With the H-1B registration period now closed, USCIS will randomly select H-1B registrants for the 2023 fiscal year by March 31, 2022, for visas that become available October 1, 2022. Employers will have a 90-day window to complete and file the H-1B petition on behalf of the beneficiary if selected. The beneficiary must possess at […]
Palmer Polaski Blog
In an effort to improve our immigration system for highly skilled STEM workers, the Biden Administration recently announced several immigration policies that are designed to make it easier for STEM workers to qualify for O-1 nonimmigrant and NIW immigrant visas. USCIS Guidance for O-1 Petitions Focusing on STEM USCIS’s January 21, 2022, policy guidance on […]
After a month of war and devastation from the Russian invasion, more than 3.6 million (and counting) Ukrainians have escaped their country and are seeking safety abroad. While the vast majority of refugees are now in Poland – some 2 million displaced people are being housed and cared for by Ukraine’s neighbor — thousands of […]
TPS Designated for Ukraine, Afghanistan, and South Sudan: On March 2, 2022, DHS announced its redesignation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan for a period of 18 months. On March 3, 2022, and on March 16, 2022, DHS made its announcements for TPS designations for Ukraine and Afghanistan, which were also designated for […]
H-1B FY2023 Season: Time to Start Process Well in Advance of March 2022 Registration Deadline: Employers who seek to register their employees for the FY2022 H-1B lottery are encouraged to gather necessary documents now to avoid any delays in registering and processing your paperwork. Extension of Travel for U.S. Citizens with Expired Passports: CBP has […]
President Biden issued another travel ban Proclamation on November 26, to be lifted on December 31. The ban suspending and limiting the entry of certain immigrants and nonimmigrants who were physically present in countries where the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, has been detected. Individuals who were physically present in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, […]
In early November, the USCIS announced new policies regarding employment authorization for certain H, E, and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses. First, these individuals are granted automatic extensions to their work authorization. Second, E and L spouses are granted work authorization “incident to status.” In other words, these individuals will not be required to apply for […]
In response to the processing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USCIS announced that it is temporarily waiving the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record) no more than 60 days before an application seeking an immigration benefit is submitted. This policy change will be in effect […]
On December 23, DOS authorized consular officers to waiver through the end of 2022 the in-person interview requirement for those applying for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P and Q visas. Such applicants must meet certain conditions: possess a petition approved by USCIS, apply for the visa in their country of nationality or residence, and […]
Today, individuals, families, and U.S. businesses have experienced crisis-level immigrant and nonimmigrant visa backlogs and visa processing delays at the Department of State (DOS). These backlogs and delays have had significant consequences. Families have been separated. Individuals have lost their chance at the American Dream. U.S. businesses have been unable to bring in and bring […]
