FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registration Period Extended

USCIS has extended the fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025) H-1B cap registration period. The new deadline to submit cap registrations is Monday, March 25, 2024 at noon Eastern Daylight Time. The extension comes after employers and their legal representatives encountered numerous technical problems with the reconfigured USCIS electronic registration system, preventing the submission and payment of registrations.

Registration commenced March 6, 2024, and was supposed to close at Noon on March 22. Employers intending to file H-1B cap petitions  now have a few extra days to complete registrations.  Employers must still use  their USCIS online accounts to submit registrations by the March 25 deadline.  Despite the extended registration period, USCIS still expects to conduct the random selection process and notify selected registrants by March 31, 2024.

Gibney will provide relevant updates as announced.  General information about FY 2025 H-1B cap registration process is available  here.  For additional information, please contact you designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

April 2024 Immigration Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State released the April 2024 Visa Bulletin. USCIS will continue to accept employment-based Adjustment of Status applications based on the Final Action Dates chart. Most employment-based categories will advance in April but limited advancement is projected for the coming months:

  • EB-1 China Final Action Date will advance by six weeks to September 1, 2022.
  • EB-1 India Final Action Date will advance by five months to March 1, 2021.
  • EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries aside from India and China will advance by seven weeks to January 15, 2023. India will advance by six weeks to April 15, 2012 and China will advance by one month to February 1, 2020.
  • EB-3 Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Dates for all countries aside from India and China will advance by two and a half months to November 22, 2022. India will advance by six weeks to August 15, 2012. China will hold steady at September 1, 2020.
  • S. Dept. of State expects very little to no forward movement for employment-based categories in the coming months.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED (EB) PRIORITY DATE SUMMARY FOR Final Action DATES

USCIS confirmed that it will honor the Final Action Dates chart for purposes of eligibility to file an Adjustment of Status application. The Final Action Dates  are as follows:

EB-1, First Preference Category

  • EB-1 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) remains current.
  • EB-1 China and India will advance moderately with a Final Action Date cutoff of September 1, 2022 and March 1, 2021, respectively.

EB-2, Second Preference Category

  • EB-2 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) will advance by seven weeks to January 15, 2023.
  • China: Final Action Date will advance by one month to February 1, 2020.
  • India:  Final Action Date will advance by six weeks to April 15, 2012.

EB-3, Third Preference Category (Professional and Skilled Workers)

  • EB-3 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico and Philippines) will advance by two and a half months to November 22, 2022.
  • China: Final Action Date holds steady at September 1, 2020.
  • India: Final Action Date will advance by six weeks to August 15, 2012.

Other Workers

  • Slight advancement for Worldwide, Mexico, and India Other Workers. All other categories hold steady from last month:
    • Other Workers Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and Mexico) will advance by one month to October 8, 2020.
    • India will advance by one and a half months to August 15, 2012.
    • Philippines: May 1, 2020
    • China: January 1, 2017

EB-5: Fifth Preference Category (Immigrant Investors)

  • For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India and China maintain a cut-off date of December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2015, respectively. All other countries will remain current.
  • The EB-5 “Set-Aside” categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current.

 

Individuals with a priority date that is before the published cut-off date may file an Adjustment of Status application based on the dates outlined above.

WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS EXPECT?  

As specified in the Final Action Dates chart of the April Visa Bulletin, most employment-based Categories will advance for the month of April. However, the U.S. Dept. of State indicates that very little to no forward movement is expected in the coming months. Further, while it is anticipated that the April Final Action Dates may remain in effect until the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2024), depending on demand and usage, retrogression of cut-off dates may be required at some point to maintain number use within applicable annual limits.  The determination of the actual monthly Final Action Dates is subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and other variables.

Eligible individuals should submit Adjustment of Status applications in April as it is possible that visa retrogression may occur later in the year.

For additional information, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

March 2024 Immigration Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State released the March 2024 Visa Bulletin. In March, USCIS will accept employment-based Adjustment of Status applications based on the more modest Final Action Dates chart for the first time this fiscal year. Many of the March Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates are more favorable than the February Visa Bulletin Final Action Dates, but they are not as favorable as the February Dates for Filing chart currently in effect. Some key Final Action Dates follow:

  • EB-1 China Final Action Date will advance by two weeks to July 15, 2022.
  • EB-1 India Final Action Date will advance by one month to October 1, 2020.
  • EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries aside from India and China will advance by one week to November 22, 2022. EB-2 India and China will hold steady at March 1, 2012 and January 1, 2020, respectively.
  • EB-3 Professional/Skilled Worker Final Action Date for all countries aside from India and China will advance by one week to September 8, 2022. India and China will hold steady at July 1, 2012 and September 1, 2020, respectively.
  • EB-5 India and China Unreserved Final Action Date will hold steady at December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2015, respectively.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED (EB) PRIORITY DATE SUMMARY FOR Final Action DATES

As noted above, USCIS confirmed that it will honor the Final Action Dates chart for purposes of eligibility to file an Adjustment of Status application. The March Final Action Dates  are as follows:

EB-1, First Preference Category

  • EB-1 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) remains current.
  • EB-1 China and India will advance modestly with a Final Action Date cutoff of July 15, 2022 and October 1, 2020, respectively.

 EB-2, Second Preference Category

  • EB-2 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) will advance by one week to November 22, 2022.
  • China: Final Action Date holds steady at January 1, 2020.
  • India:  Final Action Date holds steady at March 1, 2012.

EB-3, Third Preference Category (Professional and Skilled Workers)

  • EB-3 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico and Philippines) will advance by one week to September 8, 2022.
  • China: Final Action Date holds steady at September 1, 2020.
  • India: Final Action Date holds steady at July 1, 2012.

Other Workers

  • Slight advancement for Worldwide and Mexico. All other categories hold steady from last month:
    • Other Workers (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and Mexico) will advance by one week to September 8, 2020.
    • Philippines: May 1, 2020
    • China: January 1, 2017
    • India: July 1, 2012

EB-5: Fifth Preference Category (Immigrant Investors)

  • For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India and China maintain a cut-off date of December 1, 2020 and December 15, 2015, respectively. All other countries will remain current.
  • The EB-5 “Set-Aside” categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current.

Individuals with a priority date that is before the published cut-off date may file an Adjustment of Status application based on the dates outlined above.

WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS EXPECT?  

As specified in the Final Action Dates chart of the March Visa Bulletin, modest advancement across several employment-based visa categories is noted. As this is the first time this fiscal year that USCIS is honoring the more modest Final Action Dates chart for filing, applicants may find that their priority date is no longer available for purposes of filing an Adjustment of Status application in March. Accordingly, Employers are advised to submit Adjustment of Status applications for eligible applicants in February as it is uncertain if or when USCIS will honor the more advanced Dates for Filing chart again this fiscal year. With continued increased demand across all eligible employment-based categories and extensive processing delays associated with the PERM process, Employers may wish to consider commencing the green card process earlier for foreign national employees.

For additional information, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

Plan Now for FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registration

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct its annual electronic registration process for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap from March 6, 2024 to March 22, 2024.

This year USCIS is implementing changes to the cap registration process, cap selection process, and post-selection petition filing process.

As in prior years, employers should start planning for cap registration now by identifying foreign nationals they intend to register for the H-1B cap lottery.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

  • Cap-subject U.S. employers intending to sponsor foreign nationals for H-1B status must first register each intended beneficiary electronically with USCIS during the cap registration period held in March.
  • The current cap registration fee is $10 for each individual registered. The fee is solely for registration of the intended beneficiary.
    • The fee is not refunded if the registration is not selected, and it is not applied to the H-1B petition filing fee if a petition is ultimately filed for a selected beneficiary.
  • The number of registrations submitted are expected to exceed the number of H-1B visas available under the annual statutory quota.
  • There will be a random selection process once the initial registration period closes in March.
  • After USCIS conducts the random selection process, it will notify employers of selected beneficiaries. Employers may only sponsor H-1B cap petitions for individuals selected through the registration process; no substitution of beneficiaries is permitted.
  • After registration selection, employers will have a 90-day period during which they may file H-1B cap petitions for selected beneficiaries.
  • The 90-day H-1B cap petition filing period is expected to start no later than April 1, 2024.
  • If by the end of the first filing window (June 30, 2024) USCIS has not received enough H-1B petitions to reach the annual quota, USCIS may conduct a second lottery from the pool of previously unselected registrations. USCIS will then designate subsequent filing periods until all H-1B visas are allocated to reach the annual statutory quota.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • In completing the registration, employers must identify whether the intended beneficiary qualifies for the H-1B visa pursuant to either the advanced degree cap (reserved for individuals holding a U.S. master’s degree or higher in a field of study related to the offered position) or the standard H-1B cap (reserved for individuals holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher in a field of study related to the offered position).
  • Employers may register multiple individuals at once, using a single online “batch” submission.
  • Employers may only submit one registration per intended beneficiary in any fiscal year. If an employer registers an individual more than once in the same fiscal year, all registrations submitted by that employer for that individual will be invalidated.
  • The employer’s authorized legal representative may prepare and submit cap registrations for the employer.

WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS DO NOW?

Employers should work with legal counsel now to identify current or prospective employees who may require an H-1B petition to work in the U.S., and to take appropriate steps to ensure timely online registration of identified candidates.

Potential beneficiaries for H-1B cap registration include, but are not limited to:

  • New hires or candidates outside the U.S. who do not currently hold a valid U.S. work visa
  • F-1 students completing a qualifying course of study or F-1 students currently working in the U.S. pursuant to Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT
  • J-1 interns/trainees who are currently working in the U.S. pursuant to a DS-2019 exchange visitor program
  • L-1, TN, E-1, E-2, E-3, O-1, and/or other nonimmigrant visa holders who wish to change to H-1B status in the future
  • Dependent spouses of current nonimmigrant visa holders who may lack work authorization.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Not All H-1B Petitions are Subject to the Cap
Certain individuals and employers are not subject to the annual H-1B cap or cap registration, including:

  • Individuals who currently hold H-1B status and who were previously counted against the cap. In most instances, individuals who were counted against the cap in a previous fiscal year are not again subject to the annual cap. This may include petitions:
    • to extend status for current H-1B visa holders;
    • to amend H-1B status due to changes role or location changes for current H-1B workers;
    • to change H-1B employers; and,
    • for concurrent H-1B employment with an additional employer.
  • Individuals who are citizens/nationals of Singapore and Chile may instead be eligible for the H-1B1 visa.
  • Cap exempt organizations. H-1B cap petitions filed for employment at institutions of higher education or related/affiliated nonprofit entities, nonprofit research organizations, and governmental research organizations, are cap-exempt. H-1B petitions for employment at these institutions are not subject to an annual quota and may be filed any time throughout the year.

H-1B Categories and Annual Quotas

Cap-subject H-1B petitions generally fall within two categories:

  • “Standard” petitions. The minimum educational requirement for a standard H-1B petition is a Bachelor’s degree or professionally evaluated experience equivalent. Standard cases are capped at 65,000 visas annually with approximately 6,800 reserved for nationals of Chile and Singapore.
  • “Advanced degree” or “Master’s cap” petitions. The minimum educational requirement for an advanced degree H-1B petition is a Master’s degree or higher, awarded by a U.S. university. USCIS allocates an additional 20,000 H-1B visas for U.S. advanced degree holders each fiscal year.

As a reminder, as previously reported, this year USCIS is implementing new organizational accounts, a new selection process, new petition forms, and new petition filing fees.  Please contact immigration counsel now to ensure you are well-positioned for H-1B cap season.

Gibney will provide additional updates as they are announced. In the interim, additional information is available here.  If you have questions about H-1B cap or if you require assistance with cap registration, please contact your Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

FY 2025 H-1B Cap Season Launched with Important Changes

USCIS announced  that the initial electronic registration period for the fiscal year (FY 2025) H-1B cap season will open at noon Eastern on March 6, 2024 and will run through noon Eastern on March 22, 2024.

USCIS also announced important updates to the H-1B cap program this year, including

FY 2025 H-1B CAP DETAILS

  • Cap-subject H-1B employers intending to sponsor H-1B workers must first register each intended beneficiary electronically with USCIS during the designated registration period (March 6 through March 22).
  • While USCIS announced a new fee schedule, the cap registration fee will remain $10 for the March registration cycle.
  • If the number of registrations received by March 22 exceeds the number of H-1B visas available under the annual quota as expected, USCIS will randomly select a sufficient number of registrations projected to reach the FY 2025 H-1B cap.

NEW THIS YEAR:

  • USCIS is implementing “organizational” accounts to replace “registrant” accounts. US employers and their legal representatives must use the new organizational accounts to submit cap registrations this year. Intending registrants will be able to create new organizational accounts beginning at noon Eastern on February 28, 2024. Employers with existing registrant accounts are able to upgrade to an organizational account without creating a new account. It is important to work with immigration counsel to ensure the organizational account is properly configured.
  • USCIS has begun implementation of a series of rules to the amend the H-1B program, as previously summarized, starting with the H-1B cap selection process. Specifically, USCIS will implement a beneficiary-centric process for registration selection. USCIS will require registrants to provide valid passport information (or valid travel document information) for each beneficiary.  Each beneficiary must only be registered under one passport/travel document. The passport must be the one the beneficiary intends to use for the H-1B visa.
  • The new USCIS rule raising fees for H-1B and other petitions will take effect April 1, and thus will impact H-1B cap petition filings for selected registrations. As of April 1, the Form I-129 filing fee for an H-1B petition filed by a for-profit employer with more than 25 employees will increase 70%, from $460 to $780. (This does not include the ACWIA and Fraud Fee).   A USCIS FAQ on the new fee rule is available here.
  • USCIS will publish a new edition of Form I-129 which must be used for H-1B petition filings on and after April 1, 2024.
  • USCIS intends to allow online filing of Form I-129 for H-1B cap petitions and some other petitions. However, USCIS has yet to provide detailed information about the protocol for online filings and how these will integrate with the newly formed organizational accounts. Employers may continue to submit paper Form I-129 petitions, including H-1B cap petitions. Paper filings will be transitioned from USCIS Service Centers to USCIS lockbox filings.
  • USCIS will allow start date flexibility for certain H-1B cap-subject petitions, allowing employers to select a start date that is after October 1 of the relevant fiscal year in some instances.
  • The new rule codifies and strengthens the authority of USCIS deny or revoke H-1B petitions where the underlying registration contains a false attestation or is otherwise invalid.

AS BEFORE:

  • Employers may file an H-1B cap petition only for the beneficiary named in the selected registration; no substitutions are permitted.
  • USCIS expects to conduct the random selection and notify employers of selected registrations by March 31, 2024.
  • After the first round of selection, employers will have a 90-day window during which to file H-1B cap petitions for the beneficiary named in the selected registration. The petition filing period is expected to start no later than Monday, April 1, 2024.
  • If by the end of the first 90-day filing window USCIS has not received enough petitions to reach the annual quota/H-1B cap, USCIS may designate subsequent filing windows until the H-1B statutory quota is reached.

CONCLUSION

Given the many changes to the H-1B cap registration and H-1B petition filing process this year, including the need to establish organizational accounts to submit registrations, it is more important than ever to work closely with immigration counsel to ensure cap registrations are timely and properly submitted and that filed H-1B petitions meet all new procedural requirements.  Moreover, USCIS is expected to publish additional rule(s) that will substantively alter the H-1B visa program. To ensure that you are “cap ready” and up-to-speed on the most recent changes, please contact your designated Gibney representative, or email info@gibney.com.

 

 

February 2024 Immigration Visa Bulletin Released

OVERVIEW

The Department of State released the February 2024 Visa Bulletin. All Employment-Based Categories will hold steady for February under Dates for Filing with minor advancement for EB-2 and EB-3 Worldwide, EB-3 India and EB-5 China under Final Action Dates:

  • USCIS will continue to accept employment-based Adjustment of Status applications based on the more advanced Dates for Filing chart in February.
  • EB-2 Final Action Date for all countries aside from China and India will advance by two weeks to November 15, 2022.
  • EB-3 India Final Action Date will advance by one month to July 1, 2012; EB-3 Final Action Dates for all other countries except China will advance by one month to September 1, 2022.
  • EB-5 China Unreserved Final Action Date will advance by one week to December 15, 2015.

EMPLOYMENT-BASED (EB) PRIORITY DATE SUMMARY FOR DATES for FILING

USCIS confirmed that it will follow the Dates for Filing chart for purposes of eligibility to file an Adjustment of Status application. The Dates for Filing  are as follows:

EB-1, First Preference Category

  • EB-1 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) remains current.
  • EB-1 China and India maintain a Dates for Filing cutoff date of January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2021, respectively.

 EB-2, Second Preference Category

  • EB-2 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, and Philippines) maintains a cut-off date of February 15, 2023.
  • China: Dates for Filing hold steady at June 1, 2020.
  • India:  Dates for Filing hold steady at May 15, 2012.

 

EB-3, Third Preference Category (Professional and Skilled Workers)

  • EB-3 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and Mexico) maintains a cut-off date of February 1, 2023.
  • Philippines: Dates for Filing hold steady at January 1, 2023.
  • China: Dates for Filing hold steady at July 1, 2021.
  • India: Dates for Filing hold steady at August 1, 2012.

Other Workers

  • All categories hold steady from last month:
    • Other Workers (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and Mexico) maintain a cut-off date of December 15, 2020.
    • Philippines: May 15, 2020
    • China: June 1, 2017
    • India: August 1, 2012

EB-5: Fifth Preference Category (Immigrant Investors)

  • For the EB-5 Unreserved categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5), India and China maintain a cut-off date of January 1, 2017 and April 1, 2022, respectively. All other countries will remain current.
  • The EB-5 “Set-Aside” categories (Rural, High Unemployment, and Infrastructure) will remain current.

Individuals with a priority date that is before the published cut-off date may file an adjustment of status application based on the dates outlined above.

WHAT SHOULD EMPLOYERS EXPECT?  

As noted in the February Visa Bulletin, Final Action Dates across many employment-based visa categories have advanced slightly. While further potential date advancements throughout the year may occur, actual date movements will be dependent on visa demand and issuance through FY 2024. While USCIS is currently honoring the Dates for Filing chart, Employers are advised to file Adjustment of Status applications for eligible foreign national employees as soon as possible as USCIS may begin honoring the Final Action Dates chart as soon as March or April. With the unpredictability of available visa numbers and continued increased demand across all employment-based categories, submitting an Adjustment of Status application earlier may avoid a potential disruption in work authorization as extensive processing delays and the potential for visa retrogression continues to persist.

For additional information, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase premium processing fees for a number of immigration benefit applications due to inflation. The fee increases, outlined below, will take effect on February 26, 2024. USCIS will reject and return Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, postmarked on or after February 26, 2024 if submitted with the incorrect filing fee.

Form Old Fee New Fee
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker $1,500 (H-2B and R-1)

$2,500 (all other classifications)

$1,685 (H-2B and R-1)

$2,805 (all other classifications)

Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker $2,500 $2,805
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status $1,750 $1,965
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization $1,500 $1,685

USCIS intends to use the increased revenue to improve adjudication processes, respond to adjudication demands, reduce processing backlogs, and generally fund USCIS operations.

Who does this affect?

This increase in fees will affect all employers and applicants requesting premium processing services for the petitions and applications referenced above.

How long will this increase be in effect?
The fee increase is expected to be permanent.

Gibney will be closely monitoring further changes to USCIS filing fees and will provide updates as they are announced.

If you have any questions about this alert, please contact your Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

 

New York Governor Vetoes Proposed Noncompete Ban

On December 22, 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed S3100, a bill which would have prohibited virtually all contractual noncompete agreements restricting workers’ ability to leave their job for a role with a rival business. The bill, passed by both houses of the legislature in June, would have applied to all employers and most individuals, regardless of compensation levels.

The veto comes as a surprise to many as it was anticipated that Governor Hochul would sign the bill into law. In vetoing the bill, Governor Hochul signaled that she would be open to a more limited ban on noncompete agreements, noting that she has “long supported limits on non-compete agreements for middle-class and low-wage workers, protecting them from unfair practices that would limit their ability to earn a living.” It is expected that more limited non-compete legislation will be reintroduced by the New York state legislature in 2024.

Employers should keep in mind that in January 2023, the United States Federal Trade Commission issued a proposed rule which would ban all non-compete clauses in employment agreements throughout the country.  The agency has received more than 26,000 public comments on the proposed rule and no final rule has been issued.  News reports suggest a formal vote on the proposed rule was postponed until at least April 2024.  It is far from certain what any final rule would look like and any such final rule would be subject to legal challenge by employer groups.

 

New York State Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect January 1, 2024

This is a reminder that the New York State Minimum Wage Increase has gone into effect.  Governor Hochul signed Senate Bill S4006C into law on May 3, 2023, increasing New York’s minimum wage in annual increments beginning January 1, 2024.

Minimum Wage Increases

As of January 1, 2024, New York State’s minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, and to $15 per hour everywhere else in the state. Both rates will increase by an additional $0.50 on both January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026.

Unlike prior increases, the new rates do not differ based on employer size and lump together the rates for New York City, counties on Long Island and Westchester County. Beginning in January 2027, the minimum wage will increase annually according to the Consumer Price Index.

Exempt Salary Thresholds

To be classified as exempt from New York’s overtime requirements, executive and administrative employees must meet minimum salary requirements and satisfy certain duties tests. For these two exemptions, New York State sets the weekly minimum salary requirement at 75 times the hourly minimum wage.

As a result, with the increase of minimum wage, the minimum salary for exemption as an executive or administrative employee also increases from $1,125 per week to $1,200 per week ($62,400 annualized) in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties and from $1,064.25 per week to $1,124.20 per week ($58,458.40 annualized) elsewhere in the state.

Note, there is also a professional exemption under New York State law. For the professional exemption, employees must satisfy certain duties tests, but there is no minimum salary requirement under state law. Federal law currently establishes a minimum salary of $684 per week for the professional exemption.

Minimum Wage Increases in New Jersey and Connecticut

As of January 1, 2024, New Jersey’s minimum wage will also increase for most employees to $15.13 per hour. Under New Jersey State law, some employers are allotted more time to reach the $15.13 per hour minimum wage increase. For example, employees of seasonal employers and small businesses (fewer than six employees) will have until 2026 to pay their workers at least $15 per hour. The minimum hourly wage for these employees will increase to $13.73 per hour beginning January 1, 2024, an increase from $12.93 per hour.

As of January 1, 2024, Connecticut’s minimum wage also will increase to $15.69 per hour as a result of a new annual economic index adjustment. Thereafter, Connecticut’s minimum wage will be adjusted annually according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s calculation of the employment cost index.

What this Means for Employers

Employers operating in the Tri-State area employing minimum wage workers should be prepared to comply with the mandated minimum wage increases.

New York employers with exempt executive and administrative employees should review salaries to determine whether they continue to meet the 2024 thresholds for exemptions from overtime or whether these employees will need to reclassified as nonexempt employees entitled to overtime pay.

 

Stateside Visa Renewal to Begin January 29, 2024

As anticipated, on December 21, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) published the Federal Register notice announcing its stateside visa renewal pilot program for H-1B visa holders.  The notice outlines the program requirements and application process.   The pilot program is very limited in scope, and will run from January 29, 2024 to April 1, 2024.

The following program summary was prepared by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a leading advocate for a stateside visa renewal program since the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in crushing delays in visa processing at the U.S. Consulates abroad.

Who is eligible to participate in the Pilot Program?

Participation is voluntary and limited to principal H-1B applicants who(se):

  • Are seeking to renew an H-1B visa during the pilot phase between January 29, 2024, and April 1, 2024 (H-4 dependents are excluded from the pilot);
  • Are renewing a prior H-1B visa issued by Mission Canada with an issuance date from January 1, 2020, through April 1, 2023, or by Mission India with an issuance date from February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021;
  • Are not subject to a nonimmigrant visa issuance (reciprocity) fee;
  • Are eligible for an in-person interview waiver;
  • Have submitted ten fingerprints to DOS in connection with the prior visa application. (See Question 27 here);
  • Prior visa doesn’t include a “clearance received” annotation;
  • Do not have a visa ineligibility that would require a waiver prior to issuance;
  • Have an approved and unexpired H-1B petition, were most recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B status, and are maintaining H-1B status in the United States;
  • Period of authorized admission in H-1B status has not expired; and
  • Intend to reenter the U.S. in H-1B status after a temporary period abroad.

NOTE:  The pilot program will be limited to H-1B principals only. The agency’s intention in limiting the scope of this pilot to previously issued visas from Mission India and Mission Canada is to assess how domestic visa renewals impacts its visa processing capabilities and performance, and it feels these two missions provide a population that is representative of the global population.

What is the Application Period for the Pilot Program?

DOS will begin accepting online applications for this pilot beginning on January 29, 2024 via https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domestic-renewal.html. Each week, DOS will release approximately 2,000 application slots for those whose most recent H-1B visa was issued by Mission Canada and approximately 2,000 application slots for those whose most recent H-1B visa was issued by Mission India. The dates of release will be as follows:

  • January 29, 2024
  • February 5, 2024
  • February 12, 2024
  • February 19, 2024
  • February 26, 2024

Once the weekly limits are reached for each mission the online application portal will be locked until the next date makes the next group available. The application process will close when all slots are filled, or on April 1, 2024, whichever is sooner.

What is the Application Process?

Applications will be submitted via this dedicated website –  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/employment/domesticrenewal.html.

To complete the applications, applicants should:

  • Select the consular post of their most recent H-1B visa issuance (either Canada or India).
  • Answer a series of questions to determine their eligibility to participate in the pilot.
  • If eligible, applicants will need to complete and submit the electronic Form DS-160.
  • Pay a non-refundable, non-transferable Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fee online by major debit or credit card.
  • Receive instructions through the online portal concerning how to send their passports and other required documents via the U.S Postal Service or another courier service to the DOS.

NOTE: While the navigator tool is intended to help determine whether an applicant is eligible for the pilot program, it is possible an application will be returned for an unqualified applicant that the system did not screen out. Applicants should note that the MRV fee will not be refunded in any case.

What Documents Must Be Provided?

Under the pilot each applicant must provide the following:

  • A properly completed and electronically filed DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.
  • One photograph (taken within the last six months), which meets the specifications at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html
  • A passport valid for travel to the United States, which is valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date, and contains a blank, unmarked page for placement of a visa foil.
  • An original or copy of the applicant’s current Form I-797, Notice of Action.
  • An original or copy of the applicant’s I-94 Arrival-Departure Record.

Evidence of U.S. residency or international travel plans are not required in the initial application filing, although it may be requested by DOS at a later date.

How Will the Application Be Processed and Adjudicated?

Applications will be considered in the order they are received. No status on the application will be provided other than returning of the application, or issuance or refusal of the visa.

NOTE:  Applicants can check the status of their application via  CEAC: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?App=NIV.

Once received, applications and passports will be assessed to determine if they are within the scope of the pilot program. Applications not in the scope of the program will be returned along with the passport. MRV fees will not be returned. Those that are within the scope will be forwarded for adjudication.

NOTE: If an application is adjudicated but does not satisfy the scope of the pilot for any reason, it will result in a refusal under INA 221(g). The applicant may reapply by filing a new visa application at a consular post abroad with a new fee.

According to DOS the average processing time is expected to be 6-8 weeks from the time the passport and documents are received by DOS, and the agency intends to complete processing of all applications by no later than May 1, 2024.

No requests for expedited processing will be accepted. If an applicant applies for domestic visa renewal and requires urgent travel, they may withdraw their application and request through the online portal that their passport be returned to them. If the applicant withdraws their application during the adjudication process, it will be refused under 221(g). The INA 221(g) refusal will not prejudice any future application.

What Happens When the Visa Is Issued?

Issued visas, passports, and documents submitted will be returned to the applicant via USPS or a courier service. The agency reminds applicants that visa issuance is NOT a grant of nonimmigrant status and does not constitute an extension of nonimmigrant visa status or an admission to the United States. A visa only permits an applicant to seek admission at a U.S. port of entry after overseas travel.

What Happens if the Application is Returned or the Visa Refused?

DOS will return without adjudication any application that is not within the scope of the pilot program. DOS will not refund the MRV fee in these situations.

If an application is accepted for adjudication but subsequently found to be ineligible, like for example, if the applicant is found ineligible for a waiver of the in-person interview requirement under INA 222(h), the visa application will be refused under INA 221(g). In these cases, those seeking to continue pursuit of a visa will have to apply at an overseas post and follow the requisite steps.

If an applicant fails to provide required documentation or information but is expected to before the end of the pilot, DOS will refuse the application under 221(g) and then provide specific instructions to the applicant for providing outstanding documentation or information, or to correct minor errors prior to April 15, 2024, to allow for the adjudication to be completed. Examples of additional information may include:

  • A properly completed DS-160
  • A photograph meeting DOS standards
  • Evidence the applicant is resident in the United States

In these cases, a new MRV fee will not be required. If the requisite information is provided by April 15, 2024, DOS will overcome the 221(g) refusal and issue the visa. After May 1, 2024, the visa will be refused.

Gibney welcomes this development and looks forward to extension of the program, and expansion to other visa categories and applicants. We will monitor program implementation and performance, and will provide updates as they become available.  For questions about the visa renewal pilot program, please contact your designated Gibney representative or email info@gibney.com.

The author again acknowledges and thanks AILA for its detailed summary incorporated here.