Immigration Legislation Update
In 2013, supporters of comprehensive immigration reform had high hopes for a significant overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, a prospect that appears increasingly unlikely as the end of the...
View ArticleWelcome Ambassadors for Foreign Travelers
Airports in San Jose, Miami and Los Angeles are bringing in dogs to greet travelers, as part of a new program aimed at de-stressing the traveling public. While the Miami airport only has one dog, a...
View ArticleDecember Visa Bulletin Issued
The December Visa Bulletin has been issued. The employment-based visa category for India retrogressed from June 15, 2008, to November 15, 2004. See State Department Visa Bulletin for December 2013.
View ArticleInfosys Settles Visa Claim for $34 Million
Indian tech giant Infosys has reached a $34 million civil settlement with the US government for allegedly misusing the US visa system. The company was accused of obtaining business visitor, B-1,...
View ArticleUSCIS Clarifies How to Get 17-Month STEM OPT Extension
USCIS just issued a policy memo clarifying how F-1 students in OPT status can get a 17-month extension for STEM Degree programs. See link to memo here.
View ArticleDOL is Open and Operating
The Department of Labor is open again and operating. This means that LCAs and other documents can now be filed again although the system has been crashing due to over-demand. USCIS continued to...
View ArticleVisa Program for Iraqi Nationals Has Been Extended
USCIS has announced that Congress passed a bill extending Special Immigrant Visa program for Iraqi nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government. USCIS may now approve an additional...
View ArticleNOVEMBER VISA BULLETIN IS ISSUED
The State Department released the Visa Bulletin for November 2013. Most family-sponsored preference cut-off dates moved forward slightly and employment-based third preference and Other Worker...
View ArticleUPDATE ON GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
We understand that court functions that support detained cases will continue, but other court functions are suspended. Department of Labor’s iCERT and PERM systems are unable to process requests....
View ArticleWhat Will Happen if There is a Federal Government Shutdown?
USCIS has not yet issued any guidance on what will happen if there is a Federal Government shutdown. In the past, it has stated that many of the USCIS functions will continue, since they are primarily...
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President Celebrates Citizenship Day and the Contributions of Immigrants
Friday, September 20, 2013 Friends, This week, communities across the country are coming...
View ArticleUSCIS Alert on Telephone Scams
USCIS has learned about new telephone scams targeting USCIS applicants and petitioners. Scammers are using a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to display false information on the recipient’s...
View ArticleChina Revises Immigration Laws
China recently implemented the “Exit-Entry Administration Law,” a new law that is intended to standardize the issuance of visas for foreigners, as well as related services and management. Scheduled to...
View ArticleThe September 2013 Visa Bulletin Issued
The DOS Visa Bulletin for September 2013 is now available. The employment-based second preference cut-off date for India has advanced to June 15, 2008. Here is the link: Visa Bulletin September 2013
View ArticleWhite House Releases Benefits of Immigration Legislation
The White House recently published comprehensive state-by-state reports detailing the specific benefits of passing new immigration legislation. The reports find that workers’ wages will increase, as...
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Immigration Updates & Opportunities to Engage
Thursday, August 1, 2013 Friends, America has always been a nation of immigrants, and throughout the nation’s...
View ArticleHouse Immigration Vote Tentatively Set for October
At a Racine, WI town hall meeting, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc) announced the House’s pending plan to vote on important immigration legislation in the fall. Since the June...
View ArticleEmployees Now Notified of SSA and I-9 Mismatches
USCIS has announced an E-Verify customer service enhancement that will inform employees about Tentative Non-Confirmations (TNCs), which result from discrepancies between the data employees provide...
View ArticleMemorandum of Understanding Issued Between OSC and NLRB
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will work together in a new collaborative relationship to combat unfair labor practices. The new partnership was...
View ArticleImmigration Legislation Overview
On June 27, the Senate passed its bipartisan immigration bill by a vote of 68-32. If enacted, the bill is estimated to increase the national net-population by 9.6 million people and reduce the federal...
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