Immigration News Updates
H-1B Cap Lottery and Premium Processing
On April 10, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the completion of the random selection lottery of H-1B cap subject petitions filed for fiscal year 2015 (FY15). The USCIS has completed both the lottery for selection of the 20,000 advanced-degree exemptions (or, "master's cap") cases, as well as for the 65,000 regular cap numbers.
The USCIS reports receiving approximately 172,500 total H-1B petitions during the five-business-day filing period that ran April 1-7, 2014. This is a substantial increase over the 124,000 cap-subject petitions filed for last year's H-1B lottery.
USCIS began premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2015 cap, including H-1B petitions seeking an exemption from the fiscal year cap for individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher. USCIS provides premium-processing service for certain employment-based petitions and guarantees a 15-calendar-day processing time.
H-4 Spouse Employment Authorization Regulation
The White House released a fact sheet on April 8, 2014, containing information on the USCIS current rule-making agenda on reform in employment-based immigration system. It includes the much-anticipated H4 Spouse Employment Authorization, as stated below:
"Attracting the World’s Best and Brightest: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will soon publish several proposed rules that will make the United States more attractive to talented foreign entrepreneurs and other high-skill immigrants who will contribute substantially to the U.S. economy, create jobs, and enhance American innovative competitiveness. These proposed regulations include rules authorizing employment for spouses of certain high-skill workers on H-1B visas, as well as enhancing opportunities for outstanding professors and researchers. These measures build on continuing DHS efforts to streamline, eliminate inefficiency, and increase the transparency of the existing immigration system.”
USCIS Updates for DACA Renewals
On April 9, 2014, the USCIS updated information on DACA (Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals), which will affect both new applicants and those who are due for renewal. The full details can be found on http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-process.
In late May 2014, USCIS anticipates publishing a new dual-use Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to allow for both initial and renewal requests, and updating Frequently Asked Questions with additional information. If you received DACA from USCIS and will seek to renew, you must wait until USCIS publishes the new form before filing your renewal request. If you are filing for initial DACA, you may continue to file using the current form until the new version is available.
VISA PREFERENCE NUMBERS FOR May 2014
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
08Mar07 |
08Mar07 |
|
2A |
08Sep13 |
08Sep13 |
|
2B |
01Feb07 |
01Feb07 |
|
3rd |
01Sep03 |
01Sep03 |
|
4th |
08Dec01 |
08Dec01 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
Current |
Current |
|
2nd |
15Nov04 |
Current |
|
3rd |
01Oct03 |
01Oct12 |
|
Other |
01Oct03 |
01Oct12 |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
Current |
Current1B |
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