VISA2US Blog

Artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of nearly every global industry. Some businesses use it to streamline their practices, making them more efficient and saving money. Others see the potential of AI as a way to shift their goals and blaze new paths. In the world of immigration, technology has begun revolutionizing the system, changing regulations, easing restrictions, and speeding up a notoriously lengthy process. What’s new on the horizon with AI and immigration? Read on to find out.

Nonimmigrants wishing to extend their visa’s validity period use Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. This form is one of the most commonly filed, as it is used by students, visitors, and temporary workers. Generally, requesting an extension is simple, provided no significant changes have occurred. However, in the past, a biometrics requirement added extra time and expense to the application. Recently, USCIS announced changes to this requirement. How will that affect your I-539? We’ll explain here.

Receiving an H-1B visa is an impressive accomplishment when you’re a foreign worker with the goal of working in the United States. Not everyone who pursues this path is able to navigate it successfully, but you did. However, once it’s in your hands (and in the USCIS system), that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed. There are certain situations in which the government can revoke an approved request, petition, or application. Called a NOIR (Notice of Intent to Revoke), this action isn’t something you want to happen to your visa. Keep reading to understand how to prevent or learn how to handle the steps after receiving a NOIR.

The United States immigration program regulations aren’t set in stone. In fact, they undergo revision regularly, with the current focus on a proposed pilot program designed to determine the future of E-Verify as mandatory or optional. Currently, some states require employers to use this remote system to verify employment eligibility. But those that don’t still need a way to verify documents. The Department of Homeland Security has suggested remote I-9 document inspections for employers with 500 or fewer workers. If you are interested in expressing your thoughts on this proposal, you have until October 2, 2023, to do so. Keep reading to find out how this works.

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.

If you’ve been paying attention to the H-1B visa petitions this year, you’ve seen the headlines about the record-setting FY 2024 lottery numbers. However, US Citizenship and Immigration Services attributes this high number to fraudulent attempts of registering multiple registrations of the same individuals. This significant issue heavily impacted the lottery system this year, causing USCIS to review and reform registration processes. But since new data shows that more than 75% of H-1B registrations amongst the individually filed petitions would’ve been rejected anyway, a deeper problem runs through this system. How is USCIS addressing the visible issues from FY 2024’s lottery? Read on to find out.

FY2024 was a landmark year in H-1B lottery registrations. USCIS received the most it has ever had in history during the initial registration period, including those who qualified for the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). But there was a downside to this landslide: The number of fraudulent petitions also exceeded historical records, and USCIS has taken this year as a learning experience, implementing new measures to combat fraud in the future.

Congress is continually monitoring immigration legislation and how it’s impacting the American economy and citizens. Revisions are always part of the agenda, regardless of which political party is in the majority at the time. As of 2023, the Republicans have the majority in the House, President Biden is a Democrat, and the combination is affecting H-1B visa holders and other immigration avenues. We’ll explain what you can expect to see in the near future here.

Millions of people from all over the world apply to enter the United States each year. These individuals encompass a range of unskilled, highly skilled, and asylum-seeking categories. Every category falls under a different visa, but all visas are screened by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services branch of the federal government. Because of the high number of applications and the need for thorough screening of each one, it’s not surprising that there are frequent backlogs. But the Secure and Protect Act of 2023 is posed to make changes that could reduce the time you’ll wait for your H-1B visa.

There are 50 states and multiple territories in America, plus Washington, DC. Each of these regions must follow federal laws, but in many cases, the states have individual authority to decide how to implement the guidelines that pertain to each law. So, while states like Florida must allow immigration per the terms of federal law, the state can determine the legislature behind the law. Florida’s recent legislative package, introduced on March 7, 2023, hit the headlines because of its potential adverse effects on immigrants in the state and those who would come to that part of the US in the future. How might these changes impact your H-1B visa? We’ll explain everything you need to know here.