Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19 Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19

March Visa Bulletin

Each month, the U.S. Department of State publishes the Visa Bulletin, listing all "preference" categories and states whether or not a backlog exists for each one. For March 2019, there continues to be a worldwide backlog for all applicants for the EB-1 "Priority Worker" preference category. As in previous months, the final action dates remain steady. This means that only those who filed Form I-140 on or before the date given in the Visa Bulletin are able to file for or be granted permanent resident status. The listed date for all countries other than China and India in the EB-1 category is January 1, 2018. China and India are backlogged to February 22, 2017, meaning that only those applicants whose I-140 was filed on or before that date are able to file Form I-485 to become permanent residents, or if their I-485 applications are already pending, to be approved. DOS predicts that there will be little movement in first quarter of 2019 for EB-1 China, EB-1 India and EB-1 Worldwide. Based on the information provided by USCIS, it appears that there is sufficient EB-1 demand to reach the annual limits this year, which would prevent EB-1 Worldwide from returning to “current” status on October 1, 2019, the start of the government’s new fiscal year.

While, in the EB-2 preference category, there is currently no backlog for the worldwide numbers (except for China and India). China EB-2 numbers are backlogged to January 1, 2016 and India EB-2 is backlogged to April 9, 2009. EB-2 India and EB-3 India according to the Final Action Date Chart are almost identical which is a significant turn of events as traditionally the EB-3 category has a much longer backlog. Some employers may want to consider “downgrading” their Indian employees from EB-2 to EB-3 in the near future if EB-3 continues to move more quickly.

These backlogs may require employers or immigrants to extend H-1B, O-1, and other nonimmigrant categories until such time that visa numbers do become available, so it is strongly advised to plan accordingly and to allow enough time so that no gap exists which could affect the ability of the applicant to work in the United States and/or travel abroad. We will be checking each month to monitor the Visa Bulletin and will provide updates.

If you have questions about planning, please feel free to reach out and schedule a consultation with one of the attorneys (info@iandoli.com).

Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19 Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19

USCIS issues new version of Form I-539

USCIS has revised Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status and will publish the revised form on their website at uscis.gov on March 8, 2019. Starting on March 22, 2019, USCIS will only accept the revised Form I-539 with an edition date of 02/04/19 and will reject any Form I-539 with an edition date of 12/23/16 or earlier.

The revised Form I-539 includes the following significant changes:

Every co-applicant included on the primary applicant’s Form I-539 must submit and sign a separate Form I-539A, which will also be available on the Form I-539 webpage on March 8. Parents or guardians may sign on behalf of children under 14 or any co-applicant who is not mentally competent to sign.
Every applicant and co-applicant must pay an $85 biometric services fee, except certain A, G, and NATO nonimmigrants as noted in the new Form I-539 Instructions to be published on March 11.
Every applicant and co-applicant will receive a biometric services appointment notice, regardless of age, containing their individual receipt number. The biometric services appointments will be scheduled at the Application Support Center (ASC) closest to the primary applicant’s address.

USCIS estimates 373,477 individuals per year will file either an I-539 or I-539A.

USCIS justification for biometrics are in Section 5 of Executive Order (E.O.) 13780, entitled, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” which calls for the implementation of uniform screening and vetting standards for all immigration programs, including “a mechanism to ensure that applicants are who they claim to be” and “any other appropriate means for ensuring the proper collection of all information necessary for a rigorous evaluation of all grounds of inadmissibility or grounds for the denial of other immigration benefits.”

USCIS believes that the I-539 biometrics requirement will enhance national security and identity verification, and that the burden of complying with the biometrics requirement is not excessive.

USCIS will reject any Form I-539 that is missing any of the required signatures or biometrics fees, including those required for Form I-539A.

Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19 Iandoli Desai & Cronin 3/5/19

REMINDER: H-1B Deadline is Upon Us

H-1B sponsorship is offered by U. S. employers for Foreign Nationals working for those employers in Specialty Occupations which require at least a bachelor's degree (or the equivalent in education and experience). Approved H-1B employees can work for the sponsoring employer for 3 years in the first instance.

All cap-subject H-1B petitions (those limited by the annual national quota) must be filed with the Immigration Service during the first five business days in April 2019.

Now is the time for employers to decide whether they will file H-1B petitions in April and for whom to initiate the process ASAP because normal preparation of the H-1B Petition can take at least 30 days during this busy season.

Please feel free to contact the attorneys of Iandoli, Desai & Cronin now with your questions and concerns.