Visas
H1-B Cap Filled in a Flash, Underscores Need for Immigration Reform
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that USCIS reached the “H-1B cap” for fiscal year 2016—meaning that in seven days, U.S. employers filed more petitions for an H1-B visa to hire a skilled foreign worker than the entire year’s allocation of visas available under current law. Every… Read More
Senate Hearing Examines Proposals to Increase Guest Workers
This week, the Senate Homeland Security committee examined various immigrant guest worker proposals. This was the Committee’s third “Securing the Border” hearing this week, after Tuesday’s hearing on transnational crime, and Wednesday’s hearing on root causes of Central American migration. The witnesses all agreed that increasing… Read More
Immigration Agency Issues Long-Awaited Guidance on L-1B Visa Petitions
This week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) took another crucial step toward administrative reform of our immigration laws. The agency issued for public comment long-awaited policy guidance on its adjudication of L-1B “specialized knowledge” visa petitions. The L-1 category allows a U.S. multinational company to transfer talented employees,… Read More
Potential Presidential Candidates Fail to Offer Immigration Solutions at CPAC
Most Americans want immigration reform. President Obama’s executive actions took temporary steps to provide relief for millions of undocumented immigrants who have spent years here, but it is up to Congress to pass legislation that would comprehensively improve the immigration system. According to a February poll from Public Religion… Read More
Immigration Action Provides Certain H-4 Spouses Work Authorization
As part of the package of executive actions announced in November 2014, the secretary of Homeland Security directed the immigration agencies to implement new policies and regulations intended to support U.S. high-skilled businesses and workers. Last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued the first of these… Read More
Supreme Court Hears Argument on Whether Government Must Justify Its Visa Denial
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument Monday in a case pitting a U.S. citizen who wants to live in the United States with her foreign national spouse against the U.S. government, which is intent on preventing even a modest level of court review when an immigrant visa is denied. Read More
Why Are Immigration Court Hearings Being Set Into 2019?
The immigration court system in the United States is being stretched to the breaking point. Immigration courts have long been expected to do more and more work without the additional funding or personnel needed to do the job effectively. But now, the courts are struggling to handle newer cases… Read More
Immigration Reform Needed to Boost Small Business Workforce
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation recently that seeks to revoke the president’s recent executive actions on immigration reform, which is disappointing news for small employers looking for qualified workers. We know from our polling that having access to a qualified workforce is of paramount importance to entrepreneurs looking… Read More
After Years of Bipartisan Advocacy, DHS Will Expedite Haitian Family Reunification
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week announced a new Haitian Family Reunification Parole program to allow certain Haitians facing years-long waits for visas to come early and work in the United States. The program responds to bipartisan requests from legislators since the devastating Haitian earthquake of January… Read More
Utahns say lack of immigration reform hurts farmers, consumers
Jake Harward, a Springville farmer, has a hard time finding help to plant, tend and harvest his crops and says the need for immigration reform is urgent. “The argument that we’re taking jobs away from others just doesn’t fly in my mind,” Harward said Monday… Read More
All gifts are matched dollar for dollar
No one should face the immigration system alone
