The Department of State (“DOS”) published its updated fee schedule for Consular Services – Nonimmigrant and Special Visa Fees. Beginning May 30, 2023, there will be an increase in fees charged for nonimmigrant visas (“NIVs”) and border crossing cards (“BCCs”). The good news is that the fee increases are less than “originally proposed for all categories of NIVs.”
Read moreUSCIS Policy Update for Employment Authorization of H-4, L, and E Dependent Spouses
Shergill et al, v Mayorkas (21-cv-1296-RSM), a class action lawsuit, was filed by The American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) and its litigation partners Wasden Banias and Steven Brown, to address the extensive delays at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in processing Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications for dependent spouses of H-1B and L nonimmigrant visa holders. On November 10, 2021, AILA announced a settlement had been reached with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Shergill case, under which USCIS agreed to allow continued work authorization for certain H-4 and L-2 EAD applicants whose applications remained pending with USCIS. USCIS reversed its policy that prevented H-4 spouses “from benefiting from automatic extension of their employment authorization during the pendency of standalone employment authorization document (EAD) applications.” USCIS also agreed to implement policy guidance within 120 days to provide work authorization for L-2 spouses without requiring an EAD card.
Read moreVisa Options for Entrepreneurs
Sometimes US immigration law doesn’t provide clear visa options for people looking to work in America. These individuals are daunted by the process, and as attorneys we often feel like we are trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. But at other times, thankfully, there is more than one option for a client and so it’s our job to talk them through the choices to see which is the overall best fit. This can happen, in particular, with some entrepreneurs who are interested in opening up their own business in the US.
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