USCIS has announced that the fees for certain H-1B and L-1 visa petitions will increase.

Read Kathryn N. Karam's article on p. 4 of the latest issue of Houston Oil Patch Magazine.

USA Today has cited a recent brief by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). The brief notes increases in the denial rates of L-1B specialized knowledge transferee petitions. The USA today report also includes commentary from groups both in favor of and against higher levels of legal immigration. that the number of L-1B petitions filed has increased in recent years. Earlier this month, USCIS responded to a Freedom of Information Act Request filed by a representative of the American Immigration Lawyers Association by releasing statistics on the number of L-1B petitions filed, approved, and denied in FY 2012 and 2013.

USCIS released statistics on the number of L-1B Specialized Knowledge Petitions it received, approved, and denied this week. The statistics indicate that USCIS issued Request for Evidence (RFE) in roughly half of L-1B petitions filed in FY 2013. The statistics were released In response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request submitted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) USCIS Liaison. The statistics also show that the California Service Center issued RFEs slightly more often than the Vermont Service Center.