United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the publication of a final rule to adjust immigration and naturalization requests fees. Noting that the fee increase is the first since 2016, and necessary for recovering the costs of operations, the new fees will be effective on April 1, 2024. The new fee schedule table details the filing fees to be collected by petition or application type. “For individual filers, the final rule generally limits newly established fees to no more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2016, which is 26%.” However, the fees associated with employment-based visas and employer sponsored green card petitions have been significantly increased.
Read moreFY2025 H-1B Lottery Kick Off
It’s time for the newly updated H-1B Visa Lottery! Upon introducing the final rule which initiated many changes to the fiscal year 2025 (“FY25”) H-1B Lottery, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the initial registration period for the FY25 H-1B cap will begin at 12pm ET on March 6, 2024, and run through 12pm ET on March 22, 2024. During this registration period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to submit their H-1B registrations using online accounts and pay the required $10 fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each beneficiary.
Read moreReformed Patriotism
Changes to H-1B Visa Lottery Registration Finalized by USCIS
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced its intent to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B registration process by introducing changes to the current electronic registration system. The final rule published on February 2, 2024, aims to ensure that regardless of how many H-1B registrations are submitted on behalf of a foreign national, the odds of that person being selected in the H-1B lottery will not increase. The new rule implements a “beneficiary-centered selection process for H-1B registrations”, which means that instead of selecting by registration, which has been the norm since 2020, USCIS will select registrations by the unique beneficiary.
Read more“Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys “ at the Brooklyn Museum
As Black History Month draws to a close, we shine a light on one of New York's remarkable exhibits celebrating Black culture and its profound connection with art. This exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum is the product of the vision of two influential figures in the music industry: Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) who have been passionately collecting works for over two decades, and who are now eager to share their extraordinary collection with the world. This collection, which features 98 artworks by Black American, African, and African diasporic artists including Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Hassan Hajjaj to name a few, explores many themes including Black identity and creativity. This celebration of Black artists and culture, according to Ms. Keys “want(s) you to see that you are also a giant, that you are special, incredible, unique, one of a kind.” Make sure you experience the exhibit before it closes on July 7th!
Immigration Anthem
Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day (week)!!
Happy belated Valentine’s Day from all of us at Daryanani Law Group! This year to celebrate Valentine’s, we decided to extend our love to our incredible “sweet” team. We stuffed ourselves with sugar, including donuts from The Donut Pub and Nama chocolates from Royce’ Chocolate. Nothing like a sugar rush to get those cases filed!
The Global Fight for Immigrant Rights
Happy Lunar New Year!
Ana María Hernando: "To Let the Sky Know / Dejar que el cielo sepa"
Ana María Hernando, a multidisciplinary artist originally from Buenos Aires and now based in Denver, explores the intricate layers of women's identity through her art. Drawing from her upbringing in her parents' textile plant, she often incorporates small-gauge fabric netting into her sculptures, paying homage to her roots. Tulle, which is traditionally associated with enhancing feminine silhouettes and concealing women's bodies with tutus, petticoats, and veils, symbolizes femininity and mystery in Hernando's work.
In her latest project, "To Let the Sky Know / Dejar que el cielo sepa," housed at Madison Square Park Conservancy, Hernando aims to infuse vibrancy and optimism into the winter cityscape with tulle sculptures of vibrant colors, representing hope, growth, and femininity. Inspired by Latin American textile traditions, including the embroideries of Buenos Aires nuns and the weavings of Peruvian women, her art celebrates the enduring contributions of women worldwide. Hernando's sculptures in Madison Square Park serve as a platform for reflection on the interconnectedness of women's experiences and the empowering force of community collaboration. This exhibit is the perfect opportunity to brighten a gloomy winter’s day and will be open through March 17th!