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.

It seems like navigating a potential government shutdown is a regular part of fiscal year changes anymore. While this year’s was avoided with a last-minute deal between the two parties, conflicting values in the US government point toward an actual shutdown sooner rather than later. What would happen to the immigration system if the Democrats and Republicans can’t agree on how to fund spending? Each agency has a contingency plan in place, and we’ll explain them here.

It’s unsurprising that the current legislation advocates for change to the immigration system, particularly regarding the H-1B visa. With all the problems that made headlines in 2023, it’s apparent to anyone who pays attention to immigration that an underlying issue must be addressed. One possible solution to alleviate some of the backlog of family- and employment-based green cards is to move the filing dates in the Visa Bulletin forward. How would this benefit current and future H-1B workers? Read on to find out.

Foreign nationals who enter the US via the temporary visa route, like a work or student visa, often decide to stay permanently. They must apply for lawful permanent residency and obtain a green card to do this. Not all visas permit this path, but the H-1B category, also called a dual-intent visa, does, all without needing to leave the country. You just need to file an Adjustment of Status (AOS) and go through the green card process, and we’ll explain how to do that here.

Getting a green card is a dream for millions of foreign nationals worldwide, but the application process is challenging and time-consuming. It helps when you have multiple avenues open to you because then you can choose the category with the least wait time, but that’s not always possible. The National Interest Waiver is one of the shortest routes to permanent residency. However, proving to the US government that your skills and work are of the utmost national importance isn’t easy, regardless of your occupation. In this article, we’ll discuss how F-1 and J-1 scholars, postdocs, and researchers can optimize their chances of approval for this coveted NIW document.

Obtaining an H-1B visa is essential when living and working in the United States as a foreign national. This coveted document is the evidence you must present to US Customs and Border Protection before stepping foot in America. But what happens when you must leave the country for a while and return? Here is the information you need to know to travel and re-enter the US on an H-1B visa.

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.

For decades, the United States government has understood the importance of foreign workers as part of a growing economy. Since the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was enacted, temporary nonimmigrants have come to the country to perform employment under various categories. The most commonly used visas for foreign workers are the H-1B and H-2B, but while there are many similarities between the two documents, at their core, they are distinctly different. What do each of these visas allow the holder, and which one is right for you? Read on to find out.

Back in 2020, an executive order was enacted to exempt professional athletes and any essential support staff from the COVID-19 restriction of entry into the US. With that order, foreign-national athletes and coaches of the NBA, NHL, USTA, PGA, and certain other sports bypassed the restriction. Since then, that vaguely worded document was used to successfully make business traveler arguments helping others get through COVID restrictions. Now, changes to the initial exemption have affected foreign athletes, particularly in the form of National Interest Waivers. What should you know if you’re attempting to travel under this category? Read on to find out.

Since the pandemic, it has become expected, and even customary, for businesses to include virtual options as part of their service. But this switch remains unwanted for those who prefer in-person interactions or who aren’t tech-savvy. The move to electronic documentation is spreading as an eco-friendly and pandemic-proof change, and it has reached USCIC via Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Is this change well-founded and for the better, or does it negatively impact foreign workers? We’ll explain here.