E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is Implemented for Israeli Nationals

Beginning May 1st of 2019, the E-2 Treaty Investor will be made available to qualifying citizens of Israel.

Ekaterina PowellApril 18, 2019Employment-Based Visas, Employment Immigration Attorney, E-2, E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, Investor Visas, Israel, Israeli Citizens, Immigration Law, Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

New CBP Directive on Search of Electronic Devices and How to Ensure Ethical Responsibility Over Confidential Information

Details concerning CBP’s recently announced directive on its practice of searching electronic devices at U.S. ports of entry, and how attorneys can best ensure they are protecting their clientele’s privileged information.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 26, 2019San Francisco, San Diego, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Silicon Valley, California, Los AngelesComment

H-1B Visas for FY 2020: USCIS Announces Filing Date, Updates, & Changes

Along with the filing date for cap-subject fiscal year 2020 H-1B specialty occupation visas, USCIS has announced a number of other important changes and updates to the program.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 25, 2019Employment-Based Visas, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Immigration Law, Employment Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-907, Form I-129, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHSComment

USCIS Validity Rule Change for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

An outline of what has been modified in evaluating a Form I-693 medical examination report’s validity and how forms submitted before and after the policy change are affected.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 4, 2019Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-485, Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination RecordComment

Success Story: Petition for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver in Business

A success story transcribing the process in which Powell Immigration Law, PC obtained approval for a EB-2 NIW petition, allowing an accomplished entrepreneur to direct his new bakery venture in the United States.

Ekaterina PowellFebruary 27, 2019Success Story, Immigration Law, Immigration Lawyer, Business Immigration Attorney, EB-2, EB-2 NIW Green Card, Visa, Employment-Based Visas, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Entrepreneur, National Interest Waiver, BakeryComment

L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa: USCIS Announces a Restrictive New Interpretation

A new USCIS memo introduces changes to the L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa’s requirements that could very well result in severe complications concerning one’s eligibility for the benefit.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 21, 2019California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Employment Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, L-1B, L-1A, L-1 Intracompany Transfer Visa, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, E-2, Policy MemorandumComment

TN Visa for Mexican and American Citizens - A Technical Writer's Success Story

A success story from our firm elucidating how an initially rejected petition for the TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens was triumphantly revised after a technical publications writer sought our help.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 17, 2019Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens, CBP, Customs and Border Protection, California, Los Angeles, Immigration Lawyer, Employment Immigration Attorney, Technical Publications Writer, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

DHS’s Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa Lottery Process

DHS has proposed rule changes that will significantly impact the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa program, namely the process petitioners will apply under and the order by which applications will be selected.

Ekaterina PowellDecember 14, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Employers, Employees, Employment-Based Visas, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Law, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

USCIS's Changes to Unlawful Presence for Exchange Visitors and Students

Some considerations and tips for avoiding lasting consequences due to changes in the accrual of unlawful presence for F and M students and J exchange visitors.

A More In-Depth Look at USCIS's New NTA Policy Memorandum

Here we take a look at some of the more minute details and effects of USCIS’s Notice to Appear (NTA) policy memorandum, as well as how it may work out in certain situations.

New USCIS Policy on Denying Applications

A new policy memorandum grants additional discretion to USCIS adjudicators in denying visa applications.

Ekaterina PowellSeptember 4, 2018USCIS, Employment-Based Visas, Visas, Green Card, Business Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon ValleyComment

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visa Petitions

USCIS will extend its suspension of premium processing services for H-1B petitions into next year.

Ekaterina PowellAugust 30, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Employment-Based Visas, entrepreneur immigration, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

Ivan's O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa RFE Success Story

A success story in which an unusual RFE was received for a business coach’s O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa questioning nearly every one of our client’s claims.

Ekaterina PowellJune 19, 2018o-1 visa, O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa, Business Coach, Employment-Based Visas, Business Immigration Attorney, Requests for Evidence, RFE, California, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley Comment

USCIS Gives Answers on New Security Measures for Document Delivery

With concern to its new policies on the secure delivery of important documents, USCIS has provided some clarification as to what these changes will demand of those affected by them.

Ekaterina PowellJune 13, 2018USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Green Card, Visas, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Lawyer, Business Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San FranciscoComment

DHS Proposes the Removal of the International Entrepreneur Rule

After much foreshadowing, the Department of Homeland Security finally announces its proposed removal of the International Entrepreneur Rule.

Ekaterina PowellMay 31, 2018IER, International Entrepreneur Rule, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, Business Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, Entrepreneurs, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

USCIS Completes Lottery Selection of the Year's H-1B Visa Petitions

USCIS has announced the completion of its data entry for all FY 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in its computerized random selection process.

Ekaterina PowellMay 18, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Employment-Based Visas, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Business Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

Change in the Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, M and J Nonimmigrants

USCIS has issued a new memorandum modifying its policy in determining the accrual of unlawful presence for F nonimmigrant students, J nonimmigrant exchange visitors and M nonimmigrant vocational students.

Ekaterina PowellMay 17, 2018F-1 Student Visa, J Exchange Visitor Visa, M Vocational Student Visa, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Business Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Silicon ValleyComment

Sean's RFE in Response to his L-1B Petition - Success Story

In this success story we give background information on the trouble with proving specialized knowledge in L-1B Intracompany Transfer Visas and a real case in which we successfully responded to a request for evidence for a client.

Ekaterina PowellMay 10, 2018RFE, Requests for Evidence, California, L-1B, Business Immigration Attorney, E, Employment-Based Visas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon ValleyComment

Isaac's EB-1A Green Card Petition Success Story

Here is another success story from our firm, this time in our securing of an EB-1A green card for our client’s work and business in air quality analytics.