Visa appointments are now open for all categories! But because of high demand, wait time will remain significant. If you need to travel to the U.S. urgently, here is an update on how to obtain an emergency appointment request.
https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/1547900016781828096?s=20&t=Blg8P97GBNruvWTwRqV19g
#USCISAnswers: The USCIS case status online tool allows you to track the status of your application, petition, or request. To view the last action taken on your case and determine the next steps,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today published two new forms for regional center designation under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program: Form I-956, Application for Regional Center Designation, and Form I-956H, Bona Fides of Persons Involved with Regional Center Program. Both forms are available on the USCIS website.
Effective May 14, under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, all entities seeking regional center designation must submit these forms in compliance with new program requirements.
17-5-2022-SR
Hyderabad: Interviews for US B1/B2 visas to begin in September – https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-interviews-for-us-b1-b2-visas-to-begin-in-september
US Extends Immigrant Work Permit: The move, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, is likely to benefit thousands of Indian immigrants.
The Biden administration has announced an automatic extension of expiring work permits for certain categories of immigrants, including those seeking green cards and spouses of H-1B visa holders who get employment authorisation cards (EAD), for a year and a half.
The move, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, is likely to benefit thousands of Indian immigrants.
The extension period of up to 180 days will automatically be extended to up to 540 days from the expiration date stated on the current EADs, the Department of Homeland Security said.
“As USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) works to address the pending EAD caseloads, the agency has determined that the current 180-day automatic extension for employment authorisation is currently insufficient,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou.
“This temporary rule will provide those non-citizens, otherwise eligible for the automatic extension, an opportunity to maintain employment and provide critical support for their families, while avoiding further disruption for US employers,” he said.
According to USCIS, non-citizens with a pending EAD renewal application whose 180-day automatic extension has lapsed and whose EAD has expired will be granted an additional period of employment authorisation and EAD validity beginning May 4, 2022, and lasting up to 540 days from the expiration date of their EAD. They may resume employment if they are still within the up to 540-day automatic extension period and are otherwise eligible.
Non-citizens with a pending renewal application still covered under the 180-day automatic extension will be granted an additional extension of up to 360 days, for a total of up to 540 days past the expiration of the current EAD.
Non-citizens with a pending renewal application and a valid EAD on May 4, 2022, or who timely file an EAD renewal application before October 27, 2023, will be granted an automatic extension of up to 540 days if their EAD expires before the renewal application is processed.
“The change will immediately help about 87,000 immigrants whose work authorisation has lapsed or is set to in the next 30 days. Overall, the government estimates that as many as 4,20,000 immigrants renewing work permits will be protected from losing their ability to work for the duration of the policy,” Indian-American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria told PTI.
The policy is meant to address the unprecedented backlog of 1.5 million work permit applications at the nation’s legal immigration agency, leaving tens of thousands unable to work legally and exacerbating labour shortages.
Welcoming the change in policy, Bhutoria said this is great news for employers as most companies are facing staffing issues and will now be able to keep their eligible employees.
”This policy change allows employers to continue their workers and eligible immigrants to work on expired documents for up to 540 days, rather than 180. That means even the tens of thousands of people past their 180-day window have as much as another year of work authorisation as of Wednesday,” he said.
USCIS announces the FY 2022 H-1B cap registration process Timelines:
March 9, 2021:
– The initial registration period for FY2022 H-1B cap will start at 1200 Hrs (EST) on March 9, 2021.
March 25, 2021:
– The initial registration period for FY2022 H-1B cap will end at 1200 Hrs (EST) on March 25.
– Within this period of noon of March 9 to noon of March 25, 2021, the prospective H-1B cap subject Employers or their representatives are expected to register the petitioner and beneficiary information, using USCIS online account and Registration fee.
– Upon receiving sufficient annual limit for H-1B registrations by March 25, USCIS will conduct random select process.
March 31, 2021:
– The selection notifications will be sent via users’ USCIS online accounts, by March 31.
H‐1B cap‐subject petitions may only be filed by the petitioners for beneficiaries, who were selected in this H‐1B registration process.
This announcement is preceded with the USCIS notification of postponement of effective date H-1B selection process final rule announced on Jan. 7,2021.
These two notifications confirmed theFY2022 H-1B cap selection process to be similar to that of the FY2021 and effectively delaying the implementation of the wage-based H-1B selection system.
Sharma Yaskhi & Associates, LLP accepts clients looking for filing the cap subject H-1B petitions.
What we can do:
– Bring you over 50 years of experience in various US Immigration process, especially in preparing H1B petitions for wide-ranging occupations, Employers and clients.
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– Guide through options and potential scenarios
– Provide you with comprehensive Checklist and documentations and requirements
– Help meet the strict rules and requirements of USCIS on H1B petitions
– Monitor and keep you updated on the case statuses
– Communicate with Department of Labor and USCIS on your behalf
– Available to consult with employers, employees and clients to discuss each of their rights and responsibilities.