VISA2US Blog

Petitioning for a National Interest Waiver is a goal that brings with it copious benefits. If you’re up for the challenge, you may find the advantages you’ll receive make the complex paperwork and red tape worth every minute. However, these benefits vary based on factors like nationality and occupation. Here are certain things to consider as you determine whether a National Interest Waiver is right for your occupation.

Foreign nationals highly covet the H-1B visa because of its many benefits. In addition to working in the United States, visa holders can bring their families, own and rent homes, and engage in most activities a US resident completes. But with these advantages comes a list of requirements the beneficiary must meet during their stay. Those terms, such as the employer and workplace listed on the H-1B visa documentation, can only change by USCIS approval. The latest requirements regarding H-1B workers changing worksites clarify how this is accomplished.

Foreign nationals enter the United States every year for various reasons, including work, tourism, and education. The visa they use to gain entry into the US depends on the reason for their visit. For international students, this is typically the F-1 status. However, only certain fields of study qualify for extensions that also permit work authorization. According to the latest updates from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there are eight new fields that fall under the STEM OPT degree and qualify for the two-year work authorization extension. We’ll break those fields down here.

Early in 2023, E-Verify made headlines as Florida added legislation to enforce E-Verify as a required part of the employment process for every employee. Although this announcement was met with substantial backlash, the reality is that many other states already have this system in place, including Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. Although it’s voluntary elsewhere, most employers prefer the simplicity and efficiency of the system, and USCIS has made the program even more accessible with its newly released remote verification options. Read on to learn more about what this involves.

H-1B visa petitioners know the crucial time of year is in February and March when USCIS announces its window opening and closing dates to register for the visa lottery. If your petition isn't registered by the deadline, you lose your chance to enter the random selection process, allowing you to file the full application for your H-1B visa. Sometimes, as is the case in 2023, circumstances arise that permit USCIS to run a second drawing later in the year. What does that mean for you? Read on to find out.

Premium processing is an optional part of filing certain forms as part of your immigrant or nonimmigrant petition. Although it’s not essential, this feature is often beneficial for those who need their forms adjudicated quickly. Through the expedited processing of your case, you may be able to push your application ahead of others. However, the categories that allow premium processing are limited and frequently changing. USCIS’s latest adjustment to this feature was announced in June 2023, and we have the information that you need to know here.

There are many benefits to an H-1B visa, making it a highly sought-after document for foreign workers worldwide. One of these perks is the ability to bring your spouse and dependent children with you to the United States under an H-4 visa category. However, that label doesn’t give those individuals the immediate right to work, as you have. Instead, they must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and there’s no guarantee that this application will be approved. You may need to use compelling circumstance arguments to get your H-4 dependents an EAD, and we’ll explain what those are in this short blog.

The architect profession requires an advanced degree and significant skills to be successful. With the expansive amount of new construction and remodeling in the United States on a regular basis, it can be challenging to find American citizens who fit the requirements of the job and are open to working for a particular company, requiring those employers to reach out to overseas countries for help. As a foreign worker in this occupation, you’ll need a visa to accept a job offer. Here are the options you have to move your profession into the US job market and what you should know before taking another step forward along this journey.

Foreign nationals wishing to work in the United States can reach their goal through multiple ways, depending on their experience, education, and work history. Those with advanced degrees or their equivalent, or individuals who have exceptional abilities in their field, may be able to qualify for an employment-based, second preference visa. What does this category mean, and how can you tell if you qualify? We’ll explain the differences in sub-categories here.

When you’re in the United States under an H-1B visa, there are specific terms you must abide by during your stay. Yes, the visa gives you permission to work and earn a living in the country, but only for the company that sponsored your petition and only under the job description specified on your Labor Condition Approval. But sometimes, your financial goals aren’t in line with your annual income, and you want to add more money to your bank account. How can you earn extra income while on an H-1B visa without violating the terms of your document? Keep reading to find out what you can do to increase your pay while in the US and what you mustn’t do if you want to avoid penalties.