Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Latest News


May Visa Bulletin Sets Final Action Date for EB-4 Visas for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras Special Immigrants

The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for May 2016 reflects a final action date of January 1, 2010, for EB-4 visas for special immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. This means that starting in May, an applicant from any of these countries who filed a Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant… Read More

USCIS Reaches FY 2017 H-1B Cap

As expected, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has quickly reached the congressionally mandated H-1B cap for fiscal year (FY) 2017. USCIS also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption.  On April 9, 2016, USCIS completed the computer-generated process (“lottery”) to randomly select the petitions needed… Read More

ICE Nabs 21 With Fake ‘Pay-to-Stay’ New Jersey Sham College Sting

Twenty-one brokers, recruiters, and employers were arrested on April 5, 2016, who allegedly conspired with more than a thousand foreign nationals to fraudulently maintain student and foreign worker visas through a “pay-to-stay” New Jersey sham college set up as a sting operation. The arrests resulted from an extensive probe led by U.S. Immigration and Customs… Read More

Current I-9 Form Remains Effective, USCIS Says

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 5, 2016, that until further notice, employers should continue using the current Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The agency said this current version of the form continues to be effective even though the Office of Management and Budget control number expiration date of March 31, 2016,… Read More

USCIS Finalizes Guidance on ‘Same or Similar’ Occupations and Job Portability

On March 18, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finalized guidance, effective March 21, on determining whether a new job is in the “same or similar” occupational classification with respect to job portability. The policy memorandum instructs USCIS employees on how to use the Department of Labor’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes and other… Read More

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2016

On March 21, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2016. March 15, 2016, was the final receipt date for new H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before… Read More

USCIS Seeks Additional Comments on Revised Form I-9

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept comments until April 27, 2016, on the revised Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. In response to the approximately 130 public comments USCIS received during the previous 60-day notice, USCIS made further changes to the proposed form. Key changes to the form include:  Validations on certain fields to… Read More

Potomac Service Center Now Processing Certain I-765 Cases, Issues Guidance on Correcting Errors

On March 1, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began transferring certain cases to the Potomac Service Center (PSC) from other service centers to balance workloads. The affected casework includes Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, filed by F-1 and M-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and J-1 dependents.  If USCIS transfers a… Read More

USCIS Extends TPS Designations for Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea

On March 22, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the extension of temporary protected status (TPS) designations of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea for an additional six months. The extended designation is effective May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016. Current TPS Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS… Read More

Reminder: USCIS Is Accepting H-1B Petitions for FY 2017

Reminder: USCIS Is Accepting H-1B Petitions for FY 2017 Beginning April 1, 2016On April 1, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2017 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as… Read More