Update: H-1B processing time
H-1B Processing Update
USCIS Announces Second Round of H-1B Cap Registrations for FY 2024
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced that they will conduct a second random selection of H-1B cap registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2024. This comes after an initial random selection was carried out in March 2023, from which only the selected petitioners were eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. The decision to proceed with a second...
Update: Fast H-1B Approval Without Premium
Fast H-1B Approval Without Premium
Delays at Vermont Service Center in Processing Filing Fees and Issuing Receipt Notices
Update March 29, 2023 Since the delay began in late January, Vermont is still experiencing delays in processing payment issue receipt notices. Original Post March 7, 2023 We started noticing delays in getting back receipt notices around the end of January. On March 3, 2023, USCIS confirmed they are experiencing delays due to filing volumes and intake delays. The delay is still ongoing as of the...
Unlawful Presence for H-1B Beneficiaries in F-1 Status
If you are an H-1B beneficiary and have recently received a denial or denial of a change of status, know that unlawful presence (ULP) for F-1 students will begin to accrue on the day after the request is denied (date of H-1B decision). (ii) Nonimmigrants Admitted for Duration of Status (D/S). If USCIS finds a nonimmigrant status violation while adjudicating a request for an immigration benefit,...
USCIS No Longer Recognizes ACICS-Accredited Schools Impacting Some STEM OPT, H-1B and I-140
On August 19, 2022, the US Department of Education no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. On November 1, 2022, USCIS announced how the loss of recognition will impact certain immigration benefit applicants. Students from impacted schools should contact their DSO immediately and discuss how to maintain their status....
H-1B Receipt Notice Delays at the Vermont Service Center
Update July 15, 2022 The good news is that we have already received approvals for some of the H-1Bs affected by the receipt delay. Update July 1, 2022 First Vermont, now California is experiencing unusual delay in issuing H-1B receipt notices. Interestingly, Vermont has been transferring workload to California since June to address its own delay and speed up the intaking process. Update June 22,...
Waivers of interviews for certain Nonimmigrant Visas until 12/31/2022
On December 23, 2021, the Department of State has authorized consular offices through the end of 2022 to waive the in-person interview requirement for additional visa types including temporary workers applying for H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q who meet certain conditions. Consular officers have the discretion to waive the interview requirement for individuals applying for these visa types that...
H-1B Processing Update
We are starting a new post to track the processing timeframes of non-premium H-1B cases. Please check out a related post on Fast H-1B Approval Without Premium. Update 11/21/2023 Record-breaking processing speed of cap-subject H-1B continues. Recent Case Highlight: H-1B Case Filed: 10/10/2023 at Nebraska Service Center Status: Approved Approval Date: 10/18/2023 Processing Duration: Just 8 days!...
Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1B Has Been Vacated
Update 12/21/2021 Official statement from USCIS regarding its decision to withdraw the H-1B selection final rule which would have changed the way H-1B registrations are selected by prioritizing those with high wages. Update 12/10/2021 The Biden Administration will no longer defend this Trump-era rule that prioritizes H-1B lottery selection to those with high salaries. See the article "H-1B Visa...