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Immigration Blog

We publish vlog/blog posts with accompanying articles covering a variety of immigration topics. They are classified by the following subjects: News, General, Waivers, Family Based, U-Visa, VAWA, Asylum, EB1/NIW, PERM/I140, EB4, EB5, Visitors (B1/B2/VWP), E2, F1, H1B, L1, and TN Visas. Click on the title on any of the articles to read the full blog post:
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Immigration Blog
H1B
Can an H1b Spouse Work (How to Apply for H4 EAD)? If you’re an H1B holder in the U.S., one of the biggest questions your family might have is this: “Can an H1B spouse work too?” The good news is yes — with something called the H4 Employment Authorization Document, or H4 EAD.
H1B
Vivek Ramaswamy wants to get rid of H-1B Visa. What could this mean? Introduction Indian-American entrepreneur and GOP presidential hopeful, Vivek Ramaswamy, has made headlines with his commitment to revamp the H-1B visa program, a system he himself utilized in the past to hire highly skilled foreign workers for his pharmaceutical company.
H1B
US Proposes Changes to H1B Lottery System: How Will it Effect Overseas Businesses? In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have unveiled proposed changes to the H-1B visa program. Currently, the H-1B visa lottery system allows individuals to file multiple applications through various employers or consultants, leading to the submission of duplicate petitions.
General
San Francisco Bay Area Low Cost & Pro Bono Immigration Services What are some of the best free and low-cost immigration service providers in the San Francisco Bay Area? Here are five of the best pro-bono and low-cost immigration service providers in the San Francisco Aay Area. Founded during a period of civil rights activism, this nonprofit organization provides crucial assistance navigating the complexities of the U.S.
General
Illegal Immigrant Super FAQ We share here 50+ of the most commonly asked questions pertaining to illegal immigrants categorized into five major categories (a) law enforcement related questions, (b) benefits and rights, (c) money and financial questions, (d) personal life and day-to-day living, and (e) immigration specific questions. A. Border patrol agents have the authority to stop vehicles near borders for immigration and customs enforcement purposes.
H1B
How Much Does H1b Sponsorship Cost in 2024? As of April 1, 2024 the new filing H-1B fees as per USCIS are: $460/$730 depending on employer size, and $500 fraud prevention fee for initial petition, $0/$600 Asylum Program Fee, $750/$1500 ACWIA fee depending on employer size. Attorney fees typically vary from $1500-$3500.
General
My Case is Being Actively Reviewed by USCIS, Now What? 2025 Contents 1 What does ‘Actively Reviewed’ by USCIS Mean? 2 What Happens During “Active Review”? 3 What You Can Expect 4 Common Confusion Around “Actively Being Reviewed” 5 What are the Stages of a Case Pending with USCIS? 6 What Are Normal USCIS Processing Times and How Do I Check?
General
I485 Trackitt & H1B Trackitt Tracker vs USCIS Processing Time Trackitt is used by thousands of people to track processing time for immigration cases, including H1B extensions, PERM Labor Certifications, I485 adjustment of status applications for green card, and N400 to name a few. The timeline from submission to decision can significantly impact lives and plans.
General
Compare Fragomen and American Visa Law Group to understand how large corporate immigration providers and attorney-led immigration firms may differ in communication, reviews, case strategy, Fragomen Connect access, and client experience.
General
Immigration Lawyer Free Consultation Options? Looking for a free consultation immigration lawyer? Here at the American Visa Law Group, we don’t necessarily offer free consultations in every case, but we have carved out some exceptions. In particular, we offer free consultations for marriage-based I-130 petitions, K-1 fiancée petitions, and parent sponsorship cases without complications.
News
Is Trump’s Mass Deportation Plan a Real Threat? Donald Trump’s administration has laid out a vision for what it calls the “largest deportation operation in American history.” This initiative has sparked both fervent support of mass deportation Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled an ambitious plan for what they refer to as the largest deportation operation in American history.
Asylum
Top 10 Asylum Seeker African Countries Let’s talk about 10 countries in Africa where you could face prison if you expressed a negative opinion criticizing the president, leader, or the government. This is important to know because if you have put yourself at such risk, the United States offers political asylum.
General
How to Get a Green Card Through Your Job Obtaining a green card through employment is one of the most common pathways to permanent residency in the United States. This process allows individuals to live and work in the U.S. on a long-term basis. Here is a comprehensive guide to understanding the process and ensuring your success.
H1B
Self-Sponsored H1B for Startup Entrepreneurs in 2025 USCIS is going to implement new rules for H1B in 2025. The most impactful rule will allow you, as a startup entrepreneur, to self-sponsor H1B. Traditionally, qualifying for an H-1B visa required demonstrating an employer-employee relationship. This relationship ensured that the beneficiary was employed by a separate entity, with ownership distinct from the individual applying for the visa.
Family Based
Learn 20 marriage-based green card interview red flags USCIS may question in 2025 and what may still matter in 2026, including weak evidence, inconsistent answers, prior immigration history, financial sponsorship issues, and Stokes interview concerns.
H1B
H1B Lottery 2025 Edition Guide – What’s New and What to Expect Every year, the demand for H1B visas in the United States significantly exceeds the available supply. To manage this, USCIS conducts a lottery to select the applicants who can proceed to file full petitions. Understanding the intricacies of this lottery process, along with its timelines and changes, is crucial for both applicants and their employers.
General
Marriage-based Green Card – Attorney vs Boundless Immigration vs DIY Reviewing Options for Marriage-Based Sponsorship with Adjustment of Status Introduction: In this article we explore the different options available for completing a marriage-based sponsorship petition with adjustment of status. Whether you’re just starting your immigration journey or considering how to proceed, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons of each option to make the best decision for your case.
H1B
H-1B Self Sponsorship for Businesses Owners FAQ Contents 1 What is the new regulation about H-1B sponsorship for business owners? 2 What are the requirements for a business to be eligible for H-1B sponsorship? 3 What are the initial conditions for H-1B approval? 4 Can a business owner self-sponsor for a PERM (Permanent Labor Certification)?
News
Trump Immigration Policy Changes in 2025: Complete Guide Contents 1 Key Immigration Policy Proposals 2 Changes to Legal Immigration System 3 Enforcement and Deportation Policies 4 Economic and Social Impact Analysis 5 Legislative and Legal Considerations 6 Recapping Trump Immigration Policy 2.0 Have you noticed how immigration has become the defining issue of our time?
EB1/NIW
EB1A Criteria Requirements Ultimate Guide for 2025 Ever wondered what it really takes to meet requirements for the extraordinary ability EB1A criteria? If you’re an expert in your field, this could be your ticket to a green card to live and work in the U.S. But here’s the catch—it’s not just about being great at what you do; it’s about proving, with solid evidence, that you’re among the best.
EB1/NIW
EB1A Awards Criteria RFE? How to Qualify Winning an award feels great—but does it actually help your EB1A extraordinary ability petition? Many applicants assume that any recognition is enough, only to find out that USCIS applies strict standards when evaluating the EB1A awards criteria. Contents hide 1 Understanding the EB1A Awards Criteria 2 What Qualifies as an EB1A-Recognized Award?
EB1/NIW
EB1A Membership Criteria RFE? How to Qualify Professional memberships can be a great way to demonstrate expertise in your field—but does simply being a member of an organization help your EB1A extraordinary ability petition to meet the EB1A membership criteria? Not necessarily. Contents hide 1 Understanding the EB1A Membership Criteria 2 What Qualifies as an EB1A-Recognized Membership?
EB1/NIW
EB1A Published Material Criteria RFE? How to Qualify Having your work featured in major media outlets can be a powerful way to prove your extraordinary ability under the EB1A visa under the EB1A published material criteria. But not all published material qualifies. Contents hide 1 Understanding the EB1A Published Material Criteria 2 What Qualifies as EB1A-Recognized Published Material?
EB1/NIW
EB1A Judging Criteria RFE? How to Qualify Being selected to judge the work of others in your field is a strong indicator of extraordinary ability under the EB1A Judging Criteria. But not all judging roles count. Contents hide 1 Understanding the EB1A Judging Criteria 2 What Qualifies as EB1A-Recognized Judging Experience?
EB1/NIW
EB1A Original Contribution Criteria? How to Qualify To qualify for an EB1A extraordinary ability visa, you may show that your work has had a significant impact in your field. One of the most critical criteria is proving that you have made original contribution of major significance, this is called the EB1A original contribution criteria.
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