The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its policy guidance for O-1 nonimmigrant visa applicants, clarifying the evidentiary requirements and adding new examples for individuals in critical and emerging technologies. Effective immediately, these updates aim to modernize pathways for experts in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), aligning with the...
Category: O-1B Visa
USCIS Updates O-1 Visa Guidance: What Experts in Emerging Technologies Need to Know
On Jan. 8, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued guidance in the Policy Manual, Vol. 2, Part M, to clarify how USCIS evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1 nonimmigrant visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement, including adding examples of evidence for individuals...
Immigration Lessons from Hollywood: What “The Proposal” Teaches Employers
Romantic comedies often take creative liberties, but beneath the humor and drama, movies like The Proposal highlight real-life challenges of immigration compliance. In the film, Margaret Tate, a Canadian executive played by Sandra Bullock, faces deportation and orchestrates a fake engagement with her assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds), to maintain her U.S. residency. While the...
Navigating the O-1 and O-2 Visas: A Path for Extraordinary Talent
If you are a top performer in the arts, sciences, education, business, or athletics, the United States offers unique opportunities for you to share your talents. The O-1 and O-2 visas are tailored for individuals with exceptional abilities and achievements. In this blog, we’ll guide you through what these visas are, who...
Visa Options for Olympic Athletes: Navigating the Path to the Games
The Olympics are a global celebration of athletic excellence, uniting the world in a shared appreciation of human potential. For athletes representing the United States, participating in the Olympics often involves navigating the complex U.S. immigration system. This blog post explores the key visa options available to athletes and support staff, focusing...
New Changes in the H-1B Visa Lottery System: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
The H-1B visa system has undergone significant changes in the past year, which are reshaping the way employers and employees approach the application process. These changes have led to a substantial drop in applications and have introduced new rules to prevent fraud and...
Navigating the Upcoming USCIS Fee Changes: Strategies for Employers
In the face of rising operational costs and the relentless march of inflation, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant update to its fee structure for various immigration-related filings. Effective April 1, 2024, these changes mark the first fee adjustment since 2016, underscoring a critical development for employers...
New USCIS Premium Processing Fees Now in Effect: A Comprehensive Guide to the 2024 Adjustments
As previously announced, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ new inflation-adjusted premium processing fees take effect today, increasing the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing. USCIS published a final rule announcing the change on Dec. 28, 2023.
The USCIS Stabilization Act established the current premium processing fees and...
SEVP Update: Reminders About Summer Employment for International Students
The White House provided a fact sheet detailing new DHS actions intended to attract and maintain STEM talent in the US. These include DHS policy manual updates on O-1 visas, creation of the Early Career STEM Research Initiative, changes to SEVP, USCIS policy manual updates, and more.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational...