What is the I-9 Form and Who Has to Complete it? The I-9 is a government form owned by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. All employers must have all employees complete the I-9 after being hired. This form is mandatory for all employees, U.S. citizen and non-U.S. citizens. One thing employers cannot do is pick and choose who completes the I-9. We have heard the following explanations for why Read More
3 Things Employers Need to Know about Hiring Foreign Students
Employers looking to hire foreign college students, whether an undergraduate or graduate student, need to be aware of these three topic areas in order to comply with the law. 1. Optional Practical Training vs. Curricular Practical Training for Foreign College Students Foreign college students may obtain permission to work with either Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training Read More
Applying for a Green Card through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
Congratulations! A marriage is the start of an exciting journey for couples! Be sure to consider these aspects of the green card process if you plan to marry a U.S. citizen. The start of the green card application process is determined by where a married couple resides. Does the couple already reside together in the United States? Or does one spouse reside in his or her home country? If the couple already Read More
Know Before You Go: The ABC’s of Travel.
Travel can be confusing, whether an individual is coming in as a non-immigrant or as a green card holder. These three common questions and answers can help get non US citizen travelers started in the right direction. A. What documents do visitors and immigrants to the United States need? Where and when do they obtain them? Temporary Visitors for Pleasure or Work: Passport issued by their home country. Read More
3 Alternatives to the H-1B Visa for US Employment
Looking for a way to enter the US on a work visa without the lengthy process and the lottery involved in the H-1B visa? There are three visas that are significantly faster and easier to apply for, with no lottery that are excellent options for employers and employees alike. These programs are for citizens of Canada, Mexico, Australia, Chile and Singapore. E-3, Work Visa for Australians Australians may apply Read More
3 things to know now about H-1B visas and the recent changes
Concerned about the most recent H-1B changes and announcements? Here are three things to know now. 1. Electronic Registration Requirement - Suspended Until 2020 USCIS announced that the "new electronic registration requirement requires petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to first electronically register with USCIS during a Read More
H-1B SEASON IS HERE: 6 THINGS EVERY EMPLOYER SHOULD KNOW
One of the biggest challenges for any business is finding the right employees. Sometimes the local (maybe even national) workforce doesn’t offer the talent pool you need, and you become aware of a skilled non-US citizen professional who happens to reside overseas or is in the U.S. working for another company. When this happens, you can apply for the H-1B nonimmigrant visa, which allows U.S. employers to hire Read More
The New Application for Employment Authorization and What That Means For you
On October 2, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new version of its Application for Employment Authorization, the Form I-765, which allows applicants to now request a Social Security Number (SSN) or a replacement Social Security card at the same time as when they apply for their Employment Authorization Document (EAD). An EAD, or work permit, is the documentation that shows Read More
Immigration and Marriage: The K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa
When you went to Spain to help your employer open a new overseas headquarters in Madrid, you expected to spend the entire year setting up IT infrastructure. You didn’t expect to meet Maria, who works for one of your company’s suppliers, and you certainly didn’t anticipate falling in love. But it happened, and when you proposed shortly before returning home to Georgia, Maria accepted. As an American citizen, you Read More
Hiring F-1 International Students: What Every Employer Should Know About Practical Training
International students living in the United States have plenty of unique skills and perspectives to offer employers—although they are oftentimes strictly limited in the type of work they are allowed to perform based on their student status. Individuals with an F-1 visa, for example, may only work with employers through what are known as “practical training” programs, where they stand to benefit by gaining valuable Read More
