News for 'US Citizenship and Immigration Services'

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

US reaches 2022 cap for H-1B visa

Rediff.com31 Mar 2021

The US has received enough electronic applications during the initial registration period to reach the 2022 fiscal year cap for the H-1B foreign workers visa, the most sought-after work visa among Indian professionals. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency which screens and allocates H-1B applications, said it was randomly selected from among the registrations properly submitted to reach the cap. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

H-1B visa: Over 20,000 vacancies still left

H-1B visa: Over 20,000 vacancies still left

Rediff.com1 Jul 2009

Nearly three months after the US immigration agency started accepting petitions for the H-1B visas for highly-skilled foreign professionals, it is still looking for more than 20,000 applications to fill the Congressionally-mandated cap of 65,000.

No new H1-B visa before Oct

No new H1-B visa before Oct

Rediff.com18 Feb 2004

H-4 visa holders may get an automatic right to work in America

H-4 visa holders may get an automatic right to work in America

Rediff.com8 Apr 2022

Two US lawmakers have introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that aims at granting an automatic right to H-4 visa holders to work in the country, a move which will benefit the spouses of thousands of foreigners, including Indians, and also address the labour shortage affecting American businesses. H-4 visas are issued to dependent spouses and children who accompany H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to the United States. Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled people in their own right and previously had careers of their own or worked to support their families.

In acceptance speech, Kamala warns Americans against re-electing Trump

In acceptance speech, Kamala warns Americans against re-electing Trump

Rediff.com24 Aug 2024

Kamala Harris used her forceful presidential acceptance speech to present herself as a leader who could unite the country to chart a 'new way forward' and warned Americans of 'extremely serious' consequences of putting her Republican rival Donald Trump back in the White House.

US H-1B visa cap reached in 5 days

US H-1B visa cap reached in 5 days

Rediff.com8 Apr 2014

The mandated Congressional cap is of 65,000.

Over 11,000 H-1B slots still up for grabs

Over 11,000 H-1B slots still up for grabs

Rediff.com12 Nov 2009

This is against the Congressionally-mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas for this year.

H-1B visa: Trump has good news for IT professionals

H-1B visa: Trump has good news for IT professionals

Rediff.com11 Jan 2019

H1-B holders in the US can rest assured that changes are soon coming which will bring both simplicity and certainty to your stay, including a potential path to citizenship: Trump.

US job-based visa limit reached

US job-based visa limit reached

Rediff.com3 Jul 2007

The US has announced that the cap on employment-based immigrant visas for 2007 has been reached and no new applications will be entertained till October.

US award for Indra Nooyi

US award for Indra Nooyi

Rediff.com24 Apr 2007

She was among 50 persons who were presented with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services', 'The Americans By Choice Awards'.

US has good news for Indian job seekers

US has good news for Indian job seekers

Rediff.com12 Apr 2007

In a welcome development for Indians seeking to work in the US, the Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced the extension of filing time for 'O' and the 'P' non-immigrant visas

United States reaches 65,000 H-1B visa cap for 2022: USCIS

United States reaches 65,000 H-1B visa cap for 2022: USCIS

Rediff.com1 Mar 2022

The US has received enough petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for the fiscal year 2022, a federal agency has announced. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.

US readies plan to facilitate H-1B, L1 visa holders

US readies plan to facilitate H-1B, L1 visa holders

Rediff.com10 Feb 2023

The US is planning to resume the process of domestic visa revalidation in certain categories, like H-1B and L1 visas, on a pilot basis later this year, a move that will benefit tens of thousands of foreign tech workers, particularly from India. Until 2004, certain categories of non-immigrant visas, particularly the H-1B, could be renewed or stamped inside the US. After that, for the renewal of these visas, in particular, those on H-1B, the foreign tech workers have to go out of the country, mostly to their own country to get the H-1B extension stamped on their passport.

US hikes H-1B visa fee, move to hit Indian IT cos

US hikes H-1B visa fee, move to hit Indian IT cos

Rediff.com28 Mar 2012

In a move that is expected to hit Indian IT companies, the US government has decided to hike H-1B visa fee from next fiscal.

R-1 visas won't be processed faster

R-1 visas won't be processed faster

Rediff.com5 Feb 2008

The Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. Early this month, the USCIS said it needs additional time to assess whether it is possible to provide this level of service for nonimmigrant religious worker petitions. Due to the complexities with adjudicating R-1 visa petitions, USCIS cannot reasonably ensure a level of processing service within 15 calendar days, it said.

2,000 H-1B visas still available

2,000 H-1B visas still available

Rediff.com25 Apr 2007

The United States immigration authorities have announced that 2,000 slots in the H1B visa category are still available for those holding American master's degree or advanced degrees.

US starts receiving applications for H-1B visas

US starts receiving applications for H-1B visas

Rediff.com2 Apr 2013

Officials said the Citizenship and Immigration Services would not issue daily update on number of applications received, but will make an announcement when the cap is reached.

US demand for skilled worker visas seen topping quota

US demand for skilled worker visas seen topping quota

Rediff.com2 Apr 2013

US companies, particularly in technology, say they need the visas to fill vacant positions.

H-1B visas: US slams Indian IT firms

H-1B visas: US slams Indian IT firms

Rediff.com7 Apr 2008

Two influential US Senators have renewed the campaign against the biggest users of H-1B visa workers in the US, including Indian heavyweights Infosys, Wipro, Satyam and Tata Consultancy Services. They fired off a missive to these companies asking how they employed professional and skilled workers, majority of whom hail from India.

US uses lottery to choose recipients of H-1B visas

US uses lottery to choose recipients of H-1B visas

Rediff.com9 Apr 2013

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday said that the lottery was done on April 7.

US gets 50,000 H-1B petitions' packages on 1st day

US gets 50,000 H-1B petitions' packages on 1st day

Rediff.com5 Apr 2013

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, officially, has not come out on the number of H-1B applications received by it since April 1 when it started accepting petitions for it for the fiscal 2014 beginning October 1, 2013.

H1-B visa cap reached

H1-B visa cap reached

Rediff.com3 Jun 2006

Surge in L1 visas to US presaged

Surge in L1 visas to US presaged

Rediff.com9 Mar 2004

Cap on US H-1B work visa reached

Cap on US H-1B work visa reached

Rediff.com13 Jun 2012

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it has reached the cap on Congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B work visas, the most sought after by Indian professionals.

US hikes visa processing fee by up to 75%

US hikes visa processing fee by up to 75%

Rediff.com19 Oct 2020

The move may result in a short-term cost impact for IT Indian companies, according to experts, despite the firms ramping up their local hiring and offshoring projects elsewhere to overcome visa-related issues.

USCIS to review its H1B cap exemptions

USCIS to review its H1B cap exemptions

Rediff.com17 Mar 2011

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced to review its policy in H-1B cap exemptions for non-profit entities that are related to or affiliated with an institution of higher education.

Another top Indian-American official bows out

Another top Indian-American official bows out

Rediff.com23 Feb 2008

Prakash Khatri, who created history when he was appointed the first-ever Ombudsman of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security tendered his resignation, effective February 29.

Microsoft filing for fewer H-1B visas

Microsoft filing for fewer H-1B visas

Rediff.com2 Apr 2009

This is primarily because of the current economic situation in the country, Microsoft said. "Given the economic downturn, we are filing substantially fewer H-1B applications than we filed last year," Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith wrote in a blog posting on microsoftissues.com.

H-1B work visas reach 65,000 cap

H-1B work visas reach 65,000 cap

Rediff.com24 Dec 2009

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that it has received sufficient number of applications to reach the mandated cap of 65,000 for working professionals for the fiscal ending September 30, 2010.

Under Trump shadow, US starts accepting H-1B visa applications

Under Trump shadow, US starts accepting H-1B visa applications

Rediff.com3 Apr 2018

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is the federal agency responsible to process the visas, on Monday started accepting applications for H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2019, beginning October 1.

Not many takers for H-1B visas

Not many takers for H-1B visas

Rediff.com19 Aug 2010

According to the latest figures released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, just 29,700 people had applied for H-1B visas till August 13.

FCRA bribery case leads to overhaul of MHA's foreigners division

FCRA bribery case leads to overhaul of MHA's foreigners division

Rediff.com7 Jun 2022

Following the arrest of six ministry of home affairs officials in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) bribery case, the foreigners division of MHA has been overhauled to break the chain of deep-rooted network.

US announces new norms for hiring of H-1B workers

US announces new norms for hiring of H-1B workers

Rediff.com21 Mar 2009

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the measures to enforce the provisions of the new Employ American Workers Act (EAWA) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which prohibits hiring of H-1B visa holders by American companies who receive the federal aid money.

Demand for H-1B visa drops in 2010

Demand for H-1B visa drops in 2010

Rediff.com6 Jan 2011

Of the 65,000 H-1B visas issued by the US annually, 11,000 were lying vacant at the end of 2010.

20,000 H-1B visas still available

20,000 H-1B visas still available

Rediff.com12 Aug 2009

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it has received approximately 49,000 H-1B petitions till August seven counting toward the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 cap, more than four months after it started accepting applications for visas for the 2010 fiscal beginning this October.

Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas

Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas

Rediff.com8 Jul 2010

Until May 14, the USCIS had received 19,000 petitions in the general category and 8,100 in the advanced degree category.

20,000 slots still left in H1B visas

20,000 slots still left in H1B visas

Rediff.com20 May 2009

Once the most sought after H-1B American work visa is still having nearly 20,000 slots open seven weeks after the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) started receiving applications for the financial year 2010 beginning October this year.

USCIS award for Subir Chowdhury

USCIS award for Subir Chowdhury

Rediff.com28 Apr 2009

Subir Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of ASI Consulting Group, LLC, has been named for the 'Outstanding American by Choice Award' by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) in recognition of his work and contributions to the US.

Low response to H-1B work visa

Low response to H-1B work visa

Rediff.com9 Apr 2010

A year ago, when thousands of people were handed pink slips, the USCIS had received 42,000 H-1B applications.

Only 42,000 H-1B visa applications in first week

Only 42,000 H-1B visa applications in first week

Rediff.com10 Apr 2009

The H-1B visas coveted by highly-skilled professionals mainly from India appear to be losing its sheen thanks to the economic downturn in the US when for the first time in years there were fewer takers even one week after authorities began accepting applications.