Headlines: 1. USCIS Estimates 21 Percent of H-1B Cases Involve Fraud or Technical Violations – USCIS concluded that there is a 21 percent baseline fraud and technical violation rate for H-1B petitions and plans procedural changes as a result. 2. U.S. Increases Period of Stay for Trade-NAFTA Professionals From Canada and Mexico – The final […]
Headlines: 1. Employment Visa Categories Backlogged – Many employment category cut-off dates have been established for October. 2. DV-2010 Visa Lottery Entry Period Begins – The DV-2010 Lottery online entry period runs from noon EDT on October 2, 2008, to noon EST on December 1, 2008. 3. EAD Delays: What To Do? – The USCIS […]
Headlines: 1. New Passport Card Is Acceptable For Employment Eligibility Verification – The passport card is considered a “List A” document that may be presented by newly hired employees during the employment eligibility verification process. 2. USCIS Issues Work Authorization Application Version Reminder – USCIS issued a reminder to use the correct version of the […]
Headlines: 1. Bill Would Extend E-Verify for 10 Years – With E-Verify set to expire in November, some lawmakers feel there is insufficient time to do anything other than pass a 5-year extension. 2. New ?Exit Tax? on U.S. Citizens and Long-term Permanent Residents – The new exit tax is a major deterrent for wealthy […]
Headlines: 1. Federal Contractors Must Use E-Verify, White House Orders – Under a new executive order, federal contractors must check the immigration status of their current and future employees through the E-Verify online employment authorization verification system. 2. CBP Issues Tips for U.S.-Canadian Border Travelers – With the onset of summer travel, U.S. Customs and […]
Headlines: 1. DHS Issues Supplemental Q&A on OPT Interim Rule for F-1 Students – Among other things, the supplemental Q&A discusses the e-mail notification process allowing an employer whose pending H-1B petition on behalf of an F-1 student was randomly selected to receive an H-1B visa number for FY 2009 to request change of status […]
Headlines: 1. H-1B Roundup: Cap Reached, Random Selection Completed; Some Applications ‘Wait-Listed’ – USCIS announced a preliminary number of nearly 163,000 H-1B petitions received during the filing period ending on April 7, 2008. 2. DHS Issues Interim Rule on Optional Practical Training for F-1 Students – DHS issued an interim final rule extending the maximum […]
Headlines: 1. Employers to File FY 2009 H-1B Petitions on April 1; USCIS Publishes Interim Rule Prohibiting Multiple H-1B Petitions for Same Employee – The H-1B supply is expected to be exhausted immediately; USCIS published an interim final rule prohibiting employers from filing multiple H-1B petitions for the same employee. 2. DHS Issues No-Match Supplemental […]
Headlines: 1. Fines, Prosecutions for Hiring Undocumented Workers To Increase – The increased fines are expected to take effect March 27, 2008, and will be assessed on a per-worker basis. 2. Filing Tips for H-1B Applications – The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers recommends these tips for employers planning to file H-1B applications. 3. USCIS […]
Headlines: 1. Naturalization Processing Times Increase Drastically – The average processing time for naturalization applications has increased to approximately 18 months. 2. H-2B Cap Reached – USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year 2008. 3. DHS Begins Collecting 10 Fingerprints at Boston […]