Latest news with #USCitizenshipandImmigrationServices
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Green Card holders must always carry these documents or face penalty, US warns
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Green Card (Form I-551): This is the official identification for lawful permanent residents. It contains the individual's photo, Alien Registration Number (A-number), visa category, and expiration date. It serves as proof of the right to live and work permanently in the US. Alien Registration Number (A-Number): A unique 7–9 digit identifier assigned by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is used to track immigration records and starts with the letter 'A'. Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766): Commonly known as a work permit, this document is issued to non-citizens temporarily allowed to work in the US. It includes the A-number, photo, and validity period. Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94): This document shows a non-citizen's entry into the U.S. and their authorised stay duration. It may also include the A-number, especially for certain visa holders. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a fresh reminder to all green card holders , stating they must carry proof of their legal immigration status at all times. The agency warned that not doing so could lead to a misdemeanor charge and fines if stopped by federal law enforcement.'This is a legal requirement. Failing to carry your alien registration proof can result in penalties,' CBP said in the notice released on the rule is not new, the renewed advisory reflects a continued strict enforcement stance. Green card holders, also known as lawful permanent residents, are reminded that their legal status does not protect them from penalties or deportation if they violate US US immigration law, most non-citizens over the age of 14 who remain in the country for more than 30 days are legally required to carry their alien registration documents. These include:Immigration officials clarified that lawful permanent residents can face deportation if they break laws or fail to comply with immigration requirements. The CBP reminder emphasises that legal presence does not guarantee immunity from warning comes amid a broader tightening of immigration enforcement measures and follows a pattern of increased scrutiny of green card holders by federal authorities.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
H-1B visa 2026 cap reached; Entries decline 27% under new USCIS rules
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially closed the H-1B visa lottery for fiscal year 2026, saying it has received enough petitions to fill both the 65,000 regular cap and the additional 20,000 visas reserved for candidates with US master's degrees. The announcement, made on Friday, confirms that the selection process for the annual H-1B lottery is complete. This visa category allows US employers to hire foreign professionals in specialised roles requiring at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and it remains a popular route for Indian tech workers. In its latest statement, USCIS said it would continue to accept petitions that are exempt from the cap. 'Petitions filed for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, are exempt from the FY 2026 H-1B cap,' the agency said. What this means for employers Now that the cap has been reached, no new H-1B cap-subject petitions will be accepted for FY2026. However, employers may still file petitions for the following: Extensions for current H-1B workers Changes to employment terms Employer transfers Concurrent employment requests These provisions remain open for individuals who have already been counted against a previous year's cap. Fewer registrations, tighter system This year saw a drop in H-1B registrations, following changes introduced by USCIS to restrict duplicate filings. For FY2026, the agency said it received 343,981 eligible registrations, down from 470,342 in FY2025 — a 26.9 per cent decline. In contrast, FY2024 had seen a peak of over 780,000. Of the 2026 pool, 7,828 were beneficiaries with multiple eligible registrations. But only 120,141 were selected. 'Overall, we saw an average of 1.01 registrations per beneficiary this year for FY 2026, compared to 1.06 for FY 2025,' USCIS said. 'This means that, on average, each beneficiary only had approximately one registration submitted on their behalf.' The number of employers remained stable at around 57,600. One candidate, one chance The drop in filings comes after USCIS introduced a new beneficiary-centric selection process for FY2026. Under the revised system, each candidate could only be considered once in the lottery, even if multiple employers submitted registrations for them. 'The decline in H-1B visa registrations this year doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of appetite — it's more about a correction in the system,' Varun Singh, managing director of XIPHIAS Immigration told Business Standard. 'Last year, the unusually high number of registrations raised concerns about misuse — with multiple applications being filed for the same candidate to game the lottery.' He said the updated system now offers 'a more accurate picture of genuine demand.' Costlier and tougher for firms The new lottery process is not the only factor affecting applications. Rising costs and a stricter immigration environment have also contributed to the fall in numbers. In January, USCIS increased the H-1B registration fee from $10 to $215. 'This fee hike is not a small jump, especially for startups and smaller firms,' Mamta Shekhawat, founder of told Business Standard. 'Many are now more selective, only filing for niche or project-critical roles.' Policy changes such as the revival of the Catch-and-Revoke rule, which voids visas of individuals found to have violated US law even once, have added to employer caution. Tech layoffs add pressure Layoffs across the tech sector have also affected H-1B filings. Between 2024 and 2025, over 260,000 tech jobs were cut globally. As of May 2025, more than 52,000 workers had been impacted across 123 companies. According to Bloomberg, April alone saw 23,468 employees laid off by 19 companies — up sharply from 8,834 layoffs in March. Intel said it would cut 20 per cent of its workforce, while Meta let go of nearly 100 employees. Google laid off hundreds in its platforms and devices division. Indian tech firms were affected too, with Gupshup laying off 200 staff and Cars24 also announcing job cuts. Despite the drop in registrations, demand continues to exceed availability. For FY2026, more than 343,000 eligible registrations were filed for only 85,000 slots. 'The US is still a top destination for Indian talent,' said Singh. 'What's changing is the intent to bring more transparency and fairness into the H-1B process — which in the long term, actually helps both employers and employees.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
H-1B visa applications closed for 2026 fiscal year; understanding H-1B visa and its benefits
In a recent update, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the department has put a cap for the H-1B visa program for the fiscal year 2026 after having received enough petitions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now USCIS in its official statement has confirmed that they have reached the 65,000 visa regular cap. As of now, the agency admitted that it will go on to process petitions that are exempt from the cap. These includes: Present H-1B workers in the U.S. can continue their work and apply to extend their stay. Not only this, the visa holders can request to switch to their job terms or change to choose a new employer. The other exception is some workers can even be allowed to work for more than one employer at the same time under H-1B. On this note, let's have a look at what is H-1B Visa is and the benefits it brings to the holders: What is the H-1B visa? To understand in simple words, the H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows US employers to hire workers from foreign nations in specialty knowledge or skills. It could be in the field of engineering, IT, healthcare, and research. The visa program is run by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For those who don't know, it is among the most sought-after visas for skilled professionals from across the globe. Now every year in the month of March, employers submit electronic registrations for potential candidates but if applications exceed the cap, USCIS conducts a lottery to select applications. Qualifications needed Those who wish to qualify for an H-1B visa, the applicant must hold at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in related fields. On the other hand, the U.S. employer must show that the job is a 'specialty occupation' that requires such a degree. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What is the cap? The USCIS has put a cap of 65,000 on new H-1B visas for the fiscal year 2026. Benefits of holding H-1B Visa One of the prime benefits of holding the H-1B visa is that the document allows professionals to live and work in the U.S. for up to three years. They can also extend the visa to a maximum of six years in some cases. H-1B holders can also apply for permanent residency/green card if their employer sponsors them. The H-1B holders are also allowed to bring their immediate family members, which includes spouse and kids under 21, to the U.S. on H-4 dependent visas. In special cases, spouses (dependent visa) are also allowed to work in the U.S. While the window for new H-1B applications for fiscal year 2026 has closed, new applicants will have to wait for 2027 for the registration process to begin.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
H-1B visa second lottery: US hits FY2026 H-1B visa cap; only exempt petitions to be accepted now
iStock The United States has reached the limit for H-1B visa petitions for the 2026 fiscal year. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday confirmed that it has received enough applications to fill both the 65,000 visas under the regular cap and the 20,000 slots reserved for applicants with US advanced degrees.A total of 120,141 registrations were selected during the initial round from 118,660 unique beneficiaries. Only those selected are now eligible to file a full H-1B petition for FY2026. USCIS has closed the cap intake and will now only accept cap-exempt petitions. USCIS also confirmed a significant drop in the number of registrations this year. The agency received 343,981 eligible registrations for FY2026—down 26.9% from 470,342 the previous year. There was also a sharp decline in multiple registrations per beneficiary, falling to 7,828 from 47,314 in FY2025. The average number of registrations per beneficiary decreased to 1.01 this year from 1.06 last year. About 57,600 unique employers participated in this cycle, slightly up from 52,700 in FY2025. The number of eligible unique beneficiaries also dropped sharply to approximately 339,000 from 442,000 last year. This chart shows registration and selection numbers for fiscal years 2021-26: Cap Fiscal Year Total Registrations Eligible Registrations* Eligible Registrations for Beneficiaries with No Other Eligible Registrations Eligible Registrations for Beneficiaries with Multiple Eligible Registrations Selected Registrations 2021 274,237 269,424 241,299 28,125 124,415 2022 308,613 301,447 211,304 90,143 131,924 2023 483,927 474,421 309,241 165,180 127,600 2024 780,884 758,994 350,103 408,891 188,400 2025 479,953 470,342 423,028 47,314 135,137 2026 358,737 343,981 336,153 7,828 120,141 * The number of eligible registrations does not include duplicate entries, registrations withdrawn by the employer before the deadline, those rejected due to invalid passport or travel document details, or submissions with unsuccessful payment transactions. Those under cap-exempt categories can still apply However, USCIS clarified that it will still process petitions that fall under cap-exempt categories. These include petitions for current H-1B workers who have already been counted under previous years' caps and retain their cap will continue to be accepted in the following cases: To extend the stay of an H-1B worker in the US To change the terms of their employment To allow a worker to change employers To enable concurrent employment in an additional H-1B role Electronic registration, fraud checks, and attestation rules To submit a petition for a cap-subject H-1B visa, employers must first complete an electronic registration and pay a non-refundable fee per applicant. Each registration must include accurate passport or travel document details. This process aims to reduce paperwork and streamline selection. USCIS reiterated that any duplicate registration, invalid passport entry, or false attestation disqualifies the registration. Every petitioner must attest that the job offer is legitimate and that no collusion exists with other entities to increase selection chances. Registrants who violate these rules risk denial, revocation, or even criminal referral.'If we find that this attestation was not true and correct, we will find the registration to not be properly submitted,' USCIS said. The agency has carried out investigations based on past violations and will continue to do so for FY2025 and H-1B program allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialised roles such as IT, engineering, healthcare, and finance. The current cap cycle does not affect those already counted under previous years' caps. USCIS will continue accepting petitions for these workers in cases of extensions, employer changes, or concurrent roles. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What's keeping real retail investors out of the Nvidia rally Instagram and YouTube make billions off creators. Should they pay up for their mental health? Markets need to see more than profits from Oyo The hybrid vs. EV rivalry: Why Maruti and Mahindra pull in different directions. What's best? Stock Radar: Why is CDSL looking an attractive buy at current levels? Check target & stop loss for long positions Get ready for volatility with the big, better & experienced. 7 large-caps from different sectors with an upside potential of up to 39% Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal sees over 20% upside in Tech Mahindra; YES Securities maintains add call on ICICI Lombard Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
US raises immigration fees for select categories starting July 22
Agencies Starting July 22, 2025, the US immigration agency will start charging new, mandatory fees for certain immigration forms. Anyone who sends forms after August 21, 2025, without paying the correct amount, will have their application rejected, according to a new official notice from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).These changes come under a new law called H.R. 1, passed by the US government to help pay for the costs of handling immigration requests. The fees will apply in addition to the existing charges, and cannot be waived or reduced, even if applicants are low-income. Immigrants applying for asylum, work permits, and protection under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will now have to pay extra fees every year or at different stages of their application. These new charges are non-negotiable and are separate from regular USCIS fees. What's Changing: A Simple Breakdown Asylum Application Fee – ₹8,300 (approx $100): For the first time, those applying for asylum through Form I-589 must pay a fee of $100. Why it matters: This form was previously free. Now, applicants must also pay a $100 annual fee each year while their case is still pending. This form was previously free. Now, applicants must also pay a each year while their case is still pending. How it works: USCIS will personally notify each applicant when their yearly fee is due. Work Permit (EAD) Fees – Up to ₹45,800 (approx $550): People applying for a work permit related to asylum, parole, or TPS using Form I-765 must now pay: $550 for first-time applicants $275 for renewals If applying after getting extended parole (Form I-131): Only $275 applies Translation: A work permit, officially known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), allows immigrants to legally work in the US while their case is pending. TPS Registration – Now ₹41,700 (approx $500): The registration cost for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) using Form I-821 has gone up from $50 to $500. TPS is a program that allows people from certain countries affected by war or disaster to live and work in the US for a temporary period. Special Immigrant Juvenile Fee – ₹20,800 (approx $250): Children who are abused, abandoned, or neglected and applying for a special visa under Form I-360 must now pay $250. These minors fall under a category called Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) and are seeking protection under US law. What Happens If You Don't Pay on Time?If your asylum case has been pending for over a year (filed after October 1, 2024), USCIS will send you a personal letter asking for the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF). You will need to pay this every year on the anniversary of your original application, as long as your case remains pending. Validity of Work Permits is Also Changing: Parolees (temporary permission to stay in the US): Can only get work permits valid for one year or until their parole ends, whichever is shorter. Can only get work permits valid for one year or until their parole ends, whichever is shorter. TPS Applicants: Work permits are valid for up to one year or until TPS ends, whichever comes first. Important: These New Fees Do Not Replace the Old Ones You still have to pay the existing USCIS fees listed under 8 CFR Part 106. These new fees from H.R. 1 are additional and must be paid separately. If you qualify for a fee waiver on existing charges, you can still submit Form I-912, but you cannot waive the new H.R. 1 fees—everyone has to pay them. More Fees to Come Not all fee changes under H.R. 1 have been announced yet. USCIS will share more updates later about increased charges for: Form I-131: Used to request permission to travel while your immigration case is in process. Used to request permission to travel while your immigration case is in process. Form I-102: Used to replace lost or incorrect travel records (I-94 document). (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What's keeping real retail investors out of the Nvidia rally Instagram and YouTube make billions off creators. Should they pay up for their mental health? Markets need to see more than profits from Oyo The hybrid vs. EV rivalry: Why Maruti and Mahindra pull in different directions. What's best? Stock Radar: Why is CDSL looking an attractive buy at current levels? Check target & stop loss for long positions Get ready for volatility with the big, better & experienced. 7 large-caps from different sectors with an upside potential of up to 39% Buy, Sell or Hold: Motilal Oswal sees over 20% upside in Tech Mahindra; YES Securities maintains add call on ICICI Lombard Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
