Updates & Events

The USPTO recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, proposing to amend the Rules of Practice in Trademark Cases to require all applicants, registrants and parties to be represented by a U.S. attorney.

USCIS resumed premium processing on Tuesday, March 12, for all H-1B petitions.

On February 20, 2019, the Trump administration sent a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review that would halt work authorization for H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders in the United States.

According to statistics released by USCIS, the percentage of H-1B cases with requests for evidence has greatly increased. 

86 Democratic members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the USCIS Director expressing their "grave concerns about the alarming growth in processing delays" and requesting "prompt and detailed" responses to a series of related questions.

The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for March 2019 shows modest progress for EB-1 for all chargeability areas as well as EB-2 for China and India; EB-3 and Other Workers China, India and the Philippines; and EB-5 China and Vietnam, with the remainder of the priority dates remaining Current.

The USCIS Ombudsman reported that the agency has resolved a discrepancy in the application of policy concerning persons with advance parole who recently filed renewal applications and then left the United States.

USCIS announced that it has revised Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and is introducing a new Form I-539A, effective March 11.

Fredrikson & Byron continues to solidify its position as the leading law firm in the upper Midwest by opening a new office in Mankato, Minnesota.

Barlow Research’s December 2018 First Friday Web Conference, titled “Evolving Challenges and Competition for Small Business Banking,” focused on new challengers entering the financial services market. This article provides a summary of attorney Karen Grandstrand's comments during the Web Conference.