Reminder: New Filing Fees Effective November 23rd

Posted by Murali Bashyam on Oct 28, 2010 in General, News | 0 comments We would like to remind our clients and others that the new USCIS fee schedule goes into effect Nov. 23, 2010.  Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after this date must include the new fee, or they will be rejected by USCIS. The new fee schedule increases application and petition fees by an average of about 10 percent but does not increase the naturalization application...
read more

USCIS Announces Final Rule Adjusting Immigration Filing Fees

Posted by Murali Bashyam on Sep 24, 2010 in General, Immigration Reform, News | 0 comments U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule adjusting fees for immigration applications and petitions.  This rule will increase overall fees by a weighted average of about 10 percent but will not increase the fee for the naturalization application. The rule will also reduce fees for six individual applications and petitions and will expand the availability of fee...
read more

Special Instructions for B-1/B-2 Visitors Who Want to Enroll in School

Posted by Murali Bashyam on Aug 23, 2010 in Immigration Tips, News | 2 comments The following was issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and it applies to B-1/B-2 visitors who want to enroll in school.  We urge visitors who fit this category to read this before filing an F-1 (student) application with the USCIS. Is it permissible to enroll in school while in B-1/B-2 status? No, it is not.  The regulations, at 8 CFR 214.2(b)(7),...
read more

H-1B Cap Count – August 13, 2010

Posted by Murali Bashyam on Aug 20, 2010 in H1B Visas, News | 0 comments The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) updated its H-1B cap count on August 6, 2010.   Here are the most recent cap numbers: Regular H-1B Cap:  29,700 U.S. Masters H-1B Cap: 12,300 The H-1B numbers continue to move very slowly. We will update our web site at www.bashyamspiro.com when more information becomes available.
read more

USCIS Implements H-1B/L-1 Filing Fee Increase

Posted by Murali Bashyam on Aug 20, 2010 in H1B Visas, News | 0 comments On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective August 14, 2010 Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010, and will remain in effect through Sept. 30,...
read more