By Jessabelle M. Koppelman, Esq. and Julie Oliver-Zhang, Esq. If you have the right employer sponsor, you can apply for an H1b visa anytime of the year and have no need to win a spot in the H-1B lottery. Every year, USCIS sets aside 85,000 H-1B visas that are subject to the lottery process. But […]
By Jessabelle M. Koppelman The H-1B visa registration period is open and ready for entries to the H1b lottery! The online account creation process began on February 21st for Fiscal Year 2023. This temporary employment program allows foreign nationals to join the U.S. workforce in a variety of fields. Past H-1B visa holders have had […]
By Jessabelle M. Koppelman, Esq. During the Trump Administration, we witnessed H-1B visa denial rates skyrocket with the passage of restrictive immigration policies. For example, former President Trump implemented policy instructing USCIS officers to stop giving deference to previously approved petitions when reviewing H1b visa extensions. Fortunately, President Biden has rescinded this policy during his […]
By Jessabelle M. Koppelman, Esq. The U.S. labor market is growing as a record 6.4 million jobs were created last year. Securing an H1b visa is a great way to take part in this competitive and vibrant work force. The “Specialty Occupations” category is one of three H1b visa designations that a prospective worker may […]
By Julie Oliver-Zhang, Esq. & Annjelika Slate There are several H-1B visa costs that must be covered by either an employer or employee as part of the H-1B registration and application process. While thinking about these costs, it is important to understand who pays for which fees and at what point in the process these […]
By Julie Oliver-Zhang, Esq. and Annjelika Slate As we get further into 2022, the H-1B lottery opening day is steadily approaching. Mark your calendars for February 21, 2022 as to when you can begin creating an H-1B registration account. That is less than two weeks away! For those who meet specific requirements, H1B lottery will […]
By Jessabelle M. Koppelman, Esq. & Julie Oliver-Zhang, Esq. We have an exciting immigration policy update for international college students! On January 21, 2022 the Biden Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expanded the list of degrees included in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Field that qualify for the Optional […]
By Jessabelle M. Koppelman, Esq. & Julie T. Oliver-Zhang, Esq. Who qualifies for the “Cap-Gap” extension, and how does it work? Many F-1 students are concerned about being out of status during the period between the end of their Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) and when their approved H1b visa begins in October. The Cap-Gap extension […]
Dear Friends,Great news, Meiwah is reopening today! Like so many local businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19, particularly Asian restaurants, Meiwah Restaurant in Chevy Chase had stopped operating in April. Larry La, the owner of the restaurant, is a Vietnamese-Chinese refugee who arrived in the US decades ago. For nearly 20 years, the restaurant has […]
Zantac Recall Cancer Lawsuit Update, April 3, 2020: By Julie Oliver-Zhang, Esq. and Rachel Wei, Esq. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on April 1, 2020 that it is requesting manufacturers to immediately withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine drugs, commonly known as Zantac, from the market. A contaminant known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine […]
