July 18, 2016 IMMIGRATION REFORM - UPDATE As recently reported, President Barack Obama's immigration programs for the deferred action for parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents born prior to the cut-off date in November 2014, as well as the expansion of deferred action for childhood arrivals, will not go into effect, with a 4-4...
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Newsletter - IMMIGRATION ALERT: June, 23 2016 President Obama's Immigration Reform is Dead...For Now President Barack Obama's immigration programs will not go into effect, with a 4-4 U.S. Supreme Court deadlock today resulting in a continued block against the same. The ruling spells the death knell for the deferred action for parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents born...
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IMMIGRATION ALERT: June, 3 2016 US PLANS ON MORE DEPORTATION RAIDS, FOCUSING ON CENTRAL AMERICANS According to an internal document seen by Reuters, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently told field offices nationwide to launch a 30-day (May and June) "surge" of arrests focused on mothers and child immigrants who arrived illegally after January 1, 2014, who have...
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Newsletter - Immigration Update: April 27, 2016 FY 2017 H-1B VISA CAP FILINGS SET NEW RECORD On April 12, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that during the initial filing period for FY 2017 H-1B petitions (with a start date of October 1st, 2016) the agency had received approximately 236,000 H-1B petitions, an increase of approximately 3,000 petitions over...
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IMMIGRATION ALERT: March 10, 2016 IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR NEW H-1B FILINGS - BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT! On April 1, 2016, USCIS will begin accepting new H-1B petitions for the annual H-1B visa quota of 65,000 (plus 20,000 for holders of advanced U.S. degrees). A lottery was required last year and we anticipate the same this year. Accordingly,...
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Newsletter - Immigration Update: February 25, 2016 IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR NEW H-1B FILINGS - BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT! On April 1, 2016, USCIS will begin accepting new H-1B petitions for the annual H-1B visa quota of 65,000 (plus 20,000 for holders of advanced U.S. degrees). Accordingly, we urge you to contact our office now to get your...
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Newsletter - Immigration Update: February 12, 2016 REMINDER - H-1B SEASON HAS BEGUN On April 1, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting new H-1B petitions for the annual H-1B visa quota of 65,000 (plus 20,000 for holders of advanced U.S. degrees). Last year, over 233,000 H-1B petitioners were received which was a record number, a...
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Newsletter - Immigration Update: January 12, 2016 RUMORS OF IMMIGRATION RAIDS STOKE FEAR IN NEW YORK As reported in the New York Times, "Across the region, immigrants who are undocumented and even those who have legal status have been paralyzed by fear. People stayed home from work or refused to leave the house even to buy milk. Some kept their...
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Immigration Updates: November 25, 2015 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOLDS OVERSIGHT HEARING ON VISA VETTING PROGRAMS On December 17th, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held an oversight hearing called "Terrorist Travel: Vetting for National Security Concerns." The hearing's purpose was to review the screening process for foreign nationals entering the United States, including the...
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