Asylum seekers have fled dangerous conditions in their homeland; as distinguished poet Warsan Shire wrote “no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark”. Unfortunately, many asylum seekers currently in the US are finding themselves in dire circumstances in our country as our asylum process is under severe stress from the record high encounters reported at the US – Mexico border. The depths of the bureaucracy involved in the asylum process lead many asylees to question their decision to flee the mouth of a shark, as they find themselves trying to stay afloat in shark infested waters.
Read moreA Story of Hope
“Thank You Darling” by Lily Van Der Stokker
With its commitment to bringing contemporary art to all via public spaces, strolling through the High Line is a wonderful way to not only get our steps in but also to catch an array of ever-changing art installations. One of the newest additions along the High Line is a colorful, whimsical mural strategically painted on a building facing the High Line on 22nd Street stating “Thank You Darling” in bubble letters by Lily Van Der Stokker.
Ms. Van Der Stokker, who hails from the Netherlands, is known for using a confectioner’s pastel color scheme in her artwork to depict elements traditionally thought of as feminine such as clouds, flowers, and swirls as the backdrop to convey short messages like "Thank You Darling." Van Der Stokker’s work, which has been referred to as “feminist conceptual pop art,” is meant to be cheery but also aims to spark conversations regarding feminism and womanhood. "Thank You Darling" brings a moment of gratitude and joy to all who pass by it, serving as a delightful reminder to pause and take a moment of appreciation amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy city!
Set Free Your Flow
London Views
Hello again, London! ✈️☁️🎊
USCIS Fee Increases to Begin April 1, 2024
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the publication of a final rule to adjust immigration and naturalization requests fees. Noting that the fee increase is the first since 2016, and necessary for recovering the costs of operations, the new fees will be effective on April 1, 2024. The new fee schedule table details the filing fees to be collected by petition or application type. “For individual filers, the final rule generally limits newly established fees to no more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2016, which is 26%.” However, the fees associated with employment-based visas and employer sponsored green card petitions have been significantly increased.
Read moreFY2025 H-1B Lottery Kick Off
It’s time for the newly updated H-1B Visa Lottery! Upon introducing the final rule which initiated many changes to the fiscal year 2025 (“FY25”) H-1B Lottery, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the initial registration period for the FY25 H-1B cap will begin at 12pm ET on March 6, 2024, and run through 12pm ET on March 22, 2024. During this registration period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to submit their H-1B registrations using online accounts and pay the required $10 fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each beneficiary.
Read moreReformed Patriotism
Changes to H-1B Visa Lottery Registration Finalized by USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced its intent to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B registration process by introducing changes to the current electronic registration system. The final rule published on February 2, 2024, aims to ensure that regardless of how many H-1B registrations are submitted on behalf of a foreign national, the odds of that person being selected in the H-1B lottery will not increase. The new rule implements a “beneficiary-centered selection process for H-1B registrations”, which means that instead of selecting by registration, which has been the norm since 2020, USCIS will select registrations by the unique beneficiary.
Read more“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys “ at the Brooklyn Museum
As Black History Month draws to a close, we shine a light on one of New York's remarkable exhibits celebrating Black culture and its profound connection with art. This exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum is the product of the vision of two influential figures in the music industry: Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) who have been passionately collecting works for over two decades, and who are now eager to share their extraordinary collection with the world. This collection, which features 98 artworks by Black American, African, and African diasporic artists including Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Hassan Hajjaj to name a few, explores many themes including Black identity and creativity. This celebration of Black artists and culture, according to Ms. Keys “want(s) you to see that you are also a giant, that you are special, incredible, unique, one of a kind.” Make sure you experience the exhibit before it closes on July 7th!