VISA2US Blog

Thousands of people worldwide begin becoming United States citizens every year. There are two paths to this goal. One may become a citizen by being born in the US or through naturalization. The first is obvious, but the second method requires careful planning and knowledge of immigration law. When you know what you’re doing and meet the qualifications, you can use an H-1B visa to start your journey to American citizenship.

Getting the notice from USCIS that your H-1B visa petition was approved is exciting! All that hard work and stress has paid off, and you’re almost on your way to your new career in the United States. But there’s one more important hurdle to get through before you’re officially a US nonimmigrant working and living in the country: the visa stamping process. What does this process involve, and how have the changes in 2023 affected it? Read on to find out!

Immigrants and nonimmigrants around the world have been hard hit by the global shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although most businesses have returned back to their “new normal,” one sector that continues to feel the restrictions is that of US visa services through consulates and embassies. Many countries have minor restrictions that allow consulate and embassy representatives to conduct interviews, while others remain shut down for the foreseeable future. Where does your country stand? Read on to find out how some of the most common countries for H-1B visa approvals are currently faring.

Before COVID, H-1B levels were significantly higher than the availability of visas. But when the embassies and consulates were shut down, and international borders were limited, so were the visa requests and approvals. This has affected US businesses relying on specialized workers to fill vacancies, but the good news is around the corner. Reports from the Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visa Issuance organization show that these numbers are almost back to normal.

Since the pandemic, the process of obtaining a visa or green card has been significantly delayed. Some of these delays were unavoidable as a global shutdown forced everyone to stay home, regardless of the expiration date on one’s visa. However, other delays since the reopening of government offices were due to changing legislation, increases in applications, and outdated technology. 2022 brought with it the need for massive adjustments in USCIS’s processes, and as 2023 begins, the immigration specialists predict we’ll be seeing some much-needed improvements.

The H-1B visa program has been in place for decades. Since its inception, it has stayed somewhat consistent, but the ongoing changes in the world, particularly since COVID, along with the increasing cost of living, have forced many new policies. Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the latest guidelines, along with their answers.

It’s no secret that much of the time it takes to get your visa is spent waiting. It’s a “hurry-up-and-wait” scenario that almost everyone deals with, regardless of the kind of visa they apply for. But in 2023, those wait times, while still lengthy, may be going down for many applicants. What’s happening in the new year to bring us this good news? Read on to find out.

The time it takes to file and process a visa from start to finish is quite lengthy. Some petitioners end up waiting over a year for their paperwork to process and then longer for their interview. The COVID-inflicted backlog took an already time-consuming project and added even more delays. However, those visa petitioners who were placed on hold because of the pandemic are mostly caught up, allowing USCIS officials to catch up on new filers. 

Everyone has heard about the severe COVID restrictions China has had in place since the outbreak in 2020. These rules significantly impacted one’s ability to obtain and transfer their H-1B and other visas. With the recent relaxation of China’s COVID policies, travel to and from the country has become slightly easier. However, there are still restrictions you should know about before you attempt to obtain an H-1B visa.

When it comes to American immigration, the H-1B visa is one of the most popular options for foreign-born workers looking to gain entry into the United States. Companies in the US can sponsor foreign nationals on an H-1B visa. The initial visa is good for three years, with an option to extend it for three more years. But what if you want to become a permanent resident in the US? There is a path from an H-1B visa to a green card. Read on to find out how it works and what to do if your PERM request is denied.