Recently, the bipartisan Dignity Act was introduced by two members of Congress. Read on to learn more about it and what it could mean for you.
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Read this blog and contact the Lightman Law Firm for important information regarding the fiscal year 2024 H-1B visa registration process.
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USCIS has announced a proposed hike in green card filing fees. Read on and reach out to our firm to learn more.
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USCIS will be implementing a new rule for asylum seekers in the U.S. Read on to learn more about it and how it may impact you.
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The United States will resume domestic visa renewals for IT workers. Read on & contact the Lightman Law Firm for help today.
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Looking to get two E-3 visas? Read on and contact the Lightman Law Firm to learn more about how you can get them.
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Read on to learn more about whether you may have an opportunity to get a TN visa as a management consultant in the U.S.
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Wondering how you can get an E-3 visa as a qualifying Australian national? If so, read on & contact our firm to learn more.
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Read on and reach out to the Lightman Law Firm to learn about the new mail delivery process for the ADIT stamp.
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USCIS announced that F-1 students seeking OPT can now request premium processing. Read on & contact the Lightman Law Firm to learn more.
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Are you an Australian national looking to get an E-3 visa? If so, read on and reach out to our firm to learn about where you need to go.
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Uniting for Ukraine is a program by which Ukrainian refugees can seek shelter and safety here in the U.S. Read on to learn more about it.
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Are you a non-citizen accused of a crime? If so, you must read on and reach out to Lightman Law Firm for help today.
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The State Department is planning a pilot for domestic visa renewal. Read on or contact Lightman Law Firm to learn more about it.
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The H-1B cap registration period for the fiscal year 2024 opens on March 1st, 2023. Read on to learn more about it.
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If you are a conditional permanent resident with a pending Form I-751, read on to learn about USCIS' decision to extend green card validity.
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Recently, USCIS has announced it would be modifying its adjudication policies for H-4 & L-2 dependents. Read on to learn more.
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Recently, USCIS decided to expand premium processing for certain individuals. Read this blog to learn more.
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Are you a land surveyor looking to work in the U.S. with a TN visa? If so, read on & contact our firm to learn how we can help.
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Read on to learn more about what can happen if you lose your job while on a TN visa & how we may be able to help you stay in the U.S.
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Read on to learn more about whether a dentist can get a job in the U.S. with a TN visa and how our legal team can help.
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Are you a social worker looking to obtain a TN visa? If so, read on & contact our NYC immigration law firm for more information.
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Are you an industrial designer looking to get a TN visa in the United States? If so, contact the Lightman Law Firm today.
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Read on & contact the Lightman Law Firm to learn more about PERM labor certification here in the United States.
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As of yesterday, USCIS now automatically extends Green Cards for new naturalization applicants. Read on to learn more about the change.
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Read on and reach out to our dedicated NYC immigration firm to learn whether a librarian may qualify for a TN visa.
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If you're a forester looking to work in the United States, you may wonder if you're eligible for a TN visa. Read on & contact us for more.
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Read this blog and speak with our legal team to learn about how USCIS changed its process for naturalization applicants with disabilities.
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Recently, USCIS made the decision to extend green card validity for renewals. Read on and contact us to learn more.
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Read this blog and contact the Lightman Law Firm to learn whether graphic designers are eligible for TN visas & how our firm can help.
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Mexican and Canadian mathematicians and statisticians may bring their skills to the United States by obtaining TN Visas. Read how here.
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There has been a major change to the DHS' Fair and Humane Public Charge Rule. To learn how it might affect your case, read on.
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Some of the best lawyers can be found in the U.S. If you have a TN Visa: Lawyer, you may join their ranks. Read more here.
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With a TN Visa in hand, a Mexican or Canadian architect can ply their trade in the United States. Read on for more information.
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If you're a Mexican or Canadian engineer, the U.S. has a use for your skills, which is why it offers the TN visa. Here's how you qualify.
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As NAFTA transitioned into USMCA, you may have wondered about the impact on the TN visa. Here is a brief breakdown of the changes.
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The U.S. has much to offer, including freedom from persecution and violence. This blog discusses the asylum process and how our firm can help you be granted asylum.
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If you're a green card holder planning a trip outside of the United States, you should be aware that doing so may affect your permanent resident status. This blog discusses what you'll need in order to retain your permanent resident status and potential strategies for fighting accusations of abandoning your green card.
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Trump H1B 2020 Update On June 22nd, 2020, President Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign nationals under the pretense that they may threaten the US labour market. The order will be in place until at least till December 31, 2020, and targets those wishing to come to the country to work. The administration’s reasoning […]
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COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the health and economic systems of the entire world.  It has also closed schools and businesses, and brought international travel to an almost total standstill.  One segment of the population heavily hit by these closures is the class of individuals here in the United States on temporary visas.  This includes […]
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H1B Registration Tool Implementation In an effort to make the process for registering for the H-1B cap easier, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that the H1B registration tool implementation will be available electronically in the new year.  The announcement follows months of testing the online portal and its usability to try to […]
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You’ve been working on an E-3 visa for a few years now and you want to make the US your home, at least for the foreseeable future. You might want to engage in activity beyond the E-3, not have to worry about renewing a visa every 2 years and/or make the US your permanent residence […]
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H1B Visa Latest New 2019 On January 31, 2019, the United States Department of Homeland Security issued a final rule regarding changes to the H-1B visa program. This change involves reversing the order in which H-1B visas are selected, while also amending how employers apply for them on behalf of potential employees — although the […]
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What’s an I-751? An I-751 is a petition that is filed to remove the conditions on US residency.  If a couple is married for less than two years when their initial marriage-based green card case is adjudicated, the non-US citizen spouse is given conditional residency.  This residency lasts two years.  90 days prior to the […]
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  What services does an asylum lawyer provide? If you are interested in applying for asylum because you fear returning to your country, hiring an asylum lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will make. An asylum lawyer can help guide you through the very complex and difficult process, and make sure that you […]
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¿Las personas de Venezuela, pueden presentarse para el asilo político? La respuesta breve es ¡sí! Lo más importante es trabajar con un abogado licensiado y con experiencia con las leyes de inmigración de los EEUU, un abogado que conozca bien las reglas y particularidads del asilo.   Un problema grandísimo en la comunidad hispana con […]
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US Judge Stalls Trump’s Asylum Restrictions THE STORY: A federal judge has temporarily blocked Trump’s asylum ban. The decision came after lawyers sued the Trump administration for trying to stop immigrants who enter the country illegally from seeking asylum. THE CONTEXT: Trump has tried to reshape U.S. immigration practices since he took office in 2017, […]
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Foreign Student Enrollment is Down THE STORY: The number of new foreign students enrolling in U.S. universities is down for the second year in a row. THE CONTEXT: The number of new foreign students enrolling in U.S. colleges went down by nearly 7% in 2017, compared to 2016. While some college leaders blame an unwelcoming […]
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The asylum immigration lawyers at NYC based Lightman Law Firm have many years of experience helping immigrants from countries throughout the world apply for asylum, including Russia, Ukraine, El Salvador, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Liberia, and Guinea, just to name a few. What’s the difference between past persecution and a well-founded fear of future […]
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If you’re a Canadian citizen looking to come work or live in the U.S., we can help with the ins and outs of securing a visa or green card. Here’s a quick break down of different options for Canadian citizens seeking to work and live in America: Canada To US Immigration The TN Visa: WHAT […]
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THE STORY: The Trump administration is planning to prohibit granting asylum to immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally. The new rules will require asylum seekers to enter through official ports of entry like border crossings. THE CONTEXT: The Trump administration’s move to change asylum rules is being widely perceived as a way to crack […]
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THE STORY: President Trump said this week that he wanted to sign an executive order to end birthright citizenship. There is a legal consensus that such a move would be unconstitutional and it is highly unlikely Trump could implement it. THE CONTEXT: The U.S. is one of around 30 countries with birthright citizenship, meaning that […]
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This post is for anyone seeking asylum from Russia, Ukraine & Other Former Soviet Union Countries. Can people from the former Soviet Union apply for asylum? The short answer is yes – people from the former Soviet Union can apply for asylum. When we say former Soviet Union, we are referring to the countries that […]
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I-751 Petition: 18-Month Extension Change Due to delays in the processing of the I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, the USCIS has changed the duration of the extension period associated with the receipt notice issued in connection with these filings from 12 months to 18 months. As a result, when a conditional permanent resident files […]
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THE STORY: New data shows that Indian companies may be decreasing their use of H-1B visas. This comes in the wake of the Trump administration increasing scrutiny of H-1B applications filed by Indian companies. THE CONTEXT: Only one Indian firm was in the top 10 list of companies that filed Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) in […]
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If you are an Australian citizen moving to USA from Australia and looking to work or live in the U.S., we can help with the ins and outs of securing a work visa or green card. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common work visa and green card options for Australian citizens seeking to […]
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THE STORY: Foreigners applying for U.S. permanent residency are experiencing growing wait times. In particular, wait times have been increasing for U.S. citizens applying for their non-citizen relatives to get residency in America. THE CONTEXT: There are a few factors fueling the increased wait times. In the 2017 fiscal year there were 366,000 family-based green […]
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What is asylum in the USA? Non-citizens who are physically present in the United States and are afraid to return to their country of origin can apply for asylum in the United States, if they have suffered past persecution or fear future persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a […]
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THE STORY: Days before marijuana is set to be legalized in Canada, the U.S. reversed a decision that would have possibly banned workers in the Canadian marijuana industry from entering the U.S. THE CONTEXT: In June, Canada became the second nation in the world to pass legislation that would legalize and create a market for […]
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Can LGBT people apply for asylum? The short answer is yes. Those who are LGBT or perceived as LGBT can be defined as a “social group” for asylum purposes. Applicants must still meet the general requirements. Asylum is for people who have suffered past persecution or who fear future persecution based upon a protected category. LGBT is a social […]
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THE STORY: Thousands of international students who are recent graduates could lose their jobs because of delays in the processing of their H-1B visa applications. THE CONTEXT: Foreign nationals who study in the U.S. are required to get a work visa after their student visa expires if they wish to continue working in America, and […]
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L-1A vs. L-1B Visa This post will serve to highlight a few key differences between the two types of L-1 visas from a functional and strategic planning point of view. Since the specific definition and requirements of the L-1A visa and L-1B visa have been discussed in previous posts, we will start with a brief […]
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THE STORY: Congress is considering whether to remove caps for green cards based on immigrants’ country of origin. The move would speed up the application process for hundreds of thousands of Indian and Chinese immigrants awaiting green cards. THE CONTEXT: As it stands in the U.S., there are a certain number of green cards allotted […]
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I’ve just received a Notice to Appear (NTA) telling me I am in removal proceedings. What can I expect at the Immigration Court? The Notice to Appear (NTA) is the charging document which places a non-US citizen into removal proceedings (formerly called “deportation” proceedings). The document contains a list of “charges,” in other words, the […]
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THE STORY: The Department of Homeland Security is trying to revise key parts of the H-1B visa. The proposed changes would revise the definition of a speciality occupation, potentially making it more difficult for foreign workers to secure H-1B visas. THE CONTEXT: H-1B visas are temporary visas for foreign workers in speciality occupations. The H-1B […]
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What is an I-751? An I-751 is a petition that is filed to remove the conditions on US residency. If a couple is married for less than two years when their initial marriage-based green card case is adjudicated, the non-US citizen spouse is given conditional residency. This residency lasts two years. 90 days prior to […]
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THE STORY: On Tuesday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services enacted a new policy that provides officers with the discretion to deny any visa or green card application without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when the application is submitted without the required evidence. THE CONTEXT: Since […]
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Introducing Arrivals, a weekly series that highlights three of the biggest stories in U.S. immigration news from that week. — THE STORY: The Trump administration is making it more difficult for legal immigrants to live and work in the U.S. Businesses from hotels to tech companies are saying they are having trouble filling roles with […]
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Denial of Pending Advance Parole Applications Reversing a long standing policy, the USCIS now denies advance parole applications when a green card applicant travels outside of the US while their advance parole application is pending. Prior to the reversal, the USCIS did not deny pending advance parole applications when an applicant traveled during its pendency. […]
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I heard that there was a recent change to how the Government will schedule asylum interviews. Can you tell me more about that? Applying for asylum has always been a difficult and complicated process, one in which an experienced asylum lawyer is essential. This is truer than ever, especially with recent changes in asylum procedures […]
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A Few Lessons on H-1B Everyone’s favorite time of year is right around the corner. No, I am not talking about Valentine’s Day or Spring Break…I am talking about H-1B cap season. It seems like only yesterday we were filing a batch of H-1B cap cases. This is particularly true since we are still dealing […]
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An overview of the timeline and various stages associated with the immigrant visa process when pursuing a green card based on marriage.
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Someone in my family has been detained by Immigration, what can I do to help? Should we contact an Immigration Lawyer? “How did this happen?” This is what you’re probably thinking. Sometimes people who are not US citizens are arrested for crimes, and then when they are done with their jail sentence, they are handed over […]
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In many countries in the world, Christians face brutal persecution by their governments, because of their religion. We at Lightman Law Firm are committed to helping those who are fleeing religious persecution, who want to live safely in the United States, and practice their faith. Did you know that there anti-Christian laws on every continent […]
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I am here in the United States, but I am afraid to return to my country of origin. What can I do? Non-citizens who are physically present in the United States and are afraid to return to their country of origin can apply for asylum in the United States. Asylum is a form of protection […]
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On September 5, 2017, the administration announced that it will be ending DACA. Hundreds of thousands of young people will be losing that protection from deportation. Q:  I am a DACA recipient, what do I do now? If you are a DACA recipient, it is essential that you put yourself in contact with an experienced […]
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Have you seen the movie “Green Card” with Gerard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell? Well…you basically know what a “Stokes” interview is. But Hollywood is rarely an exact reflection of real life. If USCIS suspects that the marriage is not valid, they can subject the couple to a higher level of scrutiny. Also, if a non-citizen is […]
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You, the intending immigrant, have filed your green card through marriage application in the United States via the adjustment of status process. Congrats! Now what? Now, unfortunately, it’s a waiting game with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Below is the general and most common green card through marriage timeline for what to expect […]
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The green card through investment or “EB-5” green card program is an incredibly popular albeit controversial way for foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency in the US through investment. A common misconception is that this program is a “green card for cash” program – some backroom loop-hole for the global elite to skirt our Nation’s […]
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EB-5 Capital – Evidencing Lawful Source of Funds As mentioned in a previous post, the first step in obtaining an EB-5 green card through investment is to file an I-526 petition which generally consists of two parts. The first part is evidencing and explaining Business Content (business plan, economic report, etc.) of the new commercial enterprise […]
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The EB-5 Green Card through investment is currently receiving a great deal of attention in the media. Unfortunately, “attention” in this context is analogous to “noise,” not “information.” Many of you out there may be thinking “I want to pursue this option but I’m very confused…where do I start?” While we obviously recommend contacting an […]
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This post will provide a high level overview of the EB-5 green card program’s steps and requirements. Subsequent posts will delve deeper into the elements introduced in this post and provide more detail on the specific requirements, but this post will serve as a road map for the program at-large. The EB-5 green card through […]
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What Are The Immigration Benefits for Same-Sex Couples? In light of some of the recent turmoil and negativity engulfing the world of immigration policy, we wanted to take an opportunity to pause, reflect, and shine the light on a particularly encouraging development from recent history with positive consequences for foreign nationals looking to work and […]
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The E-3 visa, exclusive to Australian nationals seeking to work in a specialty occupation, is a nonimmigrant visa that does not tolerate immigrant intent. E-3 visa and non-immigrant intent Immigrant intent is the present or current intent to immediately apply for or pursue a green card in the United States or to carry on activity […]
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B-1 Visa in Lieu of an H-1B Visa Most people are aware of the B-1 visa, allowing an individual to enter the US on a temporary basis to conduct “business-related” activities. This option is most often utilized for individuals seeking to start up a new company, or conduct business on behalf of a foreign company. […]
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As a permanent resident, you can petition your spouse for a green card. Learn more about this process and contact us for help.
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Homeland Security Improves Grace Period For Certain Work Visas On November 18, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a final rule entitled “Retention of EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers”. The stated purpose of the regulation, effective January 17, 2017, is to improve the ability […]
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I just entered the US on an E-3, now what? The E-3 visa is a popular option for Australian nationals, seeking to enter the US to work for a sponsoring employer in a “specialty occupation.” You can read more about the requirements for the E-3 visa here. But what should you be aware of after […]
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Throughout our country’s history there may be only one thing more American than apple pie: starting your own business. This blog will give an overview of the visa options available to those looking to chart their own immigration course. The available options depend on the kind of business you’re looking to set-up and your individual […]
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If you were previously granted deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA), you can request a renewal when your current period of deferred action is close to expiring. Renewing DACA is a bit less daunting than requesting DACA for the first time. To renew DACA, you must meet certain requirements before you can apply for a […]
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Learn what's required from a joint sponsor in connection with an affidavit of support when navigating a family green card application.
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Depending on how you apply for a TN visa, there may technically be no government forms required if you are a Canadian citizen! If you are a Mexican citizen, there will always be forms required regardless of how you apply. What forms are needed for your TN visa application? Let’s start with discussing the process […]
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The Intersection of the LCA and the FEIN One of the first compliance hurdles an employer needs to clear when seeking to sponsor a potential employee for an H-1B visa, E-3 visa, or H-1B1 visa is to have a Labor Condition Application (“LCA”) certified by the US Department of Labor (“DOL”). An LCA is an […]
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As a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) you must reside in the U.S. on a permanent basis. Your home should be in the U.S. Taking residence abroad could lead to the conclusion that you have abandoned your permanent residence in the U.S. This can lead to losing your green card status. You are allowed […]
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EB-1C Green Card Option for Multinational Managers & Executives If you’re a managerial or executive level professional seeking permanent residence in the US, an option exists in the employment-based green card first preference for those with willing sponsoring employers. One of the three EB-1 categories is the EB-1C category reserved for “multinational executives and managers”, similar […]
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The P-3 Visa A “P” visa designation is reserved for certain types of entertainers and artists; there are three classifications: P-1, P-2, and P-3. The P-3 visa is a classification for artists or entertainers that will perform, teach, or coach under a program that is culturally unique, either as individuals or as part of a […]
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An Overview of the L-1B Visa The L-1A visa as previously discussed is a good option for multinational managers and executives seeking temporary employment in the US. If you are an intercompany transferee but not somebody in a managerial or executive employment capacity, you might be eligible for the L-1B visa for “specialized knowledge” employees. […]
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H-1B Visa Cap-Gap Explained As the “H-1B Cap season” has just finished, it is important to revisit some of the very common scenarios experienced by those in the F-1 visa status seeking to apply for the H-1B visa through the lottery next April. The “H1B cap gap” refers to a situation where a gap exists […]
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Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security amended some regulations pertaining to F-1 student visas on optional practical training (OPT) for students who have accomplished degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields. The new regulations will allow STEM students to apply for a 24-month extension to their OPT after they have already […]
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