DHS Releases Nonimmigrant Admission Statistics for 2013 | Columbus Immigration Lawyer

The Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") Office of Immigration Statistics recently announced the number and characteristics of nonimmigrant admissions to the U.S. in 2013. In 2013, there were 173 million nonimmigrant admissions to the U.S. according to DHS. 

173 million nonimmigrant admissions in 2013.

The experienced business immigration lawyer at Porter Law Office, LLC guides employers and employees in Columbus, Ohio and throughout the United States through the complicated procedures involved in the immigration process.  

Contact Columbus employment immigration lawyer Matthew R. Porter today for free consultation to discuss your nonimmigrant options.

H-1B Cap Reached for Fiscal Year 2013

If you are working in Ohio on OPT or finishing up your graduate studies, and were hoping to get in under the H-1B cap to start working on October 1, 2012 (the 2013 fiscal year), you are out of luck.  USCIS announded that the annual limit for H-1B petitions was reached as of June 11, 2012.  Any cap-subject petitions received after that date will be rejected.  Even though you might have missed the H-1B cap, you still have options.  Ohio H-1B lawyer's recent blog article about other visa options in lieu of the H-1B visa.

USCIS Accepting H-1Bs for FY2013 on April 2, 2012

This is an important message for employers and H-1B employees in Columbus, Ohio.  H-1B cap season is on the horizon and USCIS has announced that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions under the 2013 cap on April 2, 2012.  USCIS provides detailed information on its website about preparing the H-1B petition.  If you will be filing an H-1B cap petition on behalf of an employee, I would encourage you to read USCIS's website information, which I have provided the link to here.  If you should have any questions on the H-1B cap, contact me anytime.

Guidance for H-1B Cap Gap Issues in Upcoming H-1B Cap Season

Get ready employers, the H-1B cap season is right around the corner!  As an immigration lawyer in Columbus, Ohio I would like to provide this update to H-1B employers. In anticipation of the upcoming H-1B cap season, which begins on April 1, 2012, this article discusses what an H-1B candidate currently on OPT or in F-1 status can expect when his/her OPT expires during the summer. 

This article outlines the H-1B cap gap rules and provides some guidance for those H-1B candidates who wish to take advantage of the cap gap rules. 

H-1B Visa Options Before April 1, 2012 Cap (Part 2)

Visa Options In Lieu of H1B Visa

Porter Law Office, LLC represents individuals and businesses with all aspects of employment immigration, including H1B visas. As an immigration lawyer, Matthew R. Porter provides frequent updates to H1B employers to assist with HR planning. Part one of this H-1B blog discussed the general considerations in visa options when dealing with the H1B cap.  If you are still looking to temporarily hire a foreign national on an H1B visa for an H1B cap visa, consider one of following H1B visa alternative visa options.  

Columbus Ohio Immigration Lawyer Recent Publication in American Immigration Lawyer's Association VOICE Magazine

Matthew R. Porter, Esq., Columbus, Ohio immigration lawyer, recently published an article in the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) VOICE online magazine.  The article is a Spotlight on how to market oneself in the ever-changing immigration environment in Columbus, Ohio and across the country. The H-1B visa is the "workhorse" of the employment-based temporary visa category.  The H-1B visa offers a unique opportunity for both the employer and lawyer to collaborate and create an ongoing relationship. The article addresses how the ever-changing immigration laws can greatly impact the attorney client relationship. Read the full article, "How to Market Oneself in Changing Times."

The K-1 Fiance Visa and K-3 Spouse Visa: Bring Your Loved One to the U.S. Permanently

Porter Law Office, LLC provides frequent updates on the K visa.  The K visa is a “hybrid” visa because it is a temporary visa that provides a path to a green card.  The K category includes the K-1 visa, which is for a fiance of a U.S. citizen and his or her children under 21 years of age. The K category also includes the K-3 visa, which is for a spouse of a U.S. citizen and his or her unmarried children under 21 years of age. Once you obtain a K visa, you can come to the U.S. and apply for a green card.