USCIS approves H-1B Visa applications

The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has paused all face-to-face appointments due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

However, USCIS was able to complete 65,000 H-1B skilled worker visa petitions.

These visas will be effective for the following fiscal year beginning on October 1, 2020.

Visa approval amid a pandemic

The country is going through a very difficult time in its history due to the spread of COVID-19.

Therefore, all government entities have made emergency decisions in light of the pandemic.

What USCIS did to prevent mass contagion was to temporarily close its offices and all face-to-face appointments are being rescheduled until May, 2020.

For application to H-1B skilled worker visas, the method implemented is that all local employers must complete the application online and thus continue the process normally.

Employers in the US must complete forms and submit documentation through the USCIS website.

How are petitions approved?

Given current global circumstances, what USCIS is doing is randomly selecting employees who will come to the US to work.

The random decision is made depending on how the employer made the application. This means that if the documentation is complete and does not need any additional support, it will be accepted.

Employers and employees will be notified during this and next week regarding the decision made for their requests.

Are applications still being received?

USCIS is still accepting applications for skilled workers in the country.

The deadline to submit an H-1B visa application is June 30, 2020.

Thus, thousands of workers still have a chance to obtain a job position in the US.

It is important to take the time to complete the applications correctly.

So it is best to have a specialized guide to avoid rejection by USCIS.

Motion Law can assist you with any questions you have regarding business travel to the US.

What happens if your H-1B Visa expires soon?

Do not worry. We understand that in the midst of a pandemic there are no international trips and perhaps you are stranded somewhere in the US.

You can request an extension of your visa or change your residence permit to avoid “unlawful presence” in the country.

In this way, you ensure that you can continue working legally in the US and you can extend your residence permit due to the COVID-19.

The main recommendation if you want to do this is to seek specialized help to guide you through your documentation process.

For more information about this, you can contact us at any time.

Can I also request an extension for other types of visas?

Of course it can. USCIS has opted to take online applications and defer hearings to avoid spreading COVID-19.

However, with digital methods, thousands of immigrants are following their processes with the help of expert immigration attorneys.

What is going to happen is that face-to-face appointments will be more delayed than normal, but the government understands that we are going through an unprecedented situation and that is why they offer different options for people who need to obtain or extend legal residence in the country.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in Progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.