http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news.asp US Immigration News. News and Updates about US Visas and Immigration. en-au Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:26:10 GMT Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:26:10 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss EkaCMS v3 editor@migrationexpert.com webmaster@migrationexpert.com /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/229/USCIS_Launches_Redesigned_Website On September 22, 2009 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a revamped website, with the specific purpose of creating a site that was more user-friendly, interactive and informative than its predecessor. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:22:02 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/229/USCIS_Launches_Redesigned_Website /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/228/USCIS_New_Naturalization_Test_Fully_Implemented The United States and Immigration Service (USCIS) recently reminded the public that effective October 1, 2009 the new naturalization civics test is fully implemented and must be taken by all applicants. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:31:01 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/228/USCIS_New_Naturalization_Test_Fully_Implemented /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/227/District_Courts_in_Florida,_Maryland,_Missouri_and_Texas_Strike_down_the_Widow_Penalty The 'widow penalty' is a very controversial issue in the immigration community; as a result several lawsuits have been brought against the government challenging the validity of the 'widow penalty' and have achieved success. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:13:24 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/227/District_Courts_in_Florida,_Maryland,_Missouri_and_Texas_Strike_down_the_Widow_Penalty /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/226/U.S._Department_of_Justice_Supports_Fight_Against_ImmigrationRelated_Employment_Discrimination Recently the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has awarded grants totaling $723,000 to numerous community organizations to help educate U.S. employees and employers about federal protections against immigration-related job discrimination. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:49:11 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/226/U.S._Department_of_Justice_Supports_Fight_Against_ImmigrationRelated_Employment_Discrimination /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/225/Pushing_the_DREAM_Forward_for_US_immigration_Reform The United We DREAM Coalition helped to organize a day of action with more than 125 events in 26 states in support of the DREAM Act. Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:33:05 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/225/Pushing_the_DREAM_Forward_for_US_immigration_Reform /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/224/2011_Diversity_Visa_Lottery_Registration_Period_Open On September 29th, 2009 the Department of State announced that the registration period for the 2011 Diversity Visa Lottery (lottery) will begin at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Friday, October 2, 2009, and end at noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Monday, November 30, 2009. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:27:49 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Oct/0/224/2011_Diversity_Visa_Lottery_Registration_Period_Open /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Sep/0/223/EVerify_Federal_Contractor_Rule_Now_in_Effect On September 8th, 2009 the Far E-Verify/Basic Pilot Program's (E-Verify federal contractor rule) became effective after previously being suspended three times previously. Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:49:10 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Sep/0/223/EVerify_Federal_Contractor_Rule_Now_in_Effect /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/222/USCIS_Reopens_Fiscal_Year_2009_H2B_Petition_Filing_Period The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it will accept new H-2B petitions for the fiscal year 2009 by reopening the filing period. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:30:51 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/222/USCIS_Reopens_Fiscal_Year_2009_H2B_Petition_Filing_Period /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/221/Obama_Renews_Hope_for_Comprehensive_Immigration_Reform In a press conference on August 10th, 2009, President Obama commented on the prospect of comprehensive immigration reform saying that legislation will be drafted by the end of the year. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:17:44 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/221/Obama_Renews_Hope_for_Comprehensive_Immigration_Reform /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/220/DOS_Ends_the_EPassport_Exemption_for_Emergency_and_Temporary_Passports The Department of State (DOS) in a cable to diplomatic and consular posts announced that travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will not be permitted utilizing a non-electronic emergency or temporary passport. Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:08:41 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Aug/0/220/DOS_Ends_the_EPassport_Exemption_for_Emergency_and_Temporary_Passports /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/219/USCIS_Resumes_Premium_Processing_Service_for_R1_Visas Recently the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced that it will resume the Premium Processing Service for the R-1 nonimmigrant visa classification. Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:07:14 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/219/USCIS_Resumes_Premium_Processing_Service_for_R1_Visas /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/218/ICE_Launches_Initiative_to_StepUp_Audits_of_Employment_Records U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently launched a new audit initiative by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOI) to 652 businesses nationwide as part of its plan to focus immigration enforcement on the employers who hire illegal workers. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has stated that investigations will focus on businesses that knowingly hire immigrants who cannot legally work in the U.S. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:28:19 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/218/ICE_Launches_Initiative_to_StepUp_Audits_of_Employment_Records /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/217/New_Legislation_Aims_to_End_'Widow_Penalty' On June 11th, Senators Menendez (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Leahy (D-VT) introduced the Orphans, Widows and Widowers Protection Act (S. 1427). This bill will provide a remedy for Orphans, Widows and Widowers who suffer immigration-related hardships due to the death of a sponsoring relative. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:13:27 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/217/New_Legislation_Aims_to_End_'Widow_Penalty' /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/216/Comprehensive_US_Immigration_Reform_May_Happen_This_Year President Obama has said in the past that comprehensive immigration reform is one of the many goals he wants to accomplish this year. With the successful completion of his bipartisan immigration summit in Washington it seems that he may be able to accomplish this goal Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:52:39 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/216/Comprehensive_US_Immigration_Reform_May_Happen_This_Year /us/Visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/215/USCIS_Eliminates_FBI_Name_Check_Backlogs On Monday, June 23, 2009, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the backlog for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name checks pending more than six months had been eliminated. Having completed all the requisite milestones, resulting in the elimination of the FBI National Name Check Program (NNCP) backlog, the two organizations declared that the process of checking names against the FBI database will now be quicker. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:21:34 GMT http://www.migrationexpert.com/us/visa/us-immigration-news/2009/Jul/0/215/USCIS_Eliminates_FBI_Name_Check_Backlogs