The denial rate for initial H-1B petitions jumped to an unprecedented 32% during the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, according to a report by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), which analyzed data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Since fiscal year 2009, the denial rate for initial H-1B petitions never exceeded…
The U.S. Commerce Department could place limits on which companies can sponsor H-1B and O-1A visas. Commerce is evaluating designating artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other categories as “emerging technologies” that will be subject to export controls. That could pose challenges for tech startups founded by international entrepreneurs or those employing—or looking to employ—foreign talent. If…
The Alcorn Immigration Law team welcomes Karla Brashear as of counsel. An expert in immigration and family law, Karla will focus primarily on family-based immigration cases. She is working remotely from Portland, Ore. The daughter of refugees who fled the Salvadoran civil war in the 1980s, Karla respects and appreciates all the sacrifices her parents…
A bipartisan group of senators reintroduced a bill earlier this year that would create a startup visa for international entrepreneurs. It also creates a visa with a path to a green card for international students earning a master’s or higher STEM degree at U.S. universities. U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Roy Blunt…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The EB-5 modernization proposal has been under discussion since the Obama administration. The EB-5 green card program generally offers two investment options: One requires investors to actively manage the company in…
Immigration yields innovation—and Ozcan Cikmaz’s story illustrates that perfectly. Ozcan’s startup has developed a phone app that identifies an individual’s migraine trigger and predicts when a migraine will hit. The technology will help the one billion migraine sufferers worldwide to more effectively monitor and manage this debilitating neurological disease. Life-Altering Events Ozcan’s story begins…
By Sophie Alcorn and Andee Gardiner Alcorn Immigration Law and Founders Embassy have many things in common. Our companies share a startup story that began with the vision and drive of women founders. Both strive to erase borders and share a passion for helping international and immigrant startup founders succeed. Alcorn helps international entrepreneurs…
The bipartisan appropriations measure approved in February brought mixed news for both individuals seeking to come to the U.S. and companies looking to employ them. Here are the immigration programs impacted by the latest appropriations measure. VAWA Green Cards Congressional Democrats let the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) lapse. They plan to expand the…
NBC News interviewed Alcorn Partner Mary Grilli Jacobs for a story on international entrepreneurs, innovation, and immigration options. Mary heads up our practice group for business immigration law. She pointed out the U.S. doesn’t have a startup visa for foreign-born entrepreneurs seeking to launch or grow their startups here. That leaves many startup founders at…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has submitted its long-anticipated proposal to eliminate work permits for H-4 visa holders to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. That move marks the first step in the process of rescinding the H-4 EAD (Employment Authorization Document) program. Details of the proposal, including whether…