On Friday, April 28, 2023, the USCIS released its statistics regarding the FY 2024 H-1B Cap Registration process this past March 2023.  The total number of H-1B Cap registrations almost DOUBLED from last year.  Last year there were 483,927 total H-1B Cap Registrations.  This year, there were 780,884 total H-1B Cap Registrations!  Of these 780,884 registrations, 408,891 were for foreign nationals who had multiple companies submit an H-1B Registration on their behalf.  Only 350,103 registrations were for foreign nationals who had only one (1) prospective employer submit a registration on their behalf.  

This increase in multiple companies submitting H-1B Registrations on behalf of the same person increased from 165,180 last year to 408,891 this year.  In addition, there were more H-1B1 visas claimed by citizens of Singapore and Chile, which resulted in only 110,791 registrations being selected this year for 85,000 slots whereas 127,600 applications were selected last year for the same number of slots.  

This doubling of total applications and then tripling of multiple companies submitting an application for the same person resulted in a REALLY bad selection percentage rate for almost all U.S. employers this year.  Attorneys are reporting that approximately 8-12% of their submitted applications were selected this year versus 30-50% being selected over the past 3 years with this new H-1B Cap Registration process.  

The USCIS states that it will increase its fraud investigations into employers who might have abused the H-1B Cap Registration process this year.   

This is a very good article in The Washington Post about the problems facing 1000s of H-1B workers who have been laid off recently.  Layoffs are difficult for everyone, but for H-1B workers, they can be catastrophic and result in "brain drain" leaving the U.S. to return to foreign countries.  Many of these H-1B workers have received their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the U.S. and have worked here for over 10 years, have Green Card Applications pending (some for more than 10 years), and have U.S. citizen children.  It makes no fiscal sense to force these well-educated, tax-paying workers to leave our country.  We need better options for H-1B workers who are laid off.  Sixty (60) days is not enough time.  
www.yahoo.com/finance/news/high-skilled-visa-holders-risk-131231991.html​

On February 9, 2023, the Department of State announced in an article in Bloomberglaw.com that it would  be launching a pilot program later in 2023 offering some foreign nationals the ability to renew specific H and L visas in the U.S., rather than at a U.S. Embassy abroad.  Stateside Visa Revalidation is not new- it used to be in effect until 2004 when it was discontinued.  More details will be forthcoming, but regardless, this is exciting news!  LOJLS will continue to monitor and provide updates on these exciting changes.  
​news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/state-department-plans-pilot-for-domestic-visa-renewal-this-year

It was a wild and crazy 2020!  The Law Office of Julia L. Stommes briefly merged with the San Francisco office of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP.  It was a wonderful experience, but it was not a long-term fit.  Accordingly, as of May 1, 2021, the Law Office of Julia L. Stommes has reopened!  Our Legal Assistant, Ms. Linda Harrell, also has rejoined our office.  We look forward to continuing to provide specialized, attentive boutique immigration service to our clients and also to providing Consultations and Second Opinions to foreign nationals who might be considering a career move; or foreign students planning for their future after graduation; or US Citizens engaged or married to foreign nationals and planning their day-to-day short term events and/or moves abroad.  

We are excited to announce that we have joined our business immigration practice with the world's largest immigration law firm:  Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP!   

www.fragomen.com/about/news/julia-l-stommes-joins-fragomens-northern-california-practice

On September 18, 2019, the October Visa Bulletin was finally released.  Many categories became current again, but the biggest news is that the USCIS has agreed to accept employment-based Adjustment of Status filings with Filing Eligible Dates rather than just Final Action Dates in October.  This is exciting news, as it is an extremely rare occurrence.  www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo

This article describes how the current Administration is chipping away at LEGAL immigration behind the scenes.  www.yahoo.com/finance/news/worker-visas-doubt-trump-immigration-150219937.html