Practice Areas


The Many Faces of Stern Elkind Curray & Alterman LLP

Since 1985,Stern Elkind Curray & Alterman has limited its practice to immigration law, with a special emphasis on matters relating to the employment of foreign professionals. Mr. Stern and Ms. Elkind founded the firm with the goal of providing the very best immigration advice and representation to our clients. As the firm has grown, we have continued our commitment to maintaining a high level of expertise combined with an understanding that our clients are individuals whose lives are deeply affected by the work we do. Over the years, we have developed expertise and wide-ranging experience in all facets of immigration law.

We continue to be deeply affected by our clients, some of whom are introduced within this web site.

More Success Stories

New H-1B visas exhausted until October 1, 2005

October 04, 2004

USCIS announced at approximately 8:00 p.m. on October 1, 2004, the first day of fiscal year 2005, that it has enough H-1Bs in the pipeline to satisfy all of the fiscal 2005 cap numbers. All cap-subject cases received after the end of business on October 1 will be returned to the petitioners. In other words, no new H-1B petitions can be approved for fiscal year 2005.

Please keep in mind these important facts:

  1. Individuals who are already on H-1B visas, and have been counted against the cap, will not be affected by this development. Individuals on existing H-1B visas can obtain extensions and can change companies as long as they have previously been counted against the H-1B cap.
  2. Individuals working at colleges and universities, nonprofit entities related or affiliated with colleges and universities, nonprofit research organizations, and governmental research laboratories are not subject to the H-1B cap.
  3. USCIS will start accepting petitions for fiscal year 2006 H-1B visas on April 1, 2005. Companies should start preparing for the April 1, 2005 date early in 2005.
  4. There are a number of alternatives to H-1B status which allow individuals to work in the United States. Please contact us if you would like to explore these alternatives to H-1B status.
  5. If you hire an individual based upon F-1 Optional Practical Training status, please contact us immediately to discuss the timing of an H-1B petition.
  6. There are some efforts on Capitol Hill to create more H-1B visas, although it is unlikely that anything will be done prior to the presidential election. It is very important that you contact your Congressperson and/or Senator to encourage him or her to support efforts to expand available H-1B visas.

Please call us if you have any questions.

Request a Consultation

* = Required Field

 

News