Immigration Insider
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 4A • April 01, 2014
Headlines: 1. File H-1B Petitions for FY 2015 Now! – USCIS anticipates receiving more than enough petitions to reach both caps by April 7. 2. USCIS, Healthcare.gov Provide Highlights of Immigration Status Effects on ACA Eligibility – Immigration status can affect eligibility for health care benefits under the Affordable Care Act. 3. USCIS Holds Teleconference […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 3B • March 15, 2014
Headlines: 1. OCAHO Reduces Employer’s Fines for I-9 Violations – The total penalty sought was $21,598.50, which was reduced to $9,450. 2. DOL Releases 2014 Allowable Charges for Agricultural Workers – The notice announces (1) the allowable charges for 2014 that employers seeking H-2A workers may charge their workers when the employer provides three meals […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 3A • March 01, 2014
Headlines: 1. State Dept. Announces J-1 On-Site Inspections – DOS plans to conduct on-site inspections of J-1 internships and training programs. 2. State Dept. Predicts Visa Availability in the Coming Months; Visa Bulletin Moved – The Department of State’s Visa Office has estimated visa availability in the coming months. Also, DOS has reorganized its website, […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 2B • February 15, 2014
Headlines: 1. Third Circuit Rules That H-2B Regulation on Minimum Wage Is Valid – Among other things, the court noted that the Department of Labor is not required to consider employer hardship but instead must balance the interests of ensuring an adequate labor force with protecting the jobs of U.S. workers. 2. DOL Administrative Review […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 2A • February 01, 2014
Headlines: 1. USCIS Expands Site Visits To Review of L-1 Petitions – The agency is reviewing extensions of L-1 petitions and L-1 job duties and salaries to determine whether they are consistent with the L-1’s classification. 2. H-1B Alert: Filing Starts April 1 for Next Fiscal Year – This past fiscal year, H-1B numbers were […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 1B • January 15, 2014
Headlines: 1. Is Immigration Reform Possible in 2014? – House Speaker John Boehner hopes to push immigration reform legislation forward in 2014, a year in which midterm elections will take place in November. 2. Visa Bulletin Shows Advancement in Several Categories – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for February 2014 shows advancement in priority […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 10, No. 1A • January 01, 2014
Headlines: 1. DHS OIG Report on EB-5 Regional Center Program Stirs Controversy – The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General has released a controversial new report on the EB-5 regional center program that includes four recommendations. 2. OSC Reiterates That Employers May Not Institute a Hiring Preference for U.S. Citizens Unless Required To […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 9, No. 12B • December 15, 2013
Headlines: 1. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in CSPA Case; USCIS Issues Policy Guidance – The memo addresses automatic conversion and priority date retention for certain children of immigrant visa petitioners. 2. Court Approves Final Settlement on Employment Authorization for Asylum Seekers – The settlement agreement provides that certain individuals who intend to file, or […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 9, No. 12A • December 01, 2013
Headlines: 1. USCIS Announces E-Verify Anti-SSN Fraud Effort – USCIS has announced an E-Verify effort to combat identity fraud by identifying and deterring fraudulent use of Social Security Numbers for employment eligibility verification. 2. Temporary Accommodation for Form I-129 H-2A Petitions Has Expired – The Office of Foreign Labor Certification has stopped sending Adobe PDF […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 9, No. 11B • November 15, 2013
Headlines: 1. Infosys Settles Visa Fraud and Abuse Case for Record $34 Million – Infosys has agreed to pay a record $34 million civil settlement based on allegations of systemic visa fraud and abuse of immigration processes. The company also has agreed to enhanced corporate compliance measures. 2. Office of Foreign Labor Certification Deals With […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 9, No. 11A • November 01, 2013
Headlines: 1. Federal Government Reopens; OFLC, USCIS Announce Temporary Accommodation for I-129 H-2A Petitions – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification and USCIS announced temporary accommodation for I-129 H-2A petitions. 2. EOIR Updates Guidance on Immigration Court Filings After Government Shutdown, Changes Zip Code – EOIR issued details about immigration court filings […]
News from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers Vol. 9, No. 10B • October 15, 2013
Headlines: 1. DOS Releases Info on Cut-Off Date Calculations; November 2013 Visa Bulletin Shows Movement in China ‘Other Workers’ Category – DOS has released information about how it calculates visa availability cut-off dates. Separately, the Visa Office has released the latest November 2013 Visa Bulletin. 2. EOIR Issues Guidance on Immigration Court Filings During Government […]