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Akula & Associates P.C.
H-4 & L-2 visas are common forms of work authorization in the United States. Under the H-4 visa, family members of H-1B visa holders can enter the United States for the same period of time as the worker. An L-2 visa is a treaty investor visa for individuals who are citizens of a country with a treaty of commerce and navigation with the United States. Countries include Australia, Germany, United ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS announced that they have received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2023. USCIS states that they have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the second phase of the premium processing expansion for certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers , under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Similar to the first phase of the expansion, this phase only applies to certain previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS urges anyone within the United States who may be eligible for an employment-based adjustment of status to note these important reminders regarding Form I-693 , Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record: If you have a pending Form I-485 , Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, please do not send an unsolicited Form I-693 to USCIS. We are proactively ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Immigration laws and legal terms are often confusing and difficult to understand. With so many different terms, it's unlikely for immigrants to have a clear understanding of what every document and term means. For example, many people confuse visas with immigration status. Our team at Akula & Associates P.C. goes over their differences. What Is a Visa vs. Status A visa is a document issued by the ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that there are an “exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available.” If you are currently seeking employment opportunities in the United States as a foreign national, now is the time to seek an employment visa. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain why there is a high number of employment visas available and ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS temporary final rule providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring EADs for certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765 will be increased from up to 180 days to up to 540 days from the expiration date stated on their EADs. This increase will be available to eligible renewal applicants with pending Forms I-765 as of 5/4/22, including those applicants whose ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On 4/18/22, DHS announced that the TPS registration process for both countries begins on April 19, 2022 . All individuals who want to request TPS under the designation of Ukraine or Sudan must file an application. Eligibility: Ukraine : must demonstrate continuous residence in the U.S. since April 11, 2022 , and continuous physical presence in the U.S. since the designation date in the Federal ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
When you enter the United States, you are inspected by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent. After approving your admission to the United States, the border inspector does two things: Stamps your passport with an admission date, expiration date, and the class of admission (such as B-2 for tourist, WT for ESTA, or H-1B for H-1B worker). Enters your admission record into CBP’s database. ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The COVID pandemic has made international travel unpredictable. The conditions in every country are different and change quickly, making getting a visa appointment more complicated. Consulates must balance expanding routine visa services with limited resources, other responsibilities, and country conditions. As a result, timely visa appointments are not always available and the rules for ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On 4/15/2022, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of April 14, 2022 , will be eligible for TPS. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after April 14, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS. Information on filing is yet to be ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
It’s H-1B season, so this means that if you applied for an H-1B visa, you will be getting an approval or denial response from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) soon. If your H-1B visa is approved – your immigration efforts don’t stop there. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain what are some of the next steps you should take after your H-1B visa gets approved. After H-1B ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Seeking career opportunities in another country can be daunting, especially if you have to leave your loved ones behind. If you seek employment in the United States as a foreign national, you might wonder if you can bring your family along with you. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain if you can obtain a visa for your spouse or children if you received an employment visa in the United States. ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has announced the initial H-1B registration selection process for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 is completed. All prospective petitioners with selected registrations have been notified. Registrants’ online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each beneficiary registered : Submitted: The registration has been submitted and is eligible for selection till the end of the fiscal ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS today published an updated policy guidance that is effective immediately to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will start accepting H-1B visa applications on March 1st, 2022, for the fiscal year 2023 that begins on October 1st, 2022. Employees seeking to apply for an H-1B visa must have their sponsored employers submit an H-1B electronic registration during the registration period that is open between March 1 and March 20th, 2022. In past years, the ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Customs and Border Protection Headquarters (CBP HQ) has confirmed that new E and L Class of Admission (COA) codes were implemented on January 31, 2022. Upon entry, the I-94s generated for the spouses of E and L holders will reflect these new COA. This is related to the implementation of the settlement agreement in Shergill v. Mayrokas litigation in which DHS agreed to recognize that L-2 spouses ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The process of obtaining a lawful permanent resident (“green card”) status can be a complex and challenging effort. Having a green card can provide certainty that you can live and work permanently in the United States. However, your permanent resident status can be revoked under certain scenarios. This article covers potential acts that could cause you to lose your green card. Certain Arrests and ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
If your goal is to work and live in the United States permanently, you can apply for a permanent work visa. Although there are five different permanent work visas, the EB-2 visa is one of the most popular. The EB-2 visa is a second preference visa for professions holding an advanced degree (or its equivalent) or having an exceptional ability. Below, our Dallas immigration attorneys break down the ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor , foreign workers with H-1B visas have dropped by 12.6 percent in the fiscal year ending in September 2021. Engineering and mathematics workers saw the greatest dip of H-1B workers in the last year. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain why there was a significant drop in H-1B workers and how it might affect you if you want to obtain an H-1B visa. Why ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Professionals in the entertainment or sports industry are required to travel often to share their work or compete overseas. If you are an artist, athlete, or entertainer, you may be looking to expand your profession to the United States. If so, you might be wondering which visa is best for you. Our Dallas immigration lawyers explain which visa you should consider if you want to work in the United ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
In November 2021, USCIS conducted a third selection on previously submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B. The petition filing period based on registrations selected on Nov. 19 will begin on Nov. 22, 2021, and close on Feb. 23, 2022. On Nov. 19, USCIS determined that they needed to select additional registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
O-1 visas are for creatives with extraordinary skills and experience. If you want to work in the United States as a creative, you need a set amount of skills, qualifications, and experience. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain what qualifications are necessary to get an O-1 visa. What Is an O-1 Visa? The O-1 visa is for professionals with extraordinary abilities in the sciences, arts, ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Foreign nationals working in the United States with an employment visa can remain in the country permanently by obtaining a green card through employment-based adjustment of status. Employment-based adjustment of status is a path that many foreign nationals can take if they have a secured job with an employer who is willing to sponsor their petition for a green card. Our team at Akula & Associates ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, effective Oct. 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record . This will require applicants subject to the immigration medical ...
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