Author Archives for Mark Ople

New Version of Form I-485 Becomes Mandatory on December 23, 2022

December 15, 2022 12:00 am Published by

Be sure to file correctly, or your application will be rejected. On December 13, 2022, USCIS published a draft of the new version of Form I-485 to its website. The new edition has been published for preview only. USCIS notes that the new version of Form I-485 will not be accepted until December 23, 2022.... View Article

Tech Worker Layoffs – Considerations for Employees and Employers

December 8, 2022 12:00 am Published by

The current wave of worker terminations gives rise to significant legal issues for everyone involved. The uncertainty created by the current wave of layoffs in the U.S. technology sector exposes the chaos at the heart of U.S. immigration policy for the tech industry, and these layoffs have the potential to turn tech-specialized immigrants off from... View Article

COVID 19 Client Practice Advisory

December 5, 2022 12:00 am Published by

Green Card applicants must provide proof of vaccination. Individuals submitting Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, on or after October 1, 2021, must provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact our office for assistance.

U.S. District Court Strikes Down Title 42

November 21, 2022 12:00 am Published by

Judge says it did not rationally serve to protect public safety. On 11/15/22, a U.S. district court struck down Title 42. The program will end on 12/21/22. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the directive, which has allowed border agents to expel millions of migrants without... View Article

U.S. Plans to Process Every Employment-Based Green Card This Year

September 23, 2022 12:00 am Published by

Is your priority date current? The U.S. government is confident it will process all employment-based green cards by the end of this fiscal year, avoiding a repeat of last year when it let thousands of green cards go to waste. Typically, about 140,000 employment-based green cards are given to foreign employees and their families a... View Article

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2023 H-1B Cap

August 30, 2022 12:00 am Published by

USCIS has sent out non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. On August 23, 2022, USCIS announced that they had received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2023.... View Article

CIS Ombudsman Reports That USCIS Backlogs Create an “Avalanche” of Problems

July 26, 2022 12:00 am Published by

USCIS backlogs are not new, but the new CIS Ombudsman’s Annual Report highlights the “avalanche” effect that they create. Backlogs and interminably long processing times have been an unavoidable aspect of working with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly Immigration & Naturalization Service or INS) for decades. But in recent years, the backlogs... View Article

The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

June 7, 2022 12:00 am Published by

Looking to start a business venture in the U.S.? The E-2 Visa may be right for you. If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner interested in moving to the United States to grow an investment project, the E-2 Treaty Investor visa is likely the perfect vehicle to pursue your dream. We have assisted business owners... View Article

USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period for Employment Authorization Documents

May 17, 2022 12:00 am Published by

On May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which was effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for... View Article

USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period for Some EADs

May 13, 2022 12:00 am Published by

On May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which was effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for... View Article