VISA2US Blog

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.

The backlog of H-1B visas and green cards for foreign workers trying to get into the United States is no secret. However, some places are current with their petitions because of the limit on per-country visas, while others, like India, are over ten years behind. As the wait time continues to increase, government officials recognize that something must be done, and they’ve provided a temporary Indian-American work visa rule that could solve this problem.

Residents of the United States have visibly seen the impact of India’s nonimmigrant and immigrant population. The country’s visa holders make a substantial economic indent, filling highly skilled positions, owning businesses, and getting educated in the US. The demand for visas in India is so high that the past few years have seen massive wait times, and the government is stepping in to make cutting these delays a priority for Indians.

No one wants to leave their families behind when they move to a different country, even if the move is temporary. Yet, many work visas are for the individual document holder only. That’s why the H-1B category is such a coveted visa: it allows the holder, their spouse, and any dependent children to come with them and stay for the length of the visa’s terms. But beyond that, there are other benefits to the H-1B visa that make it the “family-friendly” way to get into the US, as we’ll discuss here.

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.