by Heidi Meyers | Oct 14, 2016 | Articles
For November 2016, the first and second employment preferences remain current worldwide. The second preference for China has progressed from a priority date of February 15, 2012 to a priority date of July 15, 2012 from October 2016 to November 2016, a leap forward of five months. The second preference for India has progressed only about two weeks, from January 15, 2007 in October to November 1, 2007 in November 2016, a small step in the right direction. The third preference worldwide has advanced from June 1, 2016 in October to July 1 2016 in November, keeping up at a good pace. Mexico is at the same date, July 1, 2016 for the third preference. The third preference for China has moved from January 22, 2013 to April 15, 2013, a wait of about three and a half years. The third preference for India has gone from March 1, 2005 to March 8, 2005, advancing by only one week and abysmally stuck at more than 11 years behind, and increasing. The third preference for the Philippines has moved from December 1, 2010 to April 1, 2011, advancing four months, but still about a five and a half year wait. Other workers for all countries have the same dates as the third preference, with the exception of China, which is backlogged to September 1, 2005.
Good news, religious workers immigrant visas have gone from totally unavailable for all countries during October 2016, to being current for all countries in November 2016 except for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, which are at July 15, 2015. Fourth preference is also current for all countries except for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, again at July 15, 2015.
by Heidi Meyers | Sep 20, 2016 | Articles
October is the beginning of the government’s fiscal year, when new visa numbers become available. The October 2016 State Dept. visa bulletin provides relief to those in the worldwide EB-2 category, moving from being backlogged at February 2014 in September to being current in October. EB-2 for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and the Philippines are also all current for October. EB-2 China has moved from being backlogged at January 1, 2010 in September, moving up to February 15, 2012 for October. EB-2 India has moved from February 22, 2005 in September to January 15, 2007 in October.
EB-3 worldwide remains steady at June 1, 2016, not much of a wait at all. EB-3 for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico are also all at June 1, 2016. EB-3 for China has gone from January 1, 2010 in September to January 22, 2013 in October, a leap forward of more than three years. EB-3 India disappointingly has gone from February 15, 2005 in September to March 1, 2005 for October, advancing only about two weeks. EB-3 Philippines has advanced modestly from July 1, 2010 to December 1, 2010.
Unfortunately for reverends, rabbis, priests, nuns, imams and other religious workers, visas in the religious worker category are totally unavailable for all countries.
by Heidi Meyers | Sep 2, 2016 | Articles
Foreign students who major in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs may get a total of three years of work authorization, whereas foreign students who have other majors only get one year of work authorization after graduation. Because of the severe shortage of H-1B visa numbers and restrictions on other temporary visas, a non-STEM student with only one year of OPT (optional practical training) after graduation may not be able to get an H-1B visa number, not qualify for other temporary work visas, and have to depart the U.S. Those with STEM majors, on the other hand, may get a total of three years of OPT (an initial one year, and then a two-year extension), and so have much more time to try to get an H-1B visa number or qualify for another type of temporary status or even the green card.
However, students should not major in subjects in which they are not interested, as you are not going to succeed in an area in which you have no interest. Students should choose a major that is exciting and interesting to them. For students who are not interested in the obvious computer science, engineering, math, biology majors, there are many majors within the STEM program which may suit their interests more closely, turn out to be a good fit, and then allow them to stay and work in the US for that extra two years. So if the usual suspects in terms of STEM majors leave you feeling ho-hum, go find something else!
For animal lovers, Animal Sciences, Animal Health and Animal Nutrition are all STEM majors, as is almost any major with the word “Veterinary” in it. For those worried about global warming and saving the environment, there are many STEM majors, including the following: Natural Resources Conservation and Research; Environmental Studies; Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management; Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management; Forest Science; and many others.
For those interested in the social sciences, there are many options, including for example: Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics; Comparative Psychology; Developmental and Child Psychology; Social Psychology; Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; and Archeology, among others.
For those interested in media and communications, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia as well as Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects are STEM majors.
For those interested in a military career, there are many STEM majors, including: Intelligence, General; Strategic Intelligence; Information/Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations; Military Applied Sciences; Naval Science and Operational Studies; as well as many others. For students interested in security and law enforcement, Forensic Science and Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism are STEM majors.
For a complete list of STEM majors, look at the STEM Designated Degree Program List Effective May 10, 2016 on the USICE web site.
by Heidi Meyers | Sep 2, 2016 | Articles
Trump surrogate Marco Gutierrez is warning of the great threat posed by immigrants, particularly Latino immigrants, stating that if the American people don’t watch out, we will have “taco trucks on every corner”.
See the Huffington Post article, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/taco-trucks-on-every-corner_us_57c8d112e4b078581f127680.
I couldn’t help myself, have a good weekend!
by Heidi Meyers | Aug 27, 2016 | Articles
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a proposed regulation to increase entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in the United States. The proposed rule would allow the use of parole on a case-by-case basis for entrepreneurs of start-up companies whose entry into the United States would provide a significant public benefit through the potential for rapid business growth and job creation. Favorable factors would include the receipt of significant capital investment from U.S. investors with established records of successful investments of at least $345,000, or obtaining significant awards or grants of $100,000 or more from certain Federal, State or local government agencies. If the entrepreneur lacks government financing or capital investment from US investors, he or she could provide other evidence of their start-up company’s significant potential for rapid growth and job creation. The applicant would have to show that he or she has a substantial ownership interest in the business of at least 15%, has the skills, knowledge and experience to run a business, and would substantially further the company’s ability to do research and development, or to conduct and grow the business in the U.S. The company must have been newly formed within three years prior to the application for parole. The grant of parole provides the applicant with the opportunity to oversee and grow the start-up entity:
“DHS believes that this proposal would encourage foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop start-up entities with high growth potential in the United States, which are expected to facilitate research and development in the country, create jobs for U.S. workers, and otherwise benefit the U.S. economy through increased business activity, innovation and dynamism.”
This parole to entrepreneurs would provide a temporary stay of up to two years, which could be extended for another three years. For an extension, the entrepreneur would have to show substantial increases in capital investment, revenue, or job creation by their company. It is not clear whether people who have been living in the U.S. out-of-status would be eligible.
Please note, this is only a proposed rule, and is not yet in effect. Thus, no one can currently apply for parole for entrepreneurs. The Obama administration hopes to finalize the rule before the end of 2016.
