SEVP guideline for OPT extension during Cap-Gap Period!

SEVP guidance also provides that a student may apply for the 17-month STEM extension during the cap gap extension of OPT. In such a situation, the H-1B petitioner must request the withdrawal of the approved or pending H-1B petition in time for USCIS to effectively accept the withdrawal prior to the October 1st start date so that the student’s status does not change to H-1B.

H-1B FY 2015 Premium processing update!

USCIS will begin premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2015 cap, including H-1B petitions seeking an exemption from the fiscal year cap for individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher.

H-1B FY 2015 Quota update News FLASH!

USCIS received about 172,500 H-1B petitions during the filing period which began April 1, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. On April 10, 2014, USCIS completed a computer-generated random selection process, or lottery, to select enough petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption. For cap-subject petitions not randomly selected, USCIS will reject and return the petition with filing fees, unless it is found to be a duplicate filing.

Visa Bulletin May 2014 Review!

Visa Bulletin for May 2014 is published. Dates more or less stays identical to last month. EB-2 category for India is November 15th, 2004, and EB-3 category shows October 01st, 2003. For all other countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and many other countries, EB-2 category is current, and EB-3 category falls on October 01st, 2012. Further. for spouses of permanent residents (F2A), priority date is still stuck at September 08, 2013.

H-4 spouses of H-1B workers - Athorized employment!

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will soon publish several proposed rules that will make the United States more attractive to talented foreign entrepreneurs and other high-skill immigrants who will contribute substantially to the U.S. economy, create jobs, and enhance American innovative competitiveness.  These proposed regulations include rules authorizing employment for spouses of certain high-skill workers on H-1B visas, as well as enhancing opportunities for outstanding professors and researchers.

H-1B Quota Reached for FY 2015

USCIS announced today that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2015.  USCIS has also received more than the limit of 20,000 H-1B petitions filed under the U. S. advanced degree exemption.

Courier Delivery problem with H-1B 2015 Quota packages!

USCIS has informed that USCIS will accept second H-1B petitions for FY2015 H-1B petitions in certain limited circumstances. USCIS provides specific instructions on filing a second petition so that it is not treated as a duplicate filing.

Cap-Gap Extensions

Current regulations allow certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions to remain in F-1 status during the cap-gap period. This is referred to as filling the "cap-gap," meaning the regulations provide a way of filling the "gap" between the end of F-1 status and the beginning of H-1B status that might otherwise occur if F-1 status is not extended for qualifying students.

H-1B Premium processing

The filing period for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2015 numerical cap begins on April 1, 2014. USCIS will start premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher, no later than April 28.

April 01, 2014: H-1B Quota begins.