Congratulations Carolyn and Andrew!

Our former receptionist, then paralegal, then summer associate, and now Associate, Carolyn married her fiancé Andrew last weekend in Brooklyn. Carolyn worked for us many years rising from receptionist to a key member of the team, before she went onto law school, and we're pleased that she will start with the firm as an Associate (after taking the bar admission) this fall. Carolyn and Andrew will both be studying for the bar exam this summer. We know, so romantic! Congratulations, you two!

Nebraska Service Center Will Begin Accepting Certain I-129 H-1B and H-1B1 Extension Petitions on July 1

Effective July 1, 2016, the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) will begin accepting certain Form I-129 H-1B and H-1B1 (Chile/Singapore Free Trade) extension petitions if the petitioner is requesting an extension with the same employer (on the Form I-129, the box is listed as: “Continuation of previously approved employment without change with the same employer”) with one of the following requested actions: 

•  Notify the office in Part 4 so the beneficiary can obtain a visa or be admitted;  
•  Extend the stay of the beneficiary because the beneficiary now holds this status; or
•  Extend the status of a nonimmigrant classification based on a free trade agreement.

The NSC will also accept the following forms filed concurrently with these I-129 extensions:

•  H-4 Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and
•  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for certain H-4 nonimmigrants.

Those filing a standalone Form I-539 and/or Form I-765 for H-4 nonimmigrants should refer to the direct filing addresses for Form I-539 and Form I-765.

Although not currently listed on the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129—we imagine it will be updated closer to the July 1 date—the NSC addresses are:  

For US Postal Mail Service:

USCIS
Nebraska Service Center
PO Box 87129
Lincoln, NE 68501-7129

For Fed-Ex, UPS, etc:

USCIS
Nebraska Service Center
850 ‘S’ Street
Lincoln, NE 68508

In their press release, USCIS does not comment specifically on whether premium processing will be available for these petitions, though it is possible that it will be, as NSC does have a Premium Processing Unit that adjudicates I-140 petitions.

USCIS states that the California Service Center (CSC) and the Vermont Service Center (VSC) “may” continue to accept I-129 H-1B and H-1B1 extension petitions during the transition period, which ends August 31, 2016. With this linguistic uncertainty, it may be best to submit the relevant H-1B and H-1B1 extension petitions to the NSC to avoid any possible processing delays. While USCIS has not commented specifically on why this change is made, generally when a service center begins accepting new petitions or applications the intent is to free up other service centers and decrease processing times. The Vermont Service Center is currently processing H-1B extensions received August 31, 2015, which translates to approximately a very significant ten-month delay.

Petitioners should continue to file all other H-1B/H-1B1 petitions with the CSC and the VSC based on the instructions on the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-129. Regardless of work locations, petitioners should always send the following types of petitions to the CSC:

• H-2A;
• R-1;
• H-1B petitions where the employer is statutorily exempt from the cap; or
• E-1 and E-2, petitions for extension of stay or change of status only.

Moreover, regardless of work locations, petitioners should always send the following types of petitions to the VSC:

• H-1C;
• E-3, Petitions for extension of stay or change of status only;
• Free Trade Nonimmigrants (H-1B1 aliens from Chile/Singapore and TN aliens from Canada or Mexico), petitions for extension of stay or change of status only;
• P-1, Major League Sports Organizations.

National Doughnut Day

National Doughnut Day was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 as a fundraiser to help those during the Great Depression as well as to honor members who provided aid and supplies—including doughnuts—to soldiers during World War I. We bought some doughnuts from the Donut Pub (open twenty-four hours!), and many stores are giving away free doughnuts, so hurry up and celebrate!

New York Times: "Afghan Lovers Begin an Asylum Odyssey in New York"

Zakia and Mohammad Ali are a young couple from different sects in Afghanistan. After they eloped two years ago against the wishes of their parents, Zakia’s family members, from the Tajik ethnicity and Sunni sect of Islam, attempted to murder Zakia. For her family, Zakia’s marriage to Mohammad, an ethnic Hazara and a Shiite, was a dishonor worthy of death. Running for their lives, the young couple, described as Afghanistan’s Romeo and Juliet, faced exile in the high mountains of Afghanistan, fled briefly to Tajikistan where they were robbed of their possessions and savings, and spent time in jails and safe houses.    

Now, in the next chapter of their harrowing story, they have arrived with their seventeen-month-old daughter, Ruqia, in New York City on a ninety-day visa granted by the American Embassy in Kabul. An international aid group plans to assist the couple in applying for asylum. “Since their case had become politicized and has received so much media attention, we knew that their lives would be endangered as long as they remained in Afghanistan,” Manizha Naderi, the executive director of Women for Afghan Women, who assisted the couple, told the New York Times. “They couldn’t live anywhere in peace. Zakia’s family would hunt them down.”

Like many asylum seekers, they face a difficult battle. Even if they win their asylum case in the United States, both are illiterate with little work experience beyond farming in their home of the Bamian Province. Not only do many asylum seekers face the often difficult task of wining their case, they also must learn English, obtain relevant job skills and education, and assimilate into US communities, which may be hard for those with close families and support communities in their home country.

Zakia and Mohammad Ali’s story has been profiled in countless publications across the globe, and New York Times correspondent Rob Nordland, who first learned about the couple when he was researching honor killings, wrote a book about them, titled The Lovers. “We submit to God—we tried everything here, but the situation did not change,” Mohammad Ali told the Times before his flight from Kabul. “[In the US] at least we will be able to live in security and safety.”

DLG at the Brooklyn Half Marathon

Brooklyn Half finish line!

While most people were sleeping in or taking it easy last Saturday morning, over 27,000 ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon, including our very own Liz, Alexis, and Daniele. Liz, with her husband Mark, was looking very strong and powerful throughout the race. Alexis was super excited about the cool medals. And Daniele used the race for some serious meditation time. Congratulations, you deserve all the champagne!