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 […]
Headlines: 1. Details Released on DV-2014 Lottery Program; DV-2013 Entrants Should Keep Confirmation Numbers – Online registration for the DV-2014 Program begins on October 2, 2012, at noon EDT, and concludes on November 3, 2012, at noon EDT. The Department of State also said it may select more DV-2013 entries on October 1, 2012, so […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Updates FAQs on Deferred Action – The latest FAQ was updated on September 7, 2012. 2. Congress Extends Four Immigration Programs for Three Years – The extended programs include the EB-5 regional center program, the E-Verify program, the special immigrant religious worker program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 visa waiver program […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Submits Emergency Requests to OMB for Deferred Action-Related Forms; ICE Agents File Lawsuit – USCIS has submitted information collection requests to the OMB for “emergency” consideration related to the new deferred action program. 2. USCIS Allows 30 Additional Days for Public Comment on Revised I-9 – USCIS received over 6,200 comments in […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Begins Accepting Deferred Action Requests – USCIS has released forms, instructions, and additional information relevant to the deferred action for childhood arrivals process. 2. Use Current I-9 Even After August 31 OMB Expiration Passes, USCIS Says – Employers should continue to use the current I-9 employment eligibility verification form even after the […]
Headlines: 1. Congress Acts to Extend EB-5 Regional Center Program for Three Years – Congress has agreed in principle to extend the EB-5 regional center program for three years, until September 30, 2015. 2. USCIS Announces New EB-5 Program Office – USCIS announced the creation of a new office to oversee administration of the EB-5 […]