US District Judge Tanya Chutkan dismissed a law suit brought by Save Jobs USA against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (15-cv-0015, US District Court, District of Columbia) which challenged the rights of certain highly skilled H-1B visa holders’ spouses to work in the US. Judge Chutkan upheld rule which grants certain H-4 visa holders the right for work authorization parallel to their spouses’ H-1B visa validity for employment in the US. The same Judge had previously dismissed the suit, ruling that Save Jobs lacked standing to challenge the H-4 rule. However, a federal appeals court reversed that ruling in 2019 and revived the case.
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"Geo" by Hou de Sousa
Walking through “Geo”, New York based architecture, art, and design studio Hou de Sousa transports us to a multicolor passage of light. Created from steel frames and over five miles of fluorescent paracord, “Geo” transports us to another time and space away from the steel and concrete that encapsule it in Downtown NYC.
Let Us Not Forget
Philly in Bloom
Photos by Ashley S
Our search for blooming buds has crossed the Atlantic and into the City of Brotherly Love. A friend in Philly captured Cherry Blossoms in full bloom we thought were too beautiful to not share with you. As our neighbors to the south enjoy the scent of spring, we look forward to NYC coming into a blooming splendor in the next week or so…stay tuned!
USCIS Policy Manual Update Related to Filing Deadlines Falling on Weekends and Federal Holidays
In its pursuit to increase flexibility related to filing deadlines, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a Policy Manual update regarding filings and responses whose due dates fall on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays. Effective immediately, USCIS will consider a filing or response submitted on paper timely filed if it is received “by the end of the next business day” after the weekend or federal holiday. The Service notes that although the receipt date for these cases will continue to “reflect the date USCIS physically received the request, USCIS will consider the benefit request timely filed.”
Read moreUSCIS Announces New Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that US lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) who find themselves without a valid Green Card in their possession to demonstrate their current LPR status may now receive temporary evidence of their status by mail, rather than having to physically visit a field office to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (“ADIT”) stamp, which is also known as an I-551 stamp.
Read moreNew Visa Processing Fees Effective May 30, 2023
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 Completes Electronic Registration for FY2024 H-B Cap
On March 27, 2023, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced they had received enough initial electronic registrations for the fiscal year 2024 (“FY24”) H-1B cap, including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). Consequently, the Service has notified all prospective petitioners whose registrations were randomly selected that they are eligible to file cap-subject H-1B petitions for the named beneficiary in the selected registration.
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