Immigration Updates March 2024

H-1B Lottery Update

H-1B registration, which was originally scheduled to close on March 22 was extended until March 25, 2024. This year’s lottery is expected to have significantly fewer registrants than last year, which had 758,994 registrants.

Beginning March 27, employers were notified which registrants have been selected and invited to submit H-1B petitions to USCIS.

Employers of selected registrants must file petitions between April 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions will be eligible to start working for their H-1B employer on October 1, 2024.

If you were not selected in the H-1B lottery, you should consider exploring the O-1 visa. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

USCIS Filing Fee Increases

USCIS is increasing fees across the board on April 1, 2024. O-1 filing fee will increase from $460 to $530 (assuming petitioner has less than 25 employees). I-140 filing fee will increase from $700 to $715. Application for adjustment of status based on a family relationship or approved I-140 will increase from $1,225 to $1,440. Work permits and travel documents, which have been included with applications for adjustment of status for many years, will go back to having separate fees of $520 for the work permit and $630 for the advance parole travel document. Fees for conditional residents to remove the conditions on residency will increase from $680 to $750. The filing fee for naturalization will increase from $725 to $760.

Groups of 25+ will have to file multiple petitions

USCIS will release a new Form I-129 that must be used starting April 1. All petitions filed after April 1 must have 25 beneficiaries or less. Groups with more than 25 members will have to file multiple petitions to cover all beneficiaries.

EB-1 Priority Dates

For the purpose of adjusting status in the U.S. in April 2024, EB-1 priority dates edged forward for citizens of India to April 1, 2021. For citizens of China the EB-1 priority dates remained at January 1, 2023.

AI to Assist Training USCIS Officers

USCIS officer training using AI. The Department of Homeland Security has outlined 3 initiatives that will use AI to enhance impact and efficiency. One of the three initiatives is the use of AI to assist in training USCIS officers to ensure that officers are properly trained in a wide range of USCIS policies. You can read more about the new initiative HERE.

Client Spotlight: Daniela Aita – Triumph and Talent on the Global Stage

This month, we spotlight Daniela Aita, known as Dakyta, for her extraordinary achievements. Not only has her O-1 recently been approved, but she's made amazing inroads into the US television industry.

Following successful stints as a TV host and actor in her native Argentina, she's continued her success in Los Angeles, often hosting on the red carpet for events such as The Oscars, Wonka, America's Got Talent, Aquaman, as well as collaborating with major music festivals such as Lollapalooza and the Ulta Music Festival. You can also find her hosting her own show on LATV. Daniela has also garnered numerous impressive acting roles. Since breaking out as a series regular in The Chairwoman and Sos Mi Hombre, she has appeared in numerous shows and films, including Quasi Anjos, Marigold, LAtinX, and Holding, among many others.

Daniela's story—from Buenos Aires to Hollywood—is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence and the profound impact she has made on the entertainment industry, both domestically and internationally. We honor Daniela Aita's continued success and her inspirational journey.

For a deeper dive into Daniela Aita's career and accomplishments, please visit her official website (dakyta) (dakyta).

Got Something Exciting in the Works? We Want the Scoop!

We want to know if your show will be coming out, or your film will be screening at a festival, or if your song is dropping or if you have a performance coming up. Let us know so we can share the news!

Contact us to discuss your O, P, or EB-1 case

Is your O or P visa expiring in the next 9 months? If you’d like to discuss the renewal process with one of our attorneys, schedule a call HERE.

Want to apply for your EB-1 green card under a Biden Administration? If you’d like to discuss an EB-1 green card with one of our attorneys, schedule a call HERE.