Headlines: 1. State Dept. Implements Fee Increases for Certain Consular Services – Affected services include nonimmigrant visas and border crossing cards. 2. Sen. Grassley Puts ‘Hold’ on Per-Country Limits Legislation – Sen. Grassley said that he has “concerns about the impact of this bill on future immigration flows.” 3. Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing on […]
Headlines: 1. H-1B Cap Reached for FY 2012 – Petitions for new employment of an H-1B will not be accepted again until April 1, 2012. 2. House Votes To End Per-Country Limits on Employment-Based Immigration Visas – The measure could benefit skilled Indian and Chinese workers and high-tech companies in the United States. 3. Labor […]
Headlines: 1. H-1B Numbers Dwindling Fast, File Now! – Once the numbers under the cap are gone, the next opportunity to file will be April 1, 2012, for work to begin October 1, 2012. 2. USCIS Issues Draft EB-5 Memo – USCIS seeks stakeholder input on “foundational issues” before providing greater detail. 3. Employers May […]
Headlines: 1. H-1B Numbers Dwindling for FY 2012, File Now! – Once the numbers under the cap are gone, the next opportunity to file will be April 1, 2012, for work to begin in FY 2013. 2. EB-2 India, China EB-2 Visa Numbers Jump; Other Visa News – The November employment-based second preference cut-off date […]
Headlines: 1. California ‘Dream Act’ Becomes Law – California’s Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law the second portion of the California “Dream Act,” AB 131, which allows undocumented students to qualify for state-funded scholarships and financial aid for state universities after other legal resident and U.S. citizen students have applied. 2. Federal Court Halts […]
Headlines: 1. House Judiciary Committee Approves E-Verify Legislation – A date for consideration on the House floor has not yet been set. 2. State Dept. Estimates Employment-Based Visa Availability – The October Visa Bulletin includes estimated visa availability over the coming months. 3. House Holds Hearing on Immigrant Investor Program and Job Creation – The […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Institutes Direct E-Mail Communication for Regional Center Applicants – Form I-924 applicants now are able to communicate directly with USCIS adjudicators via e-mail. 2. USCIS Announces Increase in RC Filings, EB-5 Approvals at Quarterly Meeting – USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas said the EB-5 program is a high priority and the agency realizes […]
Headlines: 1. USCIS Institutes Direct E-Mail Communication for Regional Center Applicants – Beginning on September 13, 2011, Form I-924 applicants are able to communicate directly with USCIS adjudicators via e-mail. 2. DOL Releases H-2A Employer Filing Tips – The tips remind employers about common mistakes that may result in processing delays for temporary agricultural workers. […]
Headlines: 1. DOL Suspends Prevailing Wage Determinations – Processing of prevailing wage determinations (PWDs), redeterminations, and Center Director Reviews have been suspended temporarily; prevailing wage requests filed since early June 2011 are still pending. 2. Ombudsman Recommends That USCIS Improve EAD Process – The Ombudsman noted that many problem areas remain unaddressed. 3. Obama Administration […]
Headlines: 1. DHS, USCIS Announce Initiative To Promote Startups and Spur Job Creation – Agencies announce efforts to attract foreign entrepreneurial talent to the U.S. 2. ICE Declares ‘Secure Communities’ Mandatory, Not Optional – ICE announced that a memorandum of agreement between ICE and a state is not required to operate Secure Communities in that […]