Under the Cherry Blossoms

April 14, 2017 Joseph McKeown

A flowering cherry tree in the Japanese Hill-And-Pond Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

We all know what springtime means: longer days, warmer weather, and, of course, blossoming cherry trees. Ahead of the Cherry Blossom Festival, also called Sakura Matsuri, a few trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have already blossomed. The festival, held later this month, celebrates the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying each moment of the cherry blossom season and contemplating the beauty and fragility of life. But don't just wait for the festival. Most, if not all, of the cherry trees will soon be in full bloom. Don't have anyone to go with? Not to worry. As the famed Japanese poet Issa says: "Under the cherry blossoms / none are / utter strangers."

OPINION: USCIS Rescission of Guidance Memo on Computer-Related Positions: H-1Bs Are Still Available for Computer Programmers

April 13, 2017 Protima Daryanani

As most immigration attorneys were breathing a sigh of relief from having prepared all their H-1B cap cases, and from having rushed to file the H-1B renewals requiring premium processing; and as we were just popping open that bottle of champagne, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a surprise memo on March 31, 2017. Panic ensued. Trump was blamed. USCIS jumped in to explain that the March 31 memo did not constitute a change in policy but rather a clarification to the Nebraska Service Center (where many H-1Bs are now being processed) of the current policy on H-1Bs for computer programmers. So what does it all mean? Can a computer programmer still get an H-1B? What about other technology jobs? We will try to answer some of these questions below.

New York Times: “They Adopted Refugee Families for a Year. Then Came ‘Month 13.’”

April 11, 2017 Joseph McKeown

The Canadian refugee program is one of the most unique in the world. In addition to government sponsorship and resettlement, the Canadian government allows private sponsorship for refugees. Private sponsors—who can be a mix of major organizations and smaller groups and individuals—are involved at every step of the resettlement process, from initial paperwork, maintaining communications pre-arrival, assisting with the screening process, and providing financial support for numerous aspects of the refugees’ lives in Canada, including travel, accommodation, and food, although the government still assists with certain expenses.

Finally, I Am American

April 10, 2017 Joseph McKeown

Human Structures

April 7, 2017 Joseph McKeown

Human Structures is a sculpture outside Penn Station by artist Jonathan Borofsky. Located off Plaza 33, a pedestrian-friendly area on West 33rd Street that has been closed off to traffic, the artwork has a lofty meaning: “It’s humanity connecting together to build our world,” says the artist, who also encourages people to stand inside the sculpture to become part of it. I took his recommendation and did stand inside (unfortunately, no photos of that). Go humanity!

H-1B Cap Reached for Fiscal Year 2018

April 7, 2017 Joseph McKeown

US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that they have reached the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap numbers for fiscal year 2018. Additionally, USCIS has also received a sufficient number of filed H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 US advanced degree exemption numbers, also known as the master’s cap. The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not duplicate filings. The agency did not specify when the H-1B lottery would occur, but in previous years it typically happens within a few weeks of the filing period being closed.

State of Exception/Estado de Excepción

April 6, 2017 Joseph McKeown

Since 2000 over 6,000 migrants have died trying to cross the US-Mexico border. State of Exception/Estado de Excepción, an exhibit at the Parsons School of Design, uses discarded and found objects including clothing, prayer cards, and backpacks to pay homage to those who have lost their lives as well as those who survived the dangerous journey across the border. The materials were collected as part of a research project (called “Undocumented Migration”) by University of Michigan anthropologist Jason De León. He views the “materials as fragments of a history, revealing death, trauma, and suffering on both sides of the border while bringing to light complexities of the migrant experience.”

New York Times: “Visa Applications Pour In by Truckload Before Door Slams Shut”

April 4, 2017 Joseph McKeown

Yesterday, Monday, April 3, was the first day that US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting H-1B specialized knowledge cap petitions for fiscal year 2018. At the USCIS California Service Center in Laguna Niguel, delivery trucks carrying H-1B petitions began arriving at dawn. While the official USCIS count of total petitions received won’t be released for at least a few weeks, many immigration experts are predicting more H-1B petitions will be filed than in the previous years because many are concerned of possible changes to the H-1B program under the Trump administration. For the last few years, USCIS has received so many petitions that they’ve closed the filing period after only one week. Last year USCIS received over 236,000 H-1B petitions in the filing period.

Addicted to the Future

April 3, 2017 Joseph McKeown

H-1B Cap Season: A Minute of Liz's Work Day!

March 31, 2017 Joseph McKeown

As those in the immigration world know, we are deep into H-1B cap season. Since we can start sending cap cases today for delivery on Monday, April 3, our office is a whirlwind of activity. And no one is more of a whirlwind than our Lizzie B! Although she is fast, we managed to record a minute of one of her days this week. She has so many papers to sign! And people to talk to! And food to taste! Wow, look at her go!