Blog Archives
FY2011 H1B Visa Cap Count as of August 20, 2010
USCIS has updated its FY 2011 H1B cap count and reports that, as of May 11, 2010, 33,900 regular cap petitions filed and 12,600 Master’s degree cap petitions filed. The H1B cap for FY 2011 is 65,000 for regular cap filings and 20,000 for Master’s cap filings.
In: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap · Tagged with: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Transfer
H1B Visa Extensions Beyond the Six Year Limitation
The maximum duration for status as an H1B visa holder is six years. Any time spent in L status or other H status such as H2B or H4 visa status is included. Normally, a foreign national who wishes to hold H1B visa status beyond the six year maximum is prohibited unless he or she spends […]
In: AC21, H-1B Visa · Tagged with: AC21, H-1B Visa
USCIS Providing Some Flexibility With LCA Issues in H1B Visa Applications
On July 1, 2009 the Department of Labor (DOL) mandated that all LCA filings must be filed through the iCert portal and that individual officers would review filings prior to certification. While estimated processing times were initially 7 days, human error and other systemic problems resulted in filing taking three weeks or longer. Because USCIS […]
In: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap, LCA · Tagged with: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap, LCA
FY 2010 H1B Visa Cap Met
USCIS has just announced that as of December 21, 2009, they have received sufficient H1B visa petitions to meet the 65,000 general cap. Petitions received on December 21 will be subject to a random drawing and petitions received after December 21 will be rejected. USCIS will continue to accept non-cap subject H1B petitions for FY […]
In: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap · Tagged with: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap
H-1B Site Visits: They’re Coming to Visit You
In nearly every H-1B petition, the petitioner is required to pay a $500 anti-fraud fee. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is using the proceeds of these anti-fraud fees to investigate H-1B petitioners. DHS is contracting with private investigators to make surprise visits, though they may provide advance notice if they so desire, to H-1B […]
In: H-1B Visa, Visa Fraud · Tagged with: H-1B Visa, Visa Fraud
Obama’s Stimulus Plan and Its Effect on H-1B Visa Applications
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 containing the Sanders H-1B amendment. The Sander H-1B amendment prohibits the sponsoring of H-1B visas by organizations that received funding of through the Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (TARP money) unless the organization complies with the requirements of H-1B […]
In: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap · Tagged with: H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Cap
H-1B Visa Transfers
Many H-1B visa holders are under the impression that there is a “grace period” following the conclusion of their stay in H-1B visa status. Most believe that if they are laid off, fired or otherwise terminated that they have 30, 60 or even 90 days to find a new H-1B sponsor or just to gather […]
In: Grace Period, H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Transfer · Tagged with: Grace Period, H-1B Visa, H-1B Visa Transfer