Headlines: 1. House, Senate Hold Hearings; President Weighs in on Immigration Reform in State of the Union Address – Recent House of Representatives and Senate hearings focused on immigration reform. Also, President Obama included immigration reform issues in his State of the Union Address. 2. H-1B Filing Starts April 1 – Companies should prepare to […]
Headlines: 1. President Obama Speaks on Immigration Reform, Senators Announce Bipartisan Agreement – President Obama spoke on his immigration reform proposal one day after a bipartisan group of senators also proposed principles for comprehensive immigration reform. 2. USCIS Updates FAQ on DACA, Releases Latest Statistics – USCIS has posted new information on the definition of […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Final Rule Allows Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers To Reduce Separations From Immediate Relatives – The final rule establishes a process that allows certain individuals to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver before they leave the United States to attend immigrant visa interviews in their countries of origin. 2. USCIS Revises Guidance […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS To Implement New Immigrant Visa Fee February 1 – USCIS will begin collecting a new fee of $165 from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States. 2. USCIS Launches New E-Verify Employers Search Tool – The new online tool allows the user to find employers and federal contractors currently enrolled […]
Headlines: 1. EB-5 Adjudications Expected to Move to DC; Guidance Memo Not Yet Released – Within four to six months, EB-5 responsibilities will be moved to Washington, DC, under a new EB-5 Program Office. 2. DHS Adds Taiwan to Visa Waiver Program – In FY 2011, 243,186 visitors from Taiwan traveled to the United States. […]
Headlines: 1. House Passes STEM Bill; ‘Achieve Act’ Introduced in Senate, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Reacts; Obama, Dems Advocate Comprehensive Immigration Reform – The STEM bill would allocate visas to STEM graduates without increasing overall immigration, by eliminating the diversity visa program. Neither the STEM bill nor the Achieve Act are likely to survive in the […]
Headlines: 1. OFLC, USCIS Issue Guidance on Hurricane Sandy Relief; USCIS Extends RFE Deadlines – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification issued a FAQ on Hurricane Sandy-related extensions and accommodations. Also, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a reminder on immigration benefits or relief that may be available to those affected. 2. […]
Headlines: 1. E-Verify Mandated in Four States in 2013 – Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee have all passed mandatory work authorization verification laws, the final provisions of which take effect in 2013. 2. EB-2 Priority Dates Become ‘Current’ in November, Except for China and India – For China in November, the EB-2 priority date […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Launches Online I-9 Resources for Employers and Employees in Spanish – The website provides employers and employees one-click access at no charge to Spanish-language resources, tips, and guidance on properly completing the I-9 and understanding the I-9 process. 2. Taiwan Joins Visa Waiver Program – In FY 2011, 243,186 visitors from Taiwan […]
Headlines: 1. President Signs Extension of EB-5 Regional Center Program for Three Years – The law extends the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program for three years, until September 30, 2015. 2. USCIS Comments on Issues During October EB-5 Stakeholders Meeting – Among other things, USCIS confirmed that it is reviewing some regional center activities with […]