Immigration Update with Lin Walker

We received an interesting question recently from a person who wanted to know how he could come to the U.S. to work as an EDM DJ. Being an EDM DJ was his dream but he had yet to start working as one and wanted to know if he could come to the U.S. as a tourist or student and start working as a DJ to build his portfolio. We’re going to break down this inquiry for our lightning round this week.

Since April 2022, we received two L-1A RFEs, where we were able to successfully advocate on behalf of our clients to get the cases approved. As we like to do from time to time, we want to share with you a little bit about how we tackle problems like this.

This week, we’re going to answer your questions about some of the important documentation required for U.S. immigration purposes: the visa, I-94 and I-797 approval notice.

This week, we’re going to answer your questions about applying for a nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. “Can I apply for my nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad?” “How can I determine how long it takes to make a visa appointment?” “How do I apply for a nonimmigrant visa?”

In this special edition of the Meyner & Landis Lightning Round we talk to podcast and video producer Mike Pulcinella. Mike is a seasoned documentary and video producer, originally working in the fitness industry, amassing over 38 Million views of his YouTube channel in his fifteen year career. He now helps legal professionals and others quickly and inexpensively create podcasts and videos to h...

We’re back with this week’s lightning round, where we want to discuss some of the basic issues that have come up repeatedly. “Can I use DocuSign or another electronically generated signature application to sign a petition or application to be filed with USCIS?” "Can I file my application with the Texas Service Center since it’s faster?” “I filed my adjustment of status application without my medic...

In response to ongoing and extensive processing delays, on May 4, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Temporary Final Rule (TFR), which automatically extends the employment authorization documents (EADs) of certain foreign nationals from 180 days to 540 days. But who is eligible for the 540-day automatic extension? Listen to this week's podcast and find out!

On March 30, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS or the Agency) published a final rule that expands premium processing service for additional immigration benefits, which will become effective on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

As many foreign nationals, U.S. employers and immigration practitioners are aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on those seeking to travel internationally. From geographic travel bans to the sudden closures of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, the past two years have created significant challenges for foreign nationals seeking to obtain visas to enter the United States. As COVID-19...

We sat through eight hours of presentations, so you didn’t have to! This is our roundup of the significant take-aways from this year’s AILA conference. Here are the 21 things you need to know.

In recent months, we have seen an increase in the number of Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in connection to Form I-140, Immigrant Petitions for Alien Worker, (I-140 Petition) filed by U.S. employers on behalf of foreign national employees, which is a required step in the employment-based lawful permanent reside...

In this podcast we will dissect the criteria required for the O-1A visa, which is reserved for individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics. While most companies and foreign nationals are familiar with the H-1B, L-1A, L-1B and TN employment-based nonimmigrant visa classifications, the O-1A visa classification is not as well known or understood, quite possi...

If you have not yet filed your H-1B registrations, do not despair, as you have about another 5 days to do so. But you might want to put filing at the top of your to-do list this week! On this episode of the Immigration Update podcast, we want to help out by providing you with some tips to navigate this challenging administrative process.

In this episode, immigration partner Lin Walker discusses several ways in which Meyner & Landis has been successful in securing expedited nonimmigrant visa appointments and immigration benefits through judicious and zealous advocacy on behalf of her clients.

This week we present part 3 of our STEM talent updates. This episode focuses on the new immigration policies directly impacting foreign nationals seeking employment-based immigrant visa classification as individuals whose work is in the national interest of the United States.

This week we received two really good questions about the upcoming H-1B Registration for Fiscal Year 2023. “When does the H-1B Registration start this year?” “My prospective H-1B employer has three (3) subsidiaries in the United States. Is it okay for my prospective employer and all three subsidiaries to each file an H-1B registration for me?”

On January 24, 2022, our podcast Extended Immigration Benefits for STEM Talent detailed the extended immigration benefits for F-1 and J-1 visa holders who are studying or working in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (“STEM”) fields. This week we have part two to that update which focuses on the new immigration policies directly impacting O-1A individuals of extraordinary ability...

We answer your questions: My H-1b status expires July 1st. My husband's H-4 status and H-4 EAD also expires March 1st. If my H-1b extension is filed with Premium Processing, will that expedite his EAD? My H-1B registration was selected in the third round, what is my deadline to file? My H-1B was filed under the U. S. Masters cap exemption. My employer and their attorney are filing under the regula...

This week we have a very quick but very encouraging update of importance to those in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. On January 21, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration issued a Fact Sheet entitled, “Biden-Harris Administration Actions to Attract STEM Talent and Strengthen our Economy and Competitiveness,” (called the “Biden-Harris Initiative”), which announced seve...

The Lightning Round Q&A is a chance for you to ask us your pressing employment and family based immigration questions.

Welcome to Season 2! 2021 has certainly had its share of challenges, and while we are hopeful that 2022 will see us pulling out of this pandemic and returning to normal, there are still many hurdles to overcome in the world of immigration for business, not the least of which is the enormous delays in processing of applications and petitions we have been seeing at USCIS. In this first episode of th...

This week we received a lot of questions about traveling during the upcoming holidays and the ever-changing COVID restrictions and rules.

As 2021 comes to an end, many global travel restrictions have been lifted and we are entering the peak holiday travel season, so it’s important that we revisit the Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, and its importance to foreign nationals who enter the United States as nonimmigrants. Discrepancies in the Arrival /Departure record is a problem we see here much too often at Meyner & Landis and...

This week we received an interesting question about a violation of nonimmigrant status and its impact on adjustment of status.

Immigration partner Lin Walker shares breaking news that affects international travel. With the holiday season and peak travel time upon us, it is really essential to understand the COVID-19 related travel restrictions and requirements that have been recently implemented.