U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released H-1B data, including records compelled by two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits, that continues to show the impact of Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies. The approval rate for all H-1B specialty occupation visa petitions remained steady at nearly 85% in fiscal year 2019, which ended in…
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…
You might assume U.S. employers facing a tight labor market would increasingly look to foreign talent to fill positions. However, the number of H-1B specialty occupation visa applications that employers filed on behalf of workers in the annual lottery has declined nearly 20% since 2016. The Trump administration is having a chilling effect on U.S.…
If patience is a virtue, then Fernando* and his employer have it in spades. Originally from Bolivia, Fernando started working in 2017 on an F-1 OPT (Optional Practical Training) status as a graphic designer for a Bay Area startup. Fernando quickly became a valued member of the company’s team. With Fernando’s work authorization set to…
We start gearing up in December with clients for the annual H-1B lottery in April. With U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issuing more Requests for Evidence (RFEs), it’s now more important than ever to get started with preparing an H-1B petition. The Alcorn Immigration Law team continues to win H-1B visas for our clients…
A new policy that began this month makes it easier for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deny visas and other immigration benefits. USCIS is no longer required to request more evidence that could complete an application or notify the applicant that it intends to deny the application. This policy overturns a 2013 policy that…