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USCIS Extends Work Permit Renewals to Avoid Lapses in Employment for Immigrants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a temporary rule that automatically extends the validity period of work permits for immigrant workers with pending renewals. This extends the validity period from 180 days to 540 days (about 1.5 years) to prevent lapses in employment due to processing backlogs. USCIS Backlogs and Processing Delays USCIS has […]
USCIS Visa Fees Increase in 2024: Final Changes
The USCIS has announced a final rule to increase fees for several immigration applications, marking the first major adjustment since 2016. These changes aim to address the agency’s operational and financial challenges. The new fees took effect on April 1, 2024, applying to all applications postmarked after this date. Below, you will find the visa […]
H-1B Visa Lottery Now Open: USCIS Announces Final Changes to H-1B Visa Lottery
March 6, 2024 Update: H-1B lottery now open! The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap opened at 12PM Eastern Time on March 6, 2024, and will run through 12 PM Eastern Time on March 22, 2024. Learn how to apply here. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will increase fees for employer petitions and sponsorship […]
US Adds 64k H-2B Visas for 2024 to Meet Workforce Demands
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have issued a temporary rule providing an extra 64,716 H-2B visas for the fiscal year 2024, beyond the annual cap of 66,000. This addresses the demand for temporary nonagricultural workers in industries such as hospitality and landscaping. The move aims to fulfill […]
US H-1B Workers Will Be Able to Renew Visas in the Near Future
Later in the year, the U.S. Department of State will initiate a pilot program that enables H-1B work visa holders to renew their visas within the United States, eliminating the need for them to travel to their home countries. For a considerable time, the H-1B visa category has served as the primary avenue for skilled […]
US Will Allow Roughly 500,000 Venezuelan Immigrants to Work in the US
The Biden administration is announcing the provision of temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans currently residing in the United States. This move promptly allows them to seek employment opportunities. This decision comes as the administration faces an increasing influx of individuals escaping Venezuela and other regions, with their sights set on reaching […]
TN Visa for Canadians: Requirements and How to Apply
Under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the TN visa category allows citizens of Canada and Mexico to temporarily work in the United States in a number of designated professions. TN visas for Canadians were introduced as part of the NAFTA agreement, which was signed in 1994. As long as the […]
Business Plans for US Immigration Live Explained
Recently, VisaPlace hosted a Facebook Live with Fadi Manawi, a US attorney with VisaPlace Legal, and Marianella Mansour, the Partner and Director of Sales and Marketing at Joorney Business Plans. They discuss the importance of business plans in US business visa applications and the key components that are needed for a successful business plan. Marianella […]
US Immigration Changes in 2022: Year in Review
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), nearly a million immigrant adults were naturalized as American citizens in the fiscal year 2022, the third-highest annual tally in US history. Naturalizations have reached a 14-year high, a year after President Biden directed federal agencies to promote naturalizations by removing bureaucratic barriers in the citizenship process, […]
Options for H1-B Workers Affected by a Layoff
An unexpected layoff can cause panic in anyone’s life, but when an H-1B worker loses their job, it can be especially daunting. This is because they must leave the country unless they find a new job or change their immigration status within 60 days. H-1B visa holders may stay in the United States for up to […]
H-2B Visa Mid-Year Cap Update: FY2023
The H-2B visa program for seasonal workers has invited thousands of temporary workers to the United States each year since 1952 and continues to this day! The H-2B visa was created to help fill short-term labor shortages in the US within specific non-agricultural occupations during busy seasons. A few occupations you could see being qualified […]
Can Canada Be Used as a Backdoor to the United States?
People who earn permanent residency in Canada can seek citizenship after staying in the country for at least three years in the five years before the citizenship application. Once they have obtained citizenship, they can come to the United States using the TN visa provided they have a legitimate employment offer from a US company […]
US Immigration Reaches H-1B Visa Cap for 2022
As of early March 2022, the US has received enough applications to meet the federally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa ceiling for the fiscal year 2022. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits US businesses to hire foreign employees in specialized vocations that require theoretical or technical knowledge. Every year, technology businesses rely on […]
Moving from Alberta to Texas: Everything You Need to Know
Are you a Canadian resident of Alberta thinking about relocating to Texas? You’re not alone. Texas is the United States’ second-most populous state, and it’s simple to understand why. Every year, a large number of visitors visit due to the pleasant weather, diversified population, and melting pot of cultures. Not to mention that Texas’ thriving economy attracts […]
EB-5 Investor Visa Regional Center Program is Back
The Senate approved a reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program – the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (“Integrity Act”) – on March 10, 2022, as part of the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Bill. The same bill had been passed by the House the night before. Last June 30, 2021, the EB-5 Regional […]
