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USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap

USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions projected as needed to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. USCIS will next determine if we have received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap. The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not prohibited multiple filings. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise 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 2020 H-1B cap. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions filed to: Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States;Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; andAllow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. We encourage H-1B applicants to subscribe to the H-1B Cap Season email updates located on the H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Cap Season page.

Free English Class Literacy for Spanish speakers seeking to start or expand a small business

READY for BU$INE$$

Free English Class  with an Emphasis on Business/Financial Literacy for Spanish speakers seeking to start or expand a small business.

Class Registration will take place at Emerald Isle Immigration Center 59 26 Woodside Avenue Woodside NY 11377 on Saturday , March 23rd  at 10 AM and Tuesday, March 26th  at 2 PM

St. Patrick’s Day Parade to celebrate immigrants this Saturday

“It shouldn’t be a divisive issue if we all remember where we came from,” Grand Marshal Brian O’Dwyer says.

The annual parade, which first began in 1762, will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday Photo Credit: Steven Sunshine

Original Source:
https://www.amny.com/news/nyc-st-patricks-day-parade-1.28515141

By Alison Fox

alison.fox@amny.com  @AlisonFox

O’Dwyer, the grand marshal of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, will be marching with several Latino immigrants by his side, highlighting this year’s parade theme of immigration and championing his own work with the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, which has offices in Queens and the Bronx.

When Brian O’Dwyer marches up Fifth Avenue on Saturday, he won’t be alone.

“I’m the son of immigrants and the grandson of immigrants. I know in particular what this town has done to give opportunities to all immigrants and allow them to make better lives for themselves and their families,” said O’Dwyer, who now serves as chairman emeritus of the center. “It shouldn’t be a divisive issue if we all remember where we came from. We’re not pulling the ladder up behind us.”

O’Dwyer, the third in his family to serve as grand marshal of the parade, said five Latino immigrants who work with the Emerald Isle Immigration Center will march with him “as a symbol of the solidarity between all immigrants,” and added that he appreciated how this year’s theme recognized the work he has dedicated years to.

The parade will feature 200,000 marchers, according to organizers. Photo Credit: Steven Sunshine

The annual parade, which first began in 1762, will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday — a day before St. Patrick’s Day since this year the celebration falls on a Sunday, the Sabbath. Hundreds of thousands of people will march and millions of spectators are expected to line the Fifth Avenue route from 44th Street to 79th Street, according to organizers. 

“When the parade started … the population of all of the state of New York was approximately 200,000 people. We have 200,000 people marching now,” said Sean Lane, the parade board chair. “It’s just extraordinary, that history, and obviously we’re very conscious of that. And you stand on the shoulders of all who came before you.”

Lane added that the parade’s theme was very close to his heart, having grown up in Ireland himself. 

“We stay out of the politics of it, but the Irish, obviously, and the parade [are] an enormous example of successful immigration,” he said before referencing a line from Ronald Reagan’s final speech as president, that anybody can come to America and become an American. “And we’re firm believers of that and I don’t care about the politics, that’s just the facts.”

And while many are expected to turn out for the festivities, Lane said only time will tell if this year’s Saturday schedule will have an effect on the crowd size.

“From the number of marchers, we could have a significant increase because you don’t have to take the day off to march,” he said. “On the other hand, because all the offices are going to be closed, you may not have as many people on the sidelines.”

Weather, he added, “is really the biggest factor.”

And, like the luck of the Irish, it appears to be on their side — the forecast for Saturday as of press time is partly cloudy with a high in the low 50s.