EAD application to be revsied

Usually when you apply green card, you will get EAD (Employment Authorization Document) first. EAD application is called I-765 and will have new one. After July 9, 2008, USCIS will only accept the new edition of I-765 application so if you file Green Card yourself, do not forget to use the new form.

No more gap between F1 and H1B

Basically if your OPT expired, say, on April 1, you would have gap between April 1 and Oct 1 which was the H1B fiscal year starting date. Now your OPT can be extended within 30 days of your H1 B visa verification (this year you will join drawing). All you need to do is provide

1. receipt number
2. both the petitioner’s and beneficiary’s name,
3. date of birth,
4. I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) number,
5. Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number

send email with above info to

Vermont Service Center
Premium Processing cases: VSCPPCAPGAP.Vscppcapgap@dhs.gov
Non-Premium cases: VSCNONPPCAPGAP.Vscnonppcapgap@dhs.gov

California Service Center
Premium Processing cases: CSC.ppcapgap@dhs.gov
Non-Premium cases: CSC.nonppcapgap@dhs.gov

official announcement

USCIS ended random selection for 2009 H1B visa

Applicants should get receipt after June 2 if you get the cap. USCIS will deny duplicate applications so this year they have wait list for those who can replace eliminated petitions. Your application fee should be refund if you did not get the cap. Premium Processing should be processed within 15 days after April 14 the date USCIS run random selection. Good luck everyone.

More than 163,000 H1B visa applications received

163,000 H1B visa applications received including 31,200 advanced degree H1B Visa applications. I personally like the last year rule better; first come, first serve. This year, because USCIS wait 7 days to stop taking more applications so even you submitted on April 1, you will have the same chance to be eliminated with people who submitted on April 7. In other words, for advanced degree petition, unless first day USCIS reach 20,000 cap, you will get H1b visa for sure if you submitted on April 1 or maybe even April 3. It is pure luck whether you get H1B visa or not when you submitted application during these 7 days.

USCIS Reaches 2009 H-1B Visa Cap

For all H1B cap, including 20,000 cap for master degree or above, exhausted today. The good thing for advanced degree holders are that if you are not dawn by the 20,000 cap, you will automatically be part of 65,000 regular cap drawing so you got two chances. See official USCIS press release here.

17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training

News Confirmed. It seems OPT holder need to have 12 month OPT first and then apply extension. At the same time, rule did not include business graduate to extend OPT period. Only science, technology, engineering, or mathematics graduate can apply. See original official press release here.

ICE submit OPT extension proposal

ICE submitted OPT 17 month extension proposal to OMB(Office of Management and Budget), so if this passed, it will make OPT period from 12 month to 29 month. This will allow H1B visa applicants have more time to prepare the applications and reduce the chance to have a gap between H1B valid date and OPT expiration date. By the way , today is the second day of H1B visa submission and those quota should be gone fast as usual.