Last week, President Trump announced that he will suspend all new work visas through the end of the year in order to address the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. For some, this will mean disappointment as their expected visas fall through. For others, there will...
In tech but missed out on an H-1B visa? Try an O-1 visa instead
People who work in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields and want to work temporarily in the U.S. often try to get an H-1B "specialty occupation" visa. These visas are only available to a limited number of people each year, however, and they are...
2 recent court decisions could ease H-1B approval process
Over the last few years, the process for obtaining an H-1B "specialty occupation" visa has become more challenging and less certain. The Trump administration has engaged in several policies that have reduced or eliminated eligibility for H-1Bs. Now, two judges have...
The March 20 H-1B visa deadline is approaching. Are you ready?
The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows qualified people to live and work in the U.S. for a period of three years. The visa can usually be renewed for an additional three years, too, for a total of six years. Moreover, holders of H-1B visas can be accompanied...
Travel ban keeps neuroscientists from attending US conference
The Trump administration's travel ban against passport holders from seven countries is causing problems for some travelers to the U.S. Most recently, it prevented invited speakers from attending this year's Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.Dr. Sepiedeh...
International students face increasing delays and security checks
You may have heard recently about a Palestinian student who was denied entry to the U.S. when he came to join his freshman class at Harvard. It wasn't for something he had done. Customs officials scanned his phone and objected to certain social media postings the...
Long delays for optional practical training (OPT) visas
The optional practical training (OPT) program allows international students to remain in the U.S. for practical training that is directly related to their area of study. It is available to F-1 and M-1 visa holders for up to 12 months, with some extensions available....
Are you ready to apply for your H-1B visa?
The U.S. only issues a total of 85,000 H-1B visas each year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for H-1B visas on April 1. The limit on those visas will be reached soon afterward. Will your application be ready in time to be...
Changes to the H-1B visa process cause backlogs and uncertainty
When a foreign graduate of a U.S. college or university applies for a job, it is often through the H-1B visa program. For the most part, these visas allow high-skilled workers to work in the U.S. for a three-year period in specialty occupations where U.S. workers are...
For years, ICE ran a fake university to sting foreign students
The University of Farmington seemed like any American university. Its website said it offered both online and traditional instruction with a focus on working students. It claimed to be nationally accredited. Happy students were shown studying and sharing coffee. There...
