News

Just after 5:00 PM (EST) on December 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it will implement an H-1B registration process for fiscal year 2021 cap-subject petitions. The initial registration period will run from March 1 – March 20, 2020 and upends longstanding government practice for what many have referred to as “H-1B season” from January through early April each year. There are more questions than answers at this writing, but [...]

Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the benefits agency component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, published in the Federal Register a 92-page proposed rule that will amend the fee schedule for immigration benefit requests, commonly referred to as “filing fees.” The proposed rule can be accessed at [...]

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna partners Scott Fein and Seth Leech were contributing authors to the Albany Law School and the New York State Bar Association's recently published comprehensive 19-chapter book detailing current immigration law and policy at the local, state, and national levels. The book, Is America Fulfilling Its Promise? Safeguarding the Legal Protections of Immigrants, provides a comprehensive view of immigration enforcement and reform in the United States. Fein was also a [...]

Certain Israeli nationals who are lawfully present in the United States will soon be able to request a change of status to the E-2 treaty investor classification. Beginning May 1, eligible Israeli nationals already in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status can file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, to request a change of status to E-2 classification, or a qualifying employer can file the petition on their behalf. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age of [...]

H-1B visas are a popular and highly-sought after visa type for foreign workers seeking employment in the United States. Before the April 1st deadline, it’s important for individuals and businesses alike to understand the requirements and benefits of the H-1B visa. RequirementsH-1B visas are designed to bring in non-immigrant foreign nationals who work in specialty occupations that are lacking among domestic U.S. workers. To be eligible for the visa, an individual must meet one or more [...]