VISA2US Blog

Earlier this year, we reported the release of a pilot program that would permit those in the US who need their H-1B visa stamp renewed to do so without leaving the country. While those domestic visa renewals have been delayed, there’s reason to believe it is back on track. Recently, Indian professionals were excited to hear the news directly from Eric Garcetti, India’s US Ambassador, that this renewal process would simplify visas for those in the H and L categories. What’s on the agenda for this release? Keep reading to find out.

With a valid H-1B visa, you have many of the same rights and privileges as a native US citizen for three years (with an optional three-year extension). During that time, you are allowed to live and work in the US, receiving the agreed-upon salary covered in the terms of your visa. But with those privileges comes responsibilities, including the requirement to pay taxes. How do you know what taxes you must file as an H-1B holder? We have that information here in this guide.

October is a big deal for the government, particularly in the immigration sector. October 1 is the start of the new fiscal year, and a new round of H-1B workers have begun the jobs they worked so hard to obtain. But October is also when the Diversity Visa (Green Card) lottery opens. This year, the window started on October 4. What is this lottery, and could it help you? Keep reading to find out.

The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is a top-tier under the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) visa category. It permits the holder to live and work in the United States without a job sponsor. Qualifying for this coveted document is challenging as the applicant must prove that they are highly skilled or have an exceptional ability that makes them of particular national interest. As with all immigration regulations, the requirements and benefits of the NIW adapt to the needs of society, and recent changes may benefit spouses under an H-4 visa should they seek work. We’ll explain those and the other must-know details here.

When you're a foreign national waiting in the virtual queue for your green card, the US Department of State's Visa Bulletin is a vital resource. This bulletin notifies applicants of the latest priority dates per category and country. When yours is current, you can apply to move your green card forward to the next step. October's Visa Bulletin is officially out, and we've summarized the information in the document for you here.

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.

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.

Following the status of your visa is an important part of the “waiting game.” If you’re lucky, you won’t have to learn the ropes of the US Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for long, as your number will come up quickly. But for those of us with slow-moving Final Action Dates or Dates for Filing, the monthly updates are a time of expectation and anticipation. Here, we’ll break down what you can expect to see in August 2023’s bulletin.

Skilled individuals who live overseas but want to work in the United States for approved employers can apply for an H-1B visa. For various reasons, this document is highly sought-after by millions worldwide. Each year, only 85,000 registrants are allowed to apply for capped job positions, and getting to this point is challenging. But once you've cleared all the hurdles and have that coveted H-1B approval in your mailbox, you're not quite done yet. Here are some of the most critical pieces of info anyone with an H-1B approval should know before moving to the US.

Ongoing modernization attempts are an essential part of keeping the borders safe worldwide, and USCIS regularly makes changes in support of this goal. One of the more recent adaptations is the policy of required biometrics submissions. Applicants requesting entry to the US through most avenues must complete a biometric screening as part of their approval process. But certain applicants fall under a temporary suspension of this requirement. If you’re a nonimmigrant filing Form I-539, you may not need to complete the screening before your petition is approved. We have the details here.