Why the Huge Processing Delays?
Giselle Carson May 3, 2019 in Agencies (CBP, DHS, DOL, DOS, USCIS, ICE)
Nationwide millions of employers and people applying for work visas and green cards are waiting longer than ever for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve applications and petitions. Five years ago, an average case took about five months to process. By fiscal year 2018, that same employer waited nearly 10 months. Today, that wait can be 10 months to a year. Many factors are slowing down cases, including new USCIS’ policies […]
Continue ReadingUSCIS announced that the cap of 85,000 new H-1B visas for FY2020 was met. They received a total of 201,011 H-1B cap petitions. There was an 11% increase from FY2019 in H-1B advanced degree (master’s and above) petitions selected in the FY2020 lottery; about 63% of those selected were advanced degree petitions. Unfortunately, as it has been for the last two years, being selected is just the first challenge. With the Request for Evidence (RFE) […]
Continue ReadingChanges Announced to the H-1B Cap-Subject Process Days Before Filing Began
Giselle Carson Apr 2, 2019 in H-1B/H-4
On April 1, 2019, USCIS started taking cap-subject H-1B petitions for FY 2020. Just 20 days before that, they released a memo detailing a new filing process. It includes changes to premium processing that have never been tested or used and the announcement of a new H-1B Data Hub online. The changes to premium processing are based on a new two-phase approach. The first phase applies to FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B petitions that request a […]
Continue ReadingForbes recently highlighted alarming data on how the H-1B adjudicatory process is affecting U.S. businesses and in particular the IT services sector. If you’re a frequent reader of my newsletter, you know about the unprecedented number of Requests for Further Evidence (RFEs) and outright denials. This article objectively shows the numbers: If you’re a frequent reader of my newsletter, you know about the unprecedented number of Requests for Further Evidence (RFEs) and outright denials. This […]
Continue ReadingGreetings! Did you feel uncertain, frustrated, or overwhelmed by immigration matters last year? 2018 and 2017 have been years of immigration chaos and transformation. While the physical wall has yet to materialize, we face a virtual wall made of requests for evidence, unjustified denials, roadblocks, and bureaucratic burdens. As we look ahead, we share tips on what we have done and must do to overcome these challenges. A key part of overcoming challenges is starting […]
Continue ReadingWhat Must We Do to Overcome the Costly Stream of Changes to Legal Immigration?
Giselle Carson Jan 8, 2019 in Immigration News
We’ve all faced the onboarding delays, uncertainties, and emotional roller coasters during the current adjudication process. We’ve also experienced the relief, happiness, and positive momentum from a case approval. As I look at what’s in store for us in 2019, it appears that our government will continue to add bureaucratic burdens to redefine legal immigration. Here are a few things we expect to happen in 2019 and what we must do to overcome them. Selected […]
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