» Sivaraman Immigration Law

Teacher Shortage Poses Education Crisis for U.S.

August 29th, 2022

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The U.S. is facing an estimated nationwide shortage of 300,000 teachers and school support staff for the upcoming school year. In particular, North Carolina schools have seen a 27% increase in vacancies since last year and are entering the new school… Read More

Categories: Immigration News

Tags: education, employment, teachers

H-1B Cap Random Selection for FY2018

April 20th, 2017

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Heather Sivaraman

According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), USCIS received approximately 199,000 H-1B petitions during the filing period for fiscal year 2018. The filing period began on April 3, 2017, and on April 7, 2017, USCIS announced that… Read More

Categories: H-1B, Immigration News

Tags: advanced degree, attorney, cap, employment, h1b, immigrant, immigration, lottery, masters cap, random selection, visa lottery

FY2018 H-1B Cap Reached

April 11th, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

USCIS Reached the H-1B Visa Cap for FY2018 As of April 7, 2017, USCIS reached the 65,000 visa H-1B cap mandated by Congress for FY2018. USCIS also received enough H-1B petitions to meet the master’s cap visa exemption of 20,000. All unselected… Read More

Categories: H-1B, Immigration News

Tags: AILA, attorney, cap, employment, fy2018, h1b, immigration, labor, reached, uscis

USCIS Increasing Measures to Detect H-1B Abuse

April 10th, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently several measures to help recognize and prevent H-1B fraud and abuse. The H-1B Visa and Abuse This visa program’s purpose is to help companies in the U.S. recruit highly-skille… Read More

Categories: H-1B, Immigration News

Tags: abuse, audit, detect, employment, fraud, h1b, increasing, inspection, measures, uscis, workplace

USCIS Released Updated Processing Times

March 2nd, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) released updated processing time reports on February 21, 2017. The updated processing times include processing dates as of December 31, 2016. Processing times are included for the California… Read More

Categories: Immigration News

Tags: backlog, categories, employer, employment, h1b, immigration, physician, processing times, updated, uscis

March 2017 Adjustment of Status Filing Dates

February 27th, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

Use the following Visa Bulletin charts to determine when to file your application for adjustment of status. How do I use these charts? Find your visa type in the left-most column of the appropriate chart (family or employment based). Stay in that row… Read More

Categories: Immigration News

Tags: 2017, attorney, employer, employment, family based, h1b, immigrant, immigration, march

New Supplement J for Form I-485

February 23rd, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

As of January 17, 2017, an individual must file Supplement J along with his or her I-485. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the purpose of the supplement is for greater retention of high-skilled immigrant and nonimmigrant workers. Appli… Read More

Categories: Forms, Immigration News

Tags: attorney, authorization, employment, I-485, identity, immigrant, immigration, j, naturalization, supplement

New Handbook for Employers

February 21st, 2017

Posted By

Heather Sivaraman

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted an updated handbook for employers. The handbook also includes guidance on how to complete Form I-9. The full text can be found here. What is included? The book first details w… Read More

Categories: Immigration News

Tags: attorney, e-verify, employee, employer, employment, form, handbook, I-9, immigrant, immigration, uscis