Category: H1B

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a memorandum (PDF) clarifying the standards for adjudicating H-1B petitions filed on behalf of beneficiaries seeking employment in a health care specialty occupation. Among other things, the memo notes that if the petitioner provides documentary evidence that the beneficiary has a valid license to practice a health… Read More

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of May 22, 2009, it has received approximately 45,700 H-1B petitions toward the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B cap for the fiscal year (FY) 2010 program. The agency continues to accept petitions subject to the general cap. Additionally, the agency said it has received approximately 20,000 petitions… Read More

Unlike in recent years, when the H-1B cap was reached immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 27, 2009, that it had received approximately 45,000 H-1B petitions counting toward the congressionally mandated 65,000 cap for fiscal year (FY) 2010. The agency continues to accept petitions subject to the general cap. Additionally, the… Read More

Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the “H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act” on April 23, 2009. The Durbin-Grassley bill would: Require all employers who want to hire an H-1B worker to first make a good-faith attempt to recruit a qualified U.S. worker. Employers would be prohibited from using H-1B visa holders… Read More

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued questions and answers addressing the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the U.S. for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of October 1, 2009, under the FY 2010… Read More