Visa Nation’s Immigration News

Those seeking protection from persecution in their home countries can apply for asylum in the United States, assuming they meet the proper qualifications. The main reasons individuals may escape persecution are due to religion, race, nationality, membership in a social group and political affiliations. The current asylum backlog in the U.S. is due to the...

The post I-589 Asylum Application Form – Get Approved in 2023 appeared first on VisaNation.

The H-1B visa 2023-2024 registration results have started trickling in! Employers should check their accounts to see if they were selected. You will also receive a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, where it says “Registration Selection” in the box labeled Notice Type. On the selection notice, it will tell you the date period your company...

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Employers who would like to petition USCIS for a foreign national to come to the U.S. temporarily to perform service, labor or to receive training must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. A wide range of individuals will therefore need this form completed on their behalf including those seeking H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3,...

The post I-129 Form Complete Guide: Processing Time, Filing Address & More appeared first on VisaNation.

The annual H-1B lottery registration window has officially closed (was extended to 5 p.m. Eastern on Monday, March 20th this year, due to technical issues on USCIS’ site). USCIS will carry out the lottery now until winners are notified on March 31st. 65,000 are allotted for the regular cap and 20,000 for the H-1B masters...

The post H-1B 90-Day Filing Window – Next Steps for Lottery Winners appeared first on VisaNation.

If you are a nonimmigrant worker who has been laid off, there are steps you can take to remain in the United States during a period of authorized stay. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided information and guidance on its website to assist nonimmigrant workers in this situation. If your employment...

The post USCIS Update: What To Do If You Are A Laid Off Nonimmigrant Worker appeared first on VisaNation.

On Thursday, March 16, 2023, some users were not able to complete the H-1B registration process. USCIS has corrected this technical issue and will now accept registrations until 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday, March 20, 2023. Please note that any paid and completed registrations were not affected by this technical issue. More information can be...

The post H1B Registration Deadline Extended Until 5PM ET on March 20, 2023 appeared first on VisaNation.

The H-1B Visa 2023-24 season window is set to close on March 17, 2023. It opened at noon Eastern Time on March 1, 2023. USCIS officials have said, “if we receive enough registrations by March 17, we will randomly select registrations and send selection notifications via users’ myUSCIS online accounts.” In the event that they do...

The post H-1B Registration Window Closes March 17th – Are You Ready? appeared first on VisaNation.

A citizenship test is a requirement for individuals seeking U.S. citizenship via naturalization. The purpose of the test is to determine if the foreign national has adequate knowledge of the United State’s history, laws, government, and more. In this post, we’ll go over 100 common citizenship test questions and answers to be acquainted with. During...

The post 100 Citizenship Test Questions and Answers to Know in 2023 appeared first on VisaNation.

USCIS announced that it will extend some deadlines through March 23, 2023, as a result of continued COVID-19 disruptions. The agency has said they expect this to be the final extension. In the case of documents whose issue dates were between March 1, 2020, and March 23, 2023, applicants and petitioners have an additional 60...

The post USCIS Announces Policy Extension for Some Documents Through March 23, 2023 appeared first on VisaNation.

The H-1B is a highly-sought after non-immigrant visa so if you’ve received an approval notice, congratulations on being one step closer to working in the United States. In this guide, we’ll go over the process of receiving an approval notice from beginning to end, as well as frequently asked questions. H-1B Approval Notice Process &...

The post Guide to H-1B Approval Notice 2023-2024 appeared first on VisaNation.

One of the most significant parts of getting a green card in the U.S. is waiting for your priority date to be current. For those that have invested the time, effort, and money into an immigrant visa, questions arise such as “How long will it take for my date to be current?” and “Can I...

The post March 2023 Visa Bulletin: Analysis & Predictions appeared first on VisaNation.

A pilot program will be launched by the State Department later this year to offer visa renewals in the U.S. for H-1B specialty occupation workers and other temporary visa holders who are currently required to travel abroad. Until 2004, some nonimmigrant visas could be renewed by mail, but this process was ended due to changes...

The post Pilot Program Announced for Domestic Visa Renewals Including H-1B appeared first on VisaNation.

A number of federal poverty guidelines are set every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to rule which individuals/families are eligible to receive benefits from the government. Immigration organizations also use these federal poverty guidelines when adjudicating cases related to family sponsorships and affidavits of support. The 2023 poverty guidelines have...

The post Updated Guidance on USCIS Federal Poverty Guidelines [Effective 19 Jan. 2023] appeared first on VisaNation.

In accordance with federal law, USCIS is required to evaluate the current fees every two years based on the costs of completing and adjudicating immigration services. December 23, 2016 was the last time the agency published an adjusted fee schedule. In response to the fee review, the Department of Homeland Security on January 4, 2023...

The post DHS Proposes USCIS Fee Increases appeared first on VisaNation.

The Department of Homeland Security settlement in Edakunni v. Mayorkas has “returned to bundling the adjudication of I-539s (application to extend/change nonimmigrant status) and I-765s (application for employment authorization) for H-4 and L-2 derivatives along with the underlying I-129 when these forms are filed together.” The processing change goes into effect as of January 25, 2023....

The post Concurrent Processing for I-539 and I-765 Reinstated for H1B and L1 Spouses appeared first on VisaNation.

It is very common for people to bring their fiancé(e) or spouses to the U.S. To do so, they need to comply with the rigid immigration rules, which in such cases, begin with the completion of the I-129F form. The I-129F form is the foundation to later receiving permanent residency in the U.S. via a...

The post Form I-129F: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on VisaNation.

Advance parole is a special permission granted by USCIS, in the form of a travel document, to be able to temporarily travel overseas while living in the United States and awaiting your green card or while on another noncitizen immigration status. If you travel outside of the United States while your green card application is...

The post What is Advance Parole for Traveling Overseas? appeared first on VisaNation.

The immigration process can seem cumbersome and with delays still a reality from the global pandemic in 2020, some immigrants who filed petitions under the classification of  ‘children’ and now have turned 21 may wonder what their legal rights are and if they still qualify for child status. Fortunately, there are protections in place for...

The post Complete Guide to the Child Status Protection Act appeared first on VisaNation.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that any applications filed on or after December 23, 2022 will be subject to the specifications of a final rule regarding how it will apply the public charge ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In September of 2022, we wrote a...

The post Public Charge Rule In Effect As of December 23, 2022 appeared first on VisaNation.

In 2002, Congress modified the existing immigration laws so that L and E dependent spouse visa holders could work in the United States. However, obtaining the employment authorization documents (EAD) was still complex, lengthy, and costly. Due to long adjudication times, it would take upwards of a year before these spouses could get approval from...

The post Complete Guide to E-2 & L-2 EAD for Spouses | Work Authorization in 2023 appeared first on VisaNation.