Archive for the ‘Nonimmigrant Visas’ Category
ALERT: H-1B CAP FILING PERIOD OPENS APRIL 1, 2012!
The filing period for the next H-1B cap season opens April 1, 2012 for an October 1, 2012 start date. Petitions are accepted up to 6 months in advance of October 1, 2012.
The H-1B visa is a temporary work visa for a degreed professional (or someone with equivalent experience) seeking employment in a position complex enough to need his/her specific degree.
Each year, there are 65,000 slots available to holder’s of U.S. or foreign Bachelor’s degrees or foreign Master’s or higher degrees (or equivalent experience). There are an additional 20,000 slots set aside for individuals with U.S. Master’s or higher degrees.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you or your employer need assistance with an H-1B petition.
Tags: H-1B, h-1b cap, H-1B quota, H1b, USCIS, work visa
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas, USCIS | Read More »
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE SENDING WAVES OF STAFF TO CHINA AND BRAZIL
The U.S. DOS is sending waves of temporary staff to China and Brazil to address growing visa demands and shorten visa wait times. The employees are helping process the high number of visa applications until permanent staff arrive.
The 2011 mission to Brazil resulted in processing 820,000 visa applications, which is a 42% increase from the previous year. The DOS plans to double the consular staffing in Brazil over 2012 by adding 50 new officer positions. Current visa wait times in Brazil are down to under 50 days.
China has seen even more growth than Brazil, specifically in 2011, during which DOS employees processed more than 1 million visa applications. This is a 34% increase over the previous year. Current visa wait times in China are down to under 10 days.
Tags: Brazil, China, Department of State, U.S. consulate, U.S. visas, visa wait times
Posted in H-1B, Immigrant Visas, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
H-1B CAP Update: 18,800 H-1B Visas Left
The USCIS announced on October 21, 2011 that 20,000 U.S. Master’s cap numbers and 46,200 regular cap numbers have been taken. This means that there are 18,800 H-1B slots left for this year. Practitioners are anticipating that these remaining visas will run out by the end of the year.
The H-1B category is for degreed professionals seeking jobs that are complex enough to need a degree. Please contact our San Francisco law office as soon as possible if you’d like assistance with an H-1B petition.
If the cap closes, the next available filing window opens April 1, 2012 for an October 1, 2012 start date.
Tags: Bachelor's degree, h-1b cap, H-1B quota, U.S. Master's
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
H-2B Visas Still Available
As of 05/06/2011, the USCIS has received 27,173 petitions toward the 33,000 H-2B cap amount for the second half of fiscal year 2011. 24,420 have been approved and 2,753 remain pending.
The H-2B category is for temporary non-agricultural employment typically for a period of one year of less. It requires recruitment to prove there are no qualified U.S. citizens or green card holders who can perform the work, among other requirements.
Please contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you have any questions or need assistance with an H-2B petition.
Tags: H-2b, non-agricultural, recruitment, USCIS
Posted in Alerts, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
H-1B’s Crawling Forward
As of 04/29/2011, the USCIS has receipted 9,200 H-1B regular cap petitions and 6,600 U.S. Master’s cap petitions. Please see prior posts for information about the H-1B program and eligibility requirements. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with an H-1B petition.
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas, USCIS | Read More »
H-1B Count As Of 04/15/2011
The most recent H-1B count shows that only 7100 regular cap petitions (of 65,000) have been received at the USCIS and 5100 U.S. Master’s petitions (of 20,000).
H-1B status is a temporary work status for an individual with a Bachelor’s or higher degree (or equivalent experience) in a specific specialty who will be working in a professional position that requires that degree (or experience). Each year, there is a limited number of H-1B work visas available. As of 04/15/2011, there are many slots left.
Please contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with an H-1B petition.
Tags: cap, H-1B, quota, specialty occupation, U.S. Master's
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
H-1B Cap Is Wide Open
As of April 7, 2011, the USCIS has received 5,900 petitions (of 65,000) under the regular cap and 4,500 petitions (of 20,000) under the U.S. Master’s cap. Thus, both caps remain wide open for filings.
The H-1B cap system refers to the allotted number of H-1B slots available each fiscal year. The cap opened April 1, 2011 and to date, there are over 70,000 total slots left.
As discussed in prior posts, the H-1B visa category is for professionals holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific specialty. The professional must be working in a position that requires their Bachelor’s degree or a related degree.
Please contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with an H-1B petition.
Tags: cap, H-1B, quota, USCIS
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
U.S. Consulates in Pakistan Closed Due To Potential Violent Protests
The Warden of the U.S. Consulate in Islamabad issued a warning on March 17, 2011 that U.S. Consulates in Pakistan (i.e. Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar) are closed until further notice due to potential violent protests. It is anticipated that there will be a violent response to the recent acquittal and release of a U.S. contractor into U.S. custody. The Consulates remain open for emergency services for U.S. citizens during this time and should open for all once the country has stabilized following this event.
Tags: emergency, Pakistan, US Consulate, violence
Posted in Alerts, Immigrant Visas, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
No New H Or L Visa Appointments At The U.S. Consulate In Mumbai
Due to the aging infrastructure of the current Consulate building in Mumbai, the U.S. Consulate has closed several interview windows. This limits the number of visa interviews the Consulate can handle. At the present time, the Consulate will continue allowing H and L visa appointments that are already scheduled, but will not allow individuals to schedule any new H or L visa appointments. If you need to obtain an H or L visa in India, you may visit any other U.S. Consulate in India or the Embassy in New Delhi.
Please note that the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai is undergoing a multi-million dollar construction project to fix the aging building and should re-open for new H and L visa appointments later this year.
Tags: H-1B, L-1, New Delhi, U.S. Consulate Mumbai, visa appointment, visa interview
Posted in Alerts, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
FY2011 H-1B CAP CLOSED!
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2011. USCIS is notifying the public that yesterday, Jan. 26, 2011, is the final receipt date for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY2011.
The next filing period opens April 1, 2011. Please contact our office if you’d like assistance with a FY2012 H-1B petition.
Tags: etc., h-1b cap, quota
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
