Expert immigration attorney Jon Velie explores the latest immigration issues that are in the news with broadcaster Dave Kelso.
Biden Administrations Expansions of Temporary Protected Status: A Lifeline for Vulnerable Immigrants
Since President Biden took office in January 2021, his administration has indeed broadened access to TPS, providing temporary relief from deportation and the legal right to live and work in the U.S. for individuals from countries deemed unsafe due to conflict, natural disasters, or other crises (Pew Research Center) (Politico).TPS provides temporary relief from deportation
How to File Derivative Status (“Follow to Join”)
A principal beneficiary admitted to the United States as a principal refugee, or granted asylum status in the United States in the last two years, can petition for children to receive refugee or asylee status by filing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, on their behalf. This status is known as “derivative” refugee or asylee status since they
Navigating the PERM Labor Certification Process
The PERM application or labor certification process takes skill to successfully navigate. For an employer to fill a job with foreign talent permanently, they have to prove that no other U.S. workers have the minimum qualifications or are willing to take the position. Both the EB-2 and EB-3 visas/green cards require U.S. employers to go
I-9 Audits are Crucial for Immigration Compliance
In 2015, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a joint memo offering guidance to employers when conducting internal Form I-9 audits. The DOJ and DHS guidance provides employers with the scope and purpose of I-9 audits, considerations before conducting internal audits, and ways to correct errors, omissions, or
How to Comply with H-1B Third-Party Site Inspections
Third-party worksites are experiencing more unannounced site visits, likely because of the ITServe case prohibiting adjudicators from inquiring into details of third-party placements. The Covid pandemic also played a role, as Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers could not do visits and now have an expanded budget. Another contributing factor is the Department of
Developing a Business Immigration Plan
How a company approaches business immigration is a determining factor in whether or not they can fill vital roles. A strategic approach to business immigration proves immensely beneficial when hiring foreign nationals to fill specialty occupations. It’s no secret that getting a U.S. visa has become more complex. Thus, having a solid visa strategy is
What to Expect in 2021 H-1B Cap Season from the Biden Administration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DZydXOfN5w The Biden Administration issued a memo on January 20th immediately freezing “midnight regulations” that the Trump administration issued but had not yet taken effect within 60 days of the election and withdrawing all pending rules that had not yet been published in the Federal Register. The regulations implemented by the Trump Administration were: Changing the H-1B
Great News For H-1B Visas: Old Prevailing Wages Restored Today
A couple of days ago we discussed the Federal Court’s decision to overturn the Department of Labor’s regulations to increase the prevailing wage for H-1B and other visas. As you might imagine, we immediately went to the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center’s website at flcdatacenter.com and looked up wages and they still had the ridiculously
How Will Biden’s Business Immigration Policy Differ from Trump’s?
We compare the business immigration policies that President-elect, Joe Biden, has proposed to those that President Trump has enforced. It is not a surprise to anyone that President Trump has been the most anti-immigration president in modern history. How will Joe Biden’s immigration policy differ? Will he throw out all of Trump’s policies and open
Trump Immigration Ban: Your Questions Answered on H-1B, L-1, J-1 Visa Bans
How will the recent Trump immigration ban affect you? OnlineVisas’ CEO Jon Velie answers your questions around the President’s recent Executive Order of June 22, 2020 temporarily banning certain non-immigrant U.S. visas (in particular H-1B, L-1, & J-1 visas). 17 Questions about Trump’s immigration ban answered in the video Please make sure you watch the
Trump Issues Executive Order Suspending H-1B, H-2B, L-1, L-2, And J Visas
On Monday, June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.” The proclamation will bar certain foreign workers from entering the United States beginning on June 24, 2020 and is set to expire on December 31, 2020 (with a
BREAKING: Trump Immigration, Which U.S. Non-Immigrant Visas Will Be Banned?
Trump Immigration Breaking News: On Friday June 05, 2020, the Whitehouse, Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security met and, some believe, have reached an agreement on changes that would have a devastating impact on merit-based immigration into the United States. Utilizing the new Presidential proclamations INA 212(f) and 215, prevents entry into the
OnlineVisas Named In Top 75 Immigration Blogs
OnlineVisas Immigration News blog made the cut for Feedspot’s Top 75 Immigration Blogs. The list includes high profile immigration advocacy groups, professors and law groups. The topics range from global issues to solving national and individual immigration problems. Feedspot’s Top 75 Immigration Blogs are a great starting point for valuable information and diverse perspective about
Cutting Through the H-1B Bureaucratic Red Tape
Since Indian “techies” are the primary recipients of H-1B visas, IT companies are being disproportionally affected by the ongoing changes to the H-1B filing process. listen to the episode below. To understand a broad spectrum of issues associated with visa denials, OnlineVisas teamed up with a prominent association of tech companies, ITServe Alliance, to collect
4 Reasons To Choose OnlineVisas For H-1B
When a company is hiring an attorney, they are typically meeting prospects in person. So how do you hire an attorney, especially if they are not right in front of you? We have clients all over the country and across the globe. We don’t get to meet with each client in person but build successful
America And Her Not So Invisible Wall
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” The Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. In an interview with NPR, Acting USCIS Director Ken Cuccinelli paraphrased Emma
What The New EB-5 Changes Mean For Investors And Regional Centers
The EB-5 visa category was developed by the United States Congress in 1990 to stimulate the U.S. economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. The underlying policies of the EB-5 investor visa were designed to benefit the U.S. economy in general, including economically disadvantaged communities, American workers and attract foreign-national investors. The
Athletes and Sports: A Compelling Case for Immigration
The United States is home to many popular and emerging sports. The United States has the top professional leagues in the Big Four and is the place where many Olympians train. There are top-notch ski resorts, tennis and golf facilities where the world’s greatest practice and compete. Wakeboarders, surfers and runners all have made America
Immigration Makes America Great Again. And Again…
Most Americans agree that one of the major benefits of immigration is the rich assortment of cuisine that is available in almost any U.S. city. But food aside, YouGov poll revealed that most Americans believe that there is a net benefit of immigration. Despite this, political rhetoric is dominated by the “othering” of immigrants. Listen
Immigration Show: John Lennon’s Immigration Case For DREAMers
In this episode, Jon Velie and Dave Kelso examine Lennon’s immigration battle and the court ruling that eventually led the Obama administration to release DACA as an executive order. Listen to the episode below. John Lennon was a founding member of the Beatles whose immigration case became the foundation for what is known today as
