June 2015 Visa Bulletin Posted
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2015. There was forward movement in most employment-based and family-based categories. This Bulletin also includes a statistical breakdown, by country, of the applicants for the diversity visa lottery program for fiscal year 2016. There were over 11 million qualified entries received from around the world during the application period.
To see the full bulletin, visit:
Unlocking Employment Opportunities: H-1B Spouses Eligible for Work
On May 26, 2015, USCIS will begin accepting applications for work authorization from certain H-1B spouses.
For a long time, H-1B spouses could not work until they got a green card. Given the wait in certain categories and for citizens of certain countries, this meant these spouses, often well-educated professionals, sat idle. This is a waste of an important American resource - educated individuals who would contribute to the economy as they wait to become permanent residents and eventually citizens of the United States. See our previous post for more information:
https://www.huwelaw.com/blog/2015/03/tapping-american-resource-some-h-4-visa.html
H-1B spouses hold an H-4 visa and are eligible to work under two scenarios: (1) The H-1B holder has an approved I-140; or (2) The H-1B holder has received an extension beyond the six-year limit pursuant to specific provisions of AC21. H-1B extensions beyond year six are granted when the H-1B spouse is in process of a PERM labor certification or an I-140 immigrant petition that was filed at least 365 days prior to the end of the sixth year of H-1B status.
Eligibility and application are complex, especially given that these are new regulations. If you think you or your spouse may qualify for work authorization, contact us at TheTeam@huwelaw.com to begin the process.
Nicole's Inspiring Speech at Yerba Buena High
Yesterday, Hurtubise Weber Law attorney Nicole Abramowitz Weber had the pleasure of speaking to students at Yerba Buena High School in San Jose, California. Nicole was asked to speak at the school's Career Day for the third year in a row.
Nicole talked with three large groups of high school juniors about how to become a lawyer, her personal career journey, and the vast array of options available in the legal profession. The students asked some great questions, including:
"How stressful is it to be a lawyer, based on the amount of hours you have to work and the work itself?"
"What should I do now as a high school student to prepare to become a lawyer - are there certain classes that I should take or internships that I should try to get?"
"How did you start your own law practice?"
Nicole really enjoys speaking at this event and plans to return again next year.
Go Warriors!
Visa Bulletin May 2015
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for May 2015. There was slight forward movement in most family-based categories. There were a couple of interesting changes in the employment-based categories. Notably, the EB-2 category for India progressed by more than seven months, and the EB-5 category for China retrogressed by nearly two years.
To see the full bulletin, visit:
Hurtubise Weber Law Presents DACA and DAPA for PACT and Fiesta Educativa
Hurtubise Weber Law recently had the privilege of reaching out to our local immigrant community on two different occasions.
On Tuesday, March 10th, we spoke with a group of about 60 members of the San Jose community at an event held by PACT (People Acting in Community Together) of San Jose. PACT is a grassroots organization whose mission is to empower everyday people to create a more just community. To learn more, visit
.
On Friday, March 27th, the firm spoke with an intimate group of parents of children with special needs at a meeting held by Fiesta Educativa of San Jose. Fiesta Educativa is an organization whose mission is to inform and assist Latino families in obtaining services for their children with special needs. To learn more, visit
.
We volunteered at both events to raise awareness of the President's new DAPA (deferred action for parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents) program and the expansion of the current DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program. We were able to answer a variety of good questions posed by community members regarding eligibility for these programs.
If you have questions about these programs, please contact us at TheTeam@huwelaw.com.
