Immigrating to America

Inc.com Article: How to Obtain an H1-B Visa

immigrating — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:19:02 +0000

A good overview article on Inc.com on the H1-B.

The employer-centric article hits hits the main points of an H1-B. As noted before, the numbers for the H1-B visa this year is down as it was last two years, so as of June 2011, there are plenty of H1-B visa slots. As to employers hiring, that’s a different issue . . .

Filed under: H1-B Tagged: Business Visas, H1-B

E-2 visa helps many non-U.S. citizens start small firms

immigrating — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:00:11 +0000

E-2 visa helps many non-U.S. citizens start small firms.

Los Angeles Times article revisits an old standby, the E-2 visa, aimed at small business entrepreneurs.

A few things to keep in mind about the article:

1) It discusses a $50,000 minimum investment, but that number was plucked from a now unpublished guidance memo. The minimum varies from consular office to consular office and the business being proposed, but oftentimes it is much higher than the $50,000.

2) The E-2 only works if the foreign national’s country has an E-2 treaty in place. Check this list from the US State Department to make sure you qualify:

Official List of E-2 Treaty Countries

Filed under: Business Visas, E-2 Visa

Wall Street Journal : H1-Bs Lose Cachet

immigrating — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:53:26 +0000

As a follow up to an earlier post about the plummeting H1-B applications, the Wall Street Journal discusses some of the issues plaguing the H1-B visas:

Wall Street Journal: Long-Prized Tech Visas Lose Cachet

Filed under: Business Visas, H1-B, Immigration Policy

H1-B numbers: Canary in the Mine?

immigrating — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:48:44 +0000

There used to be a time when there was an actual lottery for the 65,000 H1-B slots. A few years ago, USCIS would get 120,000 application on the second day of accepting applications (April 2nd) and then shut down accepting any more applications. A lottery would ensue — giving one a rough 2 to 1 chance to even get _accepted_.

For fiscal year 2011, when applications were accepted on April 1, 2010 to begin work on Oct. 1, 2010 — the cap was not reached until January of 2011.

This year, as of May 15, 2011, only 10,000+ applications have been received.

I would imagine that an increase in H1-B numbers, if it happens, will be a good indicator of a true economic recovery in the US.

Filed under: Business Visas, H1-B

Visa Bulletin

immigrating — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:44:22 +0000

For the latest Visa Bulletin from the State Department:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_4587.html

Filed under: Uncategorized

Visa Bulletin December 2009

immigrating — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:22:32 +0000

The December 2009 visa bulletin is available.

Click here to get the full report.

Posted in Business Visas, Legal Permanent Resident

H1-B Cap Count Update for FY 2010

immigrating — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:44:58 +0000

As of August 7, 2009, only 44,900 H1-B applications have been received. The number of applications has not changed from the update in July.

H1-B visas are still available.

Posted in H1-B

NY Times: Obama Sets Immigration Changes for 2010

immigrating — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:31:15 +0000

44th President of the United States

The New York Times has an article discussing Obama’s declaration that any real discussion of immigration reform has to be postponed at least until next year.

Depending on how you look at the situation, it’s promising that the President is still addressing the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Or it’s frustrating that it has been officially pushed back to next year. Given the complex nature of any proposed reform and the political capital he is currently expending to reform health care in the United States, it is an understandable delay.

Click here to read the full article.

Posted in Immigration Policy

Visa Bulletin for September 2009

immigrating — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:22:46 +0000

The September 2009 Visa Bulletin is available. The third employment category is still unavailable. However, the Fourth Category — Special Immigrant Category and the Certain Religious Worker Category became UNAVAILABLE. They expe

Because of the new regulations concerning Religious Workers enacted last year — the category for non-ministers is set to expire on September 30, 2009.

Please click here for the entire bulletin.

Posted in Business Visas, Legal Permanent Resident, Work based US residence

H1-B Cap Count Update for FY 2010

immigrating — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:22:48 +0000

H1B numbers are still available. As of July 10, USCIS reports that only 44,900 H1-B cap subject applications have been received.

Therefore, the H1-B route is still a good avenue for many clients.

Posted in Business Visas, H1-B Tagged: Business Visa, H1-B