Categories
Legality Uncategorized

Last H1B Visa Trump Rule Officially Removed

Recently a Judge in Northern California struck down another Trump Era regulation that had the possibility to dramatically change the H1B Visa lottery system.

The Trump Administration issued a wide array of new rules that were aimed at the H1B Visa program. The H1B Visa program stands today as the major source of work visas for international high skilled employees. In order, to qualify for an H1B Visa, a foreign national must have a bachelor’s degree along with a U.S. employer. Typically, the H1B visa is used by tech companies to attract skilled workers from overseas.

Over the years, U.S. employers have hired foreign talent and relied upon this visa program to allow those new employees to live and work in the USA. The program permits 65,000 new visas each year and allows an additional 20,000 foreign nationals who hold a Master’s degree from U.S. Universities to be included. Individuals are granted the visa for three years with a max period of six years.

The program has long been hailed as a means for bringing in vital talent specifically for the tech industry but has also been widely criticized for being too narrow, limited by its annual numbers, and flawed for its ability to be abused by large corporations. The program also serves as a steppingstone for foreign students to move from a student visa to a work visa. Foreign students rely on this visa to begin their career in the United States.

The Trump Administration had a particular dislike for the H1B program and began to target the program with new regulations and policy changes. The policy changes eliminated categories that were once considered a major part of the H1B program. The regulations aimed at the spouses of H1B Visa holders have caused a major disruption for the H1B families which to this day are unresolved.

This recent decision eliminated the final rule that the Trump Administration had pending regarding the H1B Visa program. This rule sought to change the H1B lottery such that those with the highest paid jobs would be selected while those with lower salary would be rejected. This rule would have directly harmed new graduates entering the work force because as new grads they have a very little chance to receive a high-end salary. The rule would also contravene the law which indicated that the H1B Visas should be doled out based upon a first come, first served basis.

In the end the Judge ruled the Trump Administration failed to properly appoint the Director of USCIS and thereby had violated the Administrative Procedure Act. This violation made any rule or policy change that he instituted under his direction as invalid. The Judge really did take the easy way out, but the good news is that the Biden Administration did not defend the rule or take any action to institute a similar rule on their own. For now, the H1B program is alive with all its flaws and many issues. We do expect some changes in the future, we will update you when we know more.

Author: Sumeet Lall, Esq.
Editor: Marisa Chavez

Categories
Uncategorized

Immigration Fun Facts: Canadian Entry Without A Passport

There have been so many changes over the years that sometimes it’s hard to keep up with it all.  That is particularly true in regard to the U.S/Canadian border.  As a Seattleite I recall driving back home and crossing the border with a U.S. identification. I was never asked any questions and never had to present a passport.

Today the rules have changed a bit, specifically for flights to the USA from Canada – that manner of entry requires a passport. Airlines are very particular about this rule and CBP pre boarding checks normally make this requirement very clear.

However, if you are trying to cross at a land port of entry you are in luck because they do have some options.  To enter the USA without a passport a Canadian can present:

  • Enhanced Canadian ID or DL;
  • Birth certificate & regular ID;
  • NEXUS ID card; or
  • FAST or SENTRI program vehicle

If you happen to be a member of a tribe, then a Tribal ID card will also do the trick.

So keep in mind that land ports of entry have different rules and if you still don’t have that machine readable passport you can still enter the U.S. with one of the documents above.

Quick note, if you are going to cross the border and apply for a TN visa at the port of entry, you must have a passport for that process!

Categories
Uncategorized

Activities You Can Partake In Under The B1 Visa

Many people know that the B1 visa is used for business-related travel to the United States on a temporary basis. However, there is a lot of confusion around the type of activities that a B1 visitor may engage in. The most commonly known activities are:

  1. Consult with business associates;
  2. Attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business convention or conference;
  3. Settle an estate;
  4. Negotiate a contract; and
  5. Participate in short term training.

To provide an example, individuals who intend to invest in the US will use the B1 visa to explore their options, negotiate contracts, conduct research, and purchase business related materials/goods. These are all authorized activities.

One of the most important factors that is highly scrutinized is whether the B1 visitor receives a salary or payment form a US based company/entity while in the US. For instance, professional athletes may enter the US to participate in a tournament or sporting event but are not allowed to receive a salary or income from a US based company/entity, other than the prize money.

Getting an immigration attorney who can help you navigate this process is very important because engaging in unauthorized activities under a B1 can have detrimental effects on your current and future immigration status. Give us a call so that we can properly assess you case and help you obtain your B1 visa.

Categories
Uncategorized

H1b Denial Rate Reaches Highest In Over Ten Years

The H1b visa has been a solid source for work visas for many years. Many clients graduate from school, work on OPT and then move into the H1b process. For graduates with STEM OPT they have more chances at the lottery – giving them a large advantage for getting selected for the lottery with an employer of their choosing.

Sadly, the lottery is only the first burden foreign nationals face. After being selected comes a process that can be arduous. The H1b filing normally only contains the basic information covering job duties, employer location, salary and documents that demonstrate each part of the case is true. Aside from this basic information the additional documentation is very difficult to ascertain as each case is different and may require additional documentation.

The recent trend by USCIS is to challenge the salary listed in the LCA and to challenge the employer’s ability to pay the wage. This last aspect of the case is not a specific requirement under the law, but is implied as part of the LCA and the statutory requirement to pay a wage that meets specific requirements.

Nevertheless, these most recent numbers are staggering in comparison to the past decade. As someone who has filed H1bs for fifteen years I have seen trends change and specific types of cases become more difficult (i.e. programmers, MBA graduates), but to see overall denials reach 30% shows a marked change in policy and leads one to infer that political influence is a part of this recent trend towards increased denials.

Stay strong out there, give us a call if you want an honest opinion about your case.