Premium processing will resume for certain petitions that may be exempt from the H-1B annual cap of 65,000 visas each fiscal year. READ MORE

Venezuela’s ongoing political turmoil and near economic collapse have caused thousands of Venezuelans to flee to the United States to seek asylum protection.  United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that in the first three months of 2017, 8,301 Venezuelans sought asylum protection in the United States, compared to 3,507 asylum applicants in the same three months of 2016.  Based on those numbered, USCIS projects that READ MORE READ MORE

Following the Administration’s March 2017 halt to premium processing for Physicians under the Conrad 30 J-1 Waiver Program, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on June 23 that premium processing would resume.  Premium processing allows for USCIS application processing within 15 days at an additional cost. Given the very short timelines USCIS set for the Conrad 30 Waiver and similar programs, premium processing is necessary READ MORE READ MORE

United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) extends TPS Status for Eligible National of El Salvador Defense Attorney Raymond Lahoud announced this week that the Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible nationals of El Salvador. Lahoud, an associate at Baurkot & Baurkot’s Pennsylvania Office, stated “that DHS has made a good decision in extending TPS for eligible Salvadorians for an additional READ MORE READ MORE