H-1B Season Is In Full Swing!

U.S. employers wishing to employ foreign national workers in the H-1B specialty occupation category starting October 1, 2014, cannot file the H-1B applications earlier than 6 months prior to the October 1^st start date, or prior to April 1, 2014.  There is an annual quota of 65,000 visas for foreign nationals in the general H-1B category and 20,000 for foreign nationals with an advanced degree (Master’s or higher).  Last year USCIS reached the quota for both the general and advanced degree H-1B categories within the first week of April 1, 2013 filing deadline, with the remainder of the applications being subject to a lottery. 


With U.S. economy having improved since the recession, it is projected that more U.S. employers will be onboarding new employees this year, including foreign national workers.  The demand for H-1Bs will be higher than in previous years, and the quota will probably once again be reached in the first week of April 1, 2014 for foreign national workers who wish to begin employment on October 1, 2014.  It would be wise for the U.S. employers to begin the H-1B process early on to ensure that the applications are filed by April 1, 2014.

Fate of Children of Deported Parents: Stark Reality

January 8, 2014

The Washington Post reports that concerns about the fate of children of deported parents are adding an emotional pitch to the call for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  According to a study by Human Impact Partners, in 2012 an estimated 150,000 U.S. citizen children had at least one illegal alien parent deported.  Advocates are urging Congress to create a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants, allowing separated family members to be reunited and to prevent children from having to lose their parent(s) to deportation.  Read The Washington Post article at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/deportations-of-parents-can-cast-the-lives-of-us-citizen-kids-into-turmoil/2013/12/29/abdf23aa-6b4c-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html