Visitors traveling to the U.S.  are required to be in possession of passports valid for six months beyond  the period of their intended stay . This requires advanced planning  to ensure your passport will be valid for the anticipated term of stay . However, there are exceptions  to this rule, the most important being that some countries  have entered into an agreement with the U.S. to extend passport validity  for six months beyond the expiration date. Even so, this may not b

FIFA just opened a new visa pathway  for World Cup 2026 volunteers  to come to Los Angeles . The problem? Having a legal path and getting approved are two completely different things. On December 1 , the Department of State  updated their manual to allow B-1 visas  for FIFA-accredited volunteers . This is the first time  DOS has explicitly recognized FIFA volunteer work  as a valid business visitor purpose . So if you’re selected by FIFA , you now have clear legal grounds  to

When an employee on a visa leaves his or her job —whether voluntary or not —there’s an immigration letter most employers forget to send . That mistake could cost them penalties and back pay . Here’s what a lot of employers don’t know : For all visa types , when there is a termination, layoff, or resignation , the employer is required to notify USCIS  of this separation in writing . Eventually, USCIS will send a letter to the employer that confirms the withdrawal . In addition

“ We need to be in the United States in two weeks. ” I hear this more than you’d think . And almost every time, it’s too late . This is the immigration planning last-minute mistake  I see over and over again. Immigration doesn’t work on short timelines. Consulate appointments  can take weeks  to schedule. Document preparation  takes time (sometimes weeks or months  to collect everything from the client). There are multiple steps and agencies involved . And right now , everyth

New passport photos required!  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) is issuing new guidance  that limits the age of foreign nationals’ photos that can be used to create immigration documents to no more than three years . This update is intended to enhance national security  and prevent identity fraud . Effective immediately , the new guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual  limits the use of photos to those that were taken within three (3) years  of the date a pers

Two years ago , a client with a STEM degree  didn’t get picked in the H-1B lottery . Here’s how we turned it around to a long-term solution : We pivoted . Started building an O-1 visa case  instead. In July , she was selected in the second lottery . So we pivoted again . Filed the H-1B . Got approved . About a year later , the employer decided to pursue a Green Card  for this valuable employee . We’re now working on her EB-1A  — the green card for individuals with extraordina

Last month, I got an RFE (Request for Evidence)  on something I’ve never been questioned about in my entire career : the student visa compliance history  for our H-1B applicant . We provided more than enough documentation  to show that her job is a “specialty occupation” , and that she has the requisite experience for the role  (the traditional pain points). Yet, the RFE focused on what she did years ago  during and after her Master’s Degree program . For five years , we have

No lottery. No labor certification. No USCIS waiting times. The TN visa  is immigration’s best-kept secret  for hiring North American talent . Created under USMCA (formerly NAFTA) , this visa is specifically for Canadian and Mexican professionals . I’ve watched companies struggle for years  trying to secure H-1B visas  when they had TN-eligible candidates  sitting right in front of them. The process is straightforward . Canadian citizens  apply directly at the U.S. border  wi

The recent shooting of 2 National Guardsmen by an Afghan national has led to additional immigration restrictions for individuals from 19 countries.  Effective immediately, USCIS will now consider relevant country-specific facts and circumstances such as those outlined in PP 10949 as part of its adjudication of discretionary benefit requests, such as certain Adjustment of Status applications, extension of nonimmigrant stays, and change of nonimmigrant status . USCIS is no

Even if you're legally in the U.S. on a grace period, and are following the rules, you could get an "NTA" letter that could lead to deportation.  This is happening right now.  I just returned from the AILA California Conference in Long Beach, and this was the update that shocked me the most.  Here's the situation: When your H-1B ends, you can get a discretionary 60-day grace period . During that time, you can look for a new job , transfer to another employer, or change to a

" Is $2,805 worth saving 14 months of waiting for your life and career to begin? "  For most businesses and immigrants I work with, that's not even a question.  Premium Processing (form I-907) is the most powerful (but underutilized) tool in immigration. Here's exactly when you can use it and when you can't . When Premium Processing IS available:  H-1B petitions (initial, transfer, and extensions)  L-1 intracompany transfers  O-1 extraordinary ability visas  Some I-140 im

Hiring international talent is complex, but there's one visa almost nobody talks about: the H-3 visa for trainees . Unlike work visas, it's designed for training foreigners who'll use their skills OUTSIDE the US. Here's what you need to know about the H-3 Visa to train international staff: The H-3 visa comes in two flavors: The " Trainee " visa for professionals receiving training unavailable in their home country; or The " Special Education Exchange Visitor " visa for th

Identical applications. Different outcomes. Same job. Same company. Same evidence. But one approval  and one denial . This happened with a husband and wife  who were co-CEOs of an Australian fashion company  applying for L-1A visas  for a new U.S. operation. The husband's application  was approved without issues. The wife's identical application? Denied. The official reason: “ Insufficient documentation regarding subordinate employees. ” But here’s what puzzles me: both appli

If the AI/ChatGPT platforms went down tomorrow , would you know how to navigate the world ? My biggest fear for the next generation (and our own future) isn’t technology itself  — it’s our growing dependence on it . When I was a young student, teachers made us do a lot of manual labor , such as: • Looking up words  in physical dictionaries • Writing longhand  before typing up the final version • Solving math problems  without calculators • Memorizing information  we could eas

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the Prohibition-era wineries  that survived a 13-year ban  by switching to sacramental wine production  for the church.Because of their ingenuity and adaptability , they’re still around today — for example, San Antonio Winery  in Downtown LA — not because they resisted change, but because they evolved to survive . Today, we face similar challenges in immigration law. Administrative bans , policy shifts , and market disruptions  can change ever

Most immigrants don't realize they're making costly tax mistakes until it's too late.  By then, the penalties for unreported foreign accounts or business interests can be devastating .  We sat down with   Mahmoud Abotteen, CPA  who runs Abotteen & Co. in Los Angeles. What makes Mahmoud different from most CPAs? He's lived the immigrant experience himself - arriving in the U.S. in 2009, navigating different visa statuses, and ultimately becoming a citizen.  His personal journ

Here's the latest update on the H-1B visa drama that unfolded on Friday night and became effective today: On Friday, President Trump...

H-2B visa (temporary worker) season is almost here! We're already preparing for April 1 employment start dates by filing the first step...

Hate speech, especially around the assassination of Charlie Kirk , could potentially have immigration consequences : online hate can get...

There's a special " VIP lane " into the US job market that 10,500 Australians can use each year. Most years, over 8,000 spots go unused...