DHS proposes changes related to on-the-job training program for STEM students

ICE Media Release, Oct. 16, 2015- "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today proposed changes to its regulations that would strengthen and enhance the process for foreign students with science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees from a U.S. college or university to get practical training experience in the United States.  The enhancement of this regulation was announced as a part of President Obama’s November Executive Actions. The optional practical training program, or OPT, allows nonimmigrant international students and new graduates to extend their time in the U.S. on their F-1 student…Read More Breaking News

Liquidated Damage Clauses – H1B Employee Contracts

Liquidated Damage Clauses – H1B Employee Contracts What is a Liquidated Damages Clause Many (if not most) contracts, including those between an employee and their employer, contain a liquidated damages clause. Such a clause stipulates what the penalty will be in the event that a party breaches the contract. Because, however, breach of contract is not a crime and in many instances is, in fact, encouraged, liquidated damages clauses may only compensate the non-breaching party, and may not impose penalties for the breach. Indeed, the Restatement (Second) of Contracts states: “Damages for breach…Read More Breaking News

DHS Proposing a 24 Months Extension on OPT – Great News for F1 Students!

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its F-1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from U.S. institutions of higher education. Specifically, the proposal would allow such F-1 STEM students who have elected to pursue 12 months of OPT in the United States to extend the OPT period by 24 months (STEM OPT extension). This 24-month extension would effectively replace the 17-month STEM OPT extension currently available to certain STEM students. The rule also improves and…Read More Breaking News

Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Foreign Workers in the Herding or Production of Livestock on the Range in the United States

The Department of Labor is issuing regulations to govern its certification of the employment of nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural employment under the H-2A program. Specifically, these regulations establish standards and procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign temporary agricultural workers for job opportunities in herding and production of livestock on the range. These regulations are consistent with the Secretary of Labor’s statutory responsibility to certify that there are not sufficient able, willing, qualified and available U.S. workers to perform these jobs, and that the employment of foreign workers will not…Read More Breaking News

USCIS announcement on November 2015 Visa Bulletin

October 12 2015 - Beginning with the November 2015 Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin, if USCIS determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, we will state onwww.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo that applicants may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Unless otherwise stated on our website, the Application Final Action Date chart will be used to determine when individuals may file their adjustment of status applications. We anticipate making this determination each month and posting the relevant chart on our website within…Read More Breaking News

Shah Peerally Law Show

October 12 2015 - Shah Peerally Law Show covering a number of important issues such as H4 visas, H1B transfers, citizenship and naturalization.  The show is recorded live with callers asking specific questions on different immigration and other legal issues. Hosted by Shah Peerally, Esq., the show has one of the highest rating in the Bay Area California. Listen to the recorded version for free.Read More Breaking News

Delay on Naturalization for Muslims, Middle Easterns, and South Asians!

Millions of aspiring Americans apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) each year. But under a previously unknown national security program known as the “Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program” (CARRP), the government excludes many applicants from Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian communities from these opportunities by delaying and denying their applications without legal authority. Learn more about CARRP and how it has harmed the naturalization process. If your case has been delayed, please call us at 510 742 5887 Read the full ReportRead More Breaking News

DIVERSITY LOTTERY IS OUT!

The annual Diversity Visa Lottery (DV lottery), otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery, is out! The DV lottery is a US government program through the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State that makes 55,000 Permanent Resident cards available every year to persons from “low admission regions” or “underrepresented countries,” those that have been less represented in employment and family-based preference categories in the United States. The program is open to all who meet two basic eligibility requirements. The Program makes Permanent Resident Cards available to the winners, authorizing the…Read More Breaking News

November 2015 Visa bulletin is out and no great news that we were expecting!

October 9, 2015 -  The November 2015 Visa Bulletin is out and it seems the government was embolden to keep the dates of acceptance for India  to July 1 2009.  While we were hoping that the pressure will work, in this case unfortunately it failed. The fact that the TRO was denied, seems to have given the government a go to actually keep the "Bad Visa Bulletin".  Nonetheless, we keep our struggle to force the government to reduce the waiting time for India and other affected countries. Please continue signing our petition to…Read More Breaking News

DV lottery is out! If you need help to apply please call 415 643 4342

Applicant Entry Systemv12.01.00 ELECTRONIC DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY Online Help Welcome Our State Department Web site for the 2017 Diversity Visa program (DV-2017) is now open. The entry submission period for DV-2017 is from 12:00PM EDT (GMT -4) on October 1, 2015 to 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 3, 2015. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only. Entries will NOT be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service.   After reading the instructions, scroll down and click on “Begin Entry” to enter the DV Lottery.…Read More Breaking News

MARRIAGE PETITIONS

Marriage is a fundamental and globally celebrated institution. Indeed, the United States Supreme Court has held marriage to be a fundamental right, and afforded great deference. As such, a foreign national spouse of a United States citizen may file for permanent resident status in the United States, to be processed immediately. Bona Fide Marriage Obtaining a green card through marriage, however, may not be as easy as it seems. Because it is the easiest and most expedient route to a green card for foreign nationals, it is also highly scrutinized for fraud. Thus,…Read More Breaking News

I-140, I-485 Workload Transfers and a Change in the Direct Filing Address for Certain Form I-140 Petitions Submitted Together with Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing

October 8 2015 - (Source USCIS website) - To improve efficiency, USCIS recently rebalanced the workload distribution of certain Form I-140 petitions and employment-based Form I-485 applications between the Texas Service Center and the Nebraska Service Center.  Unless you are submitting a Form I-907 together with a Form I-140 petition for a worksite in one of the states listed below, please continue to file your forms as indicated on the form instructions and at: Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-140   Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 New Direct Filing Address for Certain Form…Read More Breaking News