News

The United States Visa Applicant Centre (VAC) is now allowing applicants in India to submit interview waiver applications for free at any embassy or consulate.

United States government inspectors from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Justice (DOJ) may visit your workplace to investigate allegations or verify your foreign national workers’ employment authorization and employment details.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a temporary final rule adding 35,000 visas to the H-2B visa cap for fiscal year (FY) 2022.

A complex set of US laws governs the process of adopting a child internationally or sponsoring a child’s US immigration status. Jo

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has further extended its flexibility for delays in responding to certain agency requests for applicants and petitioners who are required to respond

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new efforts to help reduce backlogs and burdens to the immigration system. The new measure will include an expansion of the premium process program and goals to further reduce backlogs.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun to release its selection results for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B cap lottery. The selection process is ongoing and will continue until USCIS announces that it is complete.

he decision to file for divorce in California is certainly not an easy one. It can be legally complex, and emotionally difficult. The process varies based on the duration of your marriage, whether you have children, and most importantly, whether you can reach an agreement with your spouse.

Form I-9 is used to verify employment eligibility when hiring new employees or reverifying work authorization. All United States employers must gather and maintain original Form I-9 records for all employees, including foreign nationals.

Corporate litigation can strain your company’s resources and time. Chugh, LLP’s legal team works hard to help your company manage litigation quickly and effectively if it does arise.

Latin America presents exciting opportunities for business in the realms of growth and expansion. With these opportunities, your team’s global mobility becomes an important consideration.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will soon start issuing notices to certain E and L spouses that will be sufficient evidence of employment authorization when combined with an unexpired Form I-94.

Starting May 1, 2022, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will end the temporary policy allowing employers to accept expired List B documents.

The United States State Department has released its April 2022 Visa Bulletin. The bulletin features limited movement in Final Action Dates for most categories. However, EB-2 India advances two months in the Final Action Dates chart and a full year in the Dates for Filing chart.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an 18-month Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Afghan citizens living in the United States since March 15, 2022. TPS for Afghan nationals will take effect once it is published in the Federal Register.

Many businesses are expanding into Canada to take advantage of its business-friendly climate and pro-immigrant policies.

An injunction is a legal remedy which restrains one party from acting in a certain way. This form of relief is generally only available when there are no other solutions available and irreparable harm will result without the injunction.

Under The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), employees can file lawsuits against their employers for certain violations of the labor code. If successful, these employees can recover civil penalties for themselves, fellow employees, and the state of California. PAGA allows employees to file class action suits without meeting normal class …

The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA): What California Businesses Should Know Read More »

Foreign nationals have multiple options to establish businesses in the United States. Join Chugh, LLP Partner and Attorney Diya Mathews and Business Development and Outreach Manager Neha Mahajan for a live conversation on some of these immigration avenues

Due to the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an 18-month period.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is now accepting credit card payments at all service centers through a pilot program. To pay with a credit card at a USCIS service center, applicants should file Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.

The Office of Management and Budget has approved a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) final rule that would expand premium processing services to additional case types. The rule is one step closer to implementation with this approval.

The H-1B visa cap process can be overwhelming if you’re getting sponsored for the first time. During this video, we provide an overview of the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap process just in time for H-1B cap season.

Divorce is difficult. It can be even more challenging to go through a divorce if your partner is unwilling. Luckily, there are certain circumstances where New York state law allows for divorce from an unwilling spouse.

Starting April 1, 2022 USCIS will not accept combined joint fees for filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, or Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition  together with an H-1B or H-1B1 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.

Certain individuals may qualify for a green card through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) program.

As an attorney in the corporate/litigation department, Rajashree Rajasekaran appreciates working on a wide range of matters. The scope of her practice is varied, which keeps her work interesting and engaging.

On February 22, 2022, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opened its online system for the creation of new H-1B registrant accounts.

Companies may have a poor return on their sponsorship investment if they have trouble retaining their L, H-1B, and other nonimmigrant employees. Many large and small corporations alike turn to their attorneys for creative ways to retain employees or at least recoup training expenses.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed an updated rule for the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The new policy is essentially the same as the prior policy and will be published in the Federal Register in the next few days.

The United States Congress has passed a temporary spending measure to fund the US government through March 11, 2022. The bill will prevent a government shutdown as fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget negotiations continue. This is the third temporary budget Congress has passed to keep the government open during budget …

US Government Passes New Stopgap Spending Measure to Fund the Government Through March 11 Read More »

Businesses employing H-1B visa holders must legally meet certain notification requirements under the H-1B program.

Join our immigration experts for a lively conversation on some of your most pressing frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the H-1B visa.

The United States State Department has released its March 2022 Visa Bulletin. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will use the Dates for Filing chart to accept employment-based adjustment of status applications.

Starting on January 31, 2021, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented new Class of Admission (COA) codes for E and L dependent spouses. New I-94s created for E and L dependent spouses will reflect the new COA codes.

EB-5 visas provide investors with the opportunity to gain United States permanent residency if they meet certain conditions.

Join attorney Hooman Yavi for an overview of the four main types of business torts and what they entail. During this video conversation, Hooman also provides examples of business torts as they have played out in the real world.

Many green cards are available in the EB-1 and EB-2 preference categories this fiscal year. Interfiling may provide you with the opportunity to take advantage of faster green card processing times by switching your pending Form I-485 from another preference category to an EB-1 or EB-2 green card.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will open its initial H-1B cap registration period for fiscal year 2023 on March 1, 2022 at 12 PM Eastern Time (ET) through March 18, 2022 at 12 PM ET. During this period, petitioners and their representatives must submit online registrations for all …

USCIS Will Open H-1B Registration for FY 2023 on March 1, 2022 Read More »

The digital era has brought new attention to the data privacy debate. While there is limited national data privacy legislation at the time of publication, United States businesses may be subject to different privacy laws based on factors like which consumers purchase their products or services.

An unusually high number of employment-based green cards are available for the current fiscal year, October 2021 to September 2022. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is working to use all these visa numbers along with US Department of State.

Get ready for H-1B cap season with this informative conversation featuring Chugh, LLP Attorney Ujwala Bagal and Immigration Consultant Jagan Tamirisa, and host Business Development and Outreach Manager Neha Mahajan.

Beginning January 22, 2022, all non-US travelers entering the United States by land or ferry from Canada or Mexico will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination. The new policy will not apply to US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or US nationals.

The Secretary of Homeland Security is adding 22 new qualifying fields of study to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) STEM Designated Degree Program List for degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

On January 19, 2022, India suspended all commercial international flights to and from the country due to the ongoing COVID-19 surge. The suspension will last through February 28, 2022 at 11:59 PM IST.

Multiple business entity types can file requests with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including corporations, limited partnerships (LP), professional corporations (PC), limited liability companies and partnerships (LLC/LLP), and other legal entities.

The United States State Department has released its February 2022 Visa Bulletin. Applicants should refer to the new final action dates and dates for filing in employment-based categories. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet announced whether it will use the Final Action dates chart or the …

February 2022 Employment-Based Visa Bulletin: China and India EB-2 Cases Advance Read More »

The permanent labor certification (PERM) process is an important step in sponsoring an employee on a green card.  During this informative presentation, Partner and Attorney Min Kim, Paralegal Nina Scott-Curry, and Paralegal Hugo Cobain provide an easy-to-understand overview of what the PERM process entails.

Immigration law is a highly complex field. Although you may be tempted to go it alone, there can be serious consequences to handling your own immigration case without the help of an expert. A good immigration attorney can make all the difference in your chances for success.

Foreign nationals who receive a visa denial from the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) can appeal the decision with either a motion to reopen or reconsider, depending on the circumstances. An individual can file a motion to reconsider if they feel that the judge did not correctly apply …

Filing Motions to Reopen and Reconsider for Immigration Cases Read More »