Business Immigration Articles

AAO issues precedent decision changing the National Interest Waiver standard https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mechanic-170271.jpg 2100 1525 Andrew Grzegorek Andrew Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfcf6c32f1e20f44f15eeab33bd1e499a3c00d2be0f4327095e64c463b7f8283?s=96&d=mm&r=g January 4, 2017 June 4, 2019

Andrew Grzegorek
January 4, 2017

AAO issues precedent decision changing the National Interest Waiver standard

On December 27, 2016, the Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a precedent decision, Matter of Dhanasar, which changes the adjudicatory standard for petitioners seeking a national interest waiver (“NIW”) of the job offer and labor certification requirement. As background, this waiver is available to second-preference employment-based immigrants (advanced…

Museums and other non-profit institutions are now eligible to bring in J-1 Research Scholars through a third-party host organization https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/notes-933111_1920.jpg 1920 1280 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 23, 2016 June 4, 2019

Kathleen Grzegorek
November 23, 2016

Museums and other non-profit institutions are now eligible to bring in J-1 Research Scholars through a third-party host organization

The U.S. Department of State promotes the J-1 research scholar program to “facilitate the exchange of ideas and research in a variety of fields between people of the U.S. and people of other countries.” The research scholar category is reserved for foreign nationals who enter the country to primarily conduct research, observe, or consult in…

DHS Final Rule on Retention of Immigrant Workers and Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Seal_of_the_United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security.svg_.png 2000 1994 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 23, 2016 June 4, 2019

Kathleen Grzegorek
November 23, 2016

DHS Final Rule on Retention of Immigrant Workers and Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers

DHS Final Rule on Retention of Immigrant Workers and Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers After 16 years of waiting, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued final rules that will have a significant impact on foreign nationals in employment-based nonimmigrant status, as well as in the long queues for immigrant status (“green cards”).…

Mandatory EVUS Registration for Chinese Travelers https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Chinese_flag_Beijing_-_IMG_1104.jpg 1723 1149 Andrew Grzegorek Andrew Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfcf6c32f1e20f44f15eeab33bd1e499a3c00d2be0f4327095e64c463b7f8283?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 15, 2016 June 4, 2019

Andrew Grzegorek
November 15, 2016

Mandatory EVUS Registration for Chinese Travelers

Starting on November 29, 2016, mainland Chinese nationals carrying 10-year B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visas in their passports must enroll in the electronic visa update system (EVUS) in order to travel to the United States. EVUS is an online system that collects biographic data to facilitate travel to the United States. A third party (i.e.…

Revised I-9 Form Now Available https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/U.S._Citizenship_and_Immigration_Service-e1479248211302.jpg 3423 2743 Josie Gonzalez Josie Gonzalez https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8816896efe7fb845c10028176ca37d182ad7616868b08a567b1aa82c30c4b308?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 15, 2016 June 4, 2019

Josie Gonzalez
November 15, 2016

Revised I-9 Form Now Available

On November 14, 2016 USCIS released a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers may continue using Form I-9 with a revision date of March 3, 2013 through January 21, 2017. Effective January 22, 2017, employers must use the new form. The new form may now be considered a “smart” I-9 because most fields have…

USCIS Fees To Increase https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/calculator-385506_1920.jpg 1920 1131 Andrew Grzegorek Andrew Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfcf6c32f1e20f44f15eeab33bd1e499a3c00d2be0f4327095e64c463b7f8283?s=96&d=mm&r=g November 2, 2016 June 4, 2019

Andrew Grzegorek
November 2, 2016

USCIS Fees To Increase

What will happen to immigration issues after the election? One thing for sure – irrespective of who wins the election, filing fees for a majority of immigration petitions and applications will increase. The rule is in effect for applications or petitions mailed, postmarked, or otherwise filed on or after December 23, 2016. The table…

SGG attorneys voted Southern California Top Women Immigration Lawyers…again! https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/LA-MAG-September-2016.jpg 1200 1575 Andrew Grzegorek Andrew Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfcf6c32f1e20f44f15eeab33bd1e499a3c00d2be0f4327095e64c463b7f8283?s=96&d=mm&r=g October 7, 2016 June 4, 2019

Andrew Grzegorek
October 7, 2016

SGG attorneys voted Southern California Top Women Immigration Lawyers…again!

SGG attorneys named to exclusive Super Lawyers list of Top Women in Southern California in Los Angeles Magazine Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP congratulates its Super Lawyers Top Women: Partners Kathy Grzegorek, Josie Gonzalez, and Heather Poole. Selected by peer review, our attorneys are trusted to handle diverse U.S. immigration cases. The Super Lawyers stringent selection process is what sets…