UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION NEWS

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.

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

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.

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

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.

Friday, 3 July 2009

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

Friday, 3 July 2009

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.

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday that effective June 29, 2009, it will resume its Premium Processing service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker).

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

USCIS recently released a memo providing further clarification as to the adjudicator's responsibility in determining whether a national from a country not eligible to participate in the H-2A or H-2B programs be accorded H-2A or H-2B status. The memo detailed four key factors in assessing the discretionary determination as to whether to grant H-2A or H-2B status to such individuals.

Friday, 26 June 2009

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued new guidance regarding the application of the CSPA for individuals who were denied Permanent Residence based on the CSPA’s aging out provision.

Friday, 26 June 2009

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano recently extended new interim relief for certain widow(er)s of U.S. citizens and their unmarried children under 21 years old.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

The Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2009 (AgJobs Act of 2009 or Act) is a proposed legislation that primarily aims, as the name implies, to improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits and security for foreign nationals in the U.S.

Friday, 12 June 2009

The Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that the Far E-Verify/Basic Pilot Program's implementation will be pushed back to September 8th, 2009.

Friday, 12 June 2009

Holding true to his word, Attorney General Eric Holder has recently withdrawn a decision issued by outgoing Attorney General Michael Mukasey that effectively removed due process in Immigration Court proceedings by eliminating the right to effective representation. Attorney General Holder had stated that he would review the Mukasey decision and that he disagreed with its reasoning.

Friday, 5 June 2009

Senators Menendez (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY), Kennedy (D-MA) and Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Reuniting Families Act (S.1085).

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

On May 29, 2009 the Department of Labor announced that the H-2A final rule published on December 18, 2008 (December 2008 H-2A final rule) will be suspended for 9 months.

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun collecting biometrics (digital fingerprints) from non-U.S. citizens departing the United States as part of a pilot program at Airports in Atlanta and Detroit.

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

USCIS is Reminding Applicants for Adjustment of Status, Asylum, Legalization, and TPS Beneficiaries to Obtain Advance Parole Before Traveling Abroad

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

The Department of State (DOS) recently released a cable that advised all diplomatic and consular posts of updates to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) regarding student and exchange visitors.

Monday, 25 May 2009

The Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) issued an announcement reminding travelers that the new document requirements for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) go into effect on June 1, 2009.

Friday, 22 May 2009

The Department of Labor recently announced that employers wishing to hire staff under the H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 visa programs may continue to complete Form 9035E (LCA), utilizing the old legacy LCA system, until June 30, 2009, as the new iCERT system is not functioning properly.

Friday, 22 May 2009

The Non-minister Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program was scheduled to expire on March 6, 2009; however, on March 20, 2009 President Obama signed Public Law 111-9 extending the expiration date of this program to September 29, 2009.

Friday, 15 May 2009

The USCIS recently announced that the filing location and instructions for all Form I-90 applications being submitted via mail have been changed.

Friday, 15 May 2009

In a sign that immigration reform is a priority for the Obama administration's agenda, it announced on May 6th, 2009, that it will allot $27 billion in the proposed 2010 budget to address border and transportation security.

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced in the Federal Register on April 15th, 2009 that the new iCERT system is now available for use by employers filing Form 9035E (LCA) as required for submission of H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 petitions.

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

The United States has always been a top destination for visitors travelling for business and pleasure. However, in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA), a record number of more than 58 million international visitors, travelled to the United States.

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

USCIS announced on April 9th, 2009, that it has received only 42,000 H-1B petitions counting towards the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B cap, signifying the far reaching negative effects of the US recession.

Friday, 17 April 2009

On April 1, 2009, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, will begin accepting petitions for the Specialty Occupation (H-1B) Visa subject to the fiscal year 2010 cap.

Wednesday, 1 April 2009

A decision made by a federal judge strikes down a long-standing government policy that made it more difficult for foreign religious workers to remain in the United States.

Thursday, 26 March 2009

On March 20, 2009, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, announced additional requirements for US employers receiving funding from the government.

Tuesday, 24 March 2009

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, announced recently the elimination of the name check backlog.

Thursday, 19 March 2009

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, is seeing a decrease in citizenship requests and believes the reason is the failing economy.

Tuesday, 17 March 2009

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, has extended the stay of foreign athletes.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

In February 2009, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, added a new feature to the E-Verify employment authorization program, further improving the program.

Wednesday, 11 March 2009

Due to the current economic conditions and ever-increasing unemployment rate, the federal government of the United States is tightening its oversight of the Specialty Occupation (H-1B) Visa.

Friday, 6 March 2009

Beginning March 2, 2009, premium processing will be expanded to include employment-based immigration petitions, resulting in decisions on petitions being rendered within fifteen (15) days of submission.

Monday, 2 March 2009

The United States' economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama last week affects US immigration policies in many ways.

Thursday, 26 February 2009

On February 12, 2009, United States Representative Jerrold Nadler introduced a bill that would allow homosexual Americans to sponsor their foreign same-sex partners for a US Green Card.

Monday, 23 February 2009

After much debate, the United States Senate decided to exclude the amendments made to E-Verify from the economic stimulus package.

Monday, 23 February 2009

On March 6, 2009, the Certain Special Immigrant (EB4) Visa will begin to only apply to ministers. The other categories of people in which the visa had previously applied will expire.

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Department of Commerce is a strong supporter of expanding the United States’ Specialty Occupation (H-1B) Visa.

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

The requirement that federal contractors utilize E-Verify has been delayed once again. The argument for this delay is to allow the Obama administration time to review this requirement.

Thursday, 12 February 2009

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revised the Visa Waiver Program for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

At the end of 2008, President Bush signed into law the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. This Act is expected to protect foreign migrant workers from coming to the US under false pretences.

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

The US Embassy in Ghana has made the renewal procedure of certain US visas much easier for eligible applicants. It is hopeful that these procedures will be followed in other US embassies and consulates located in other countries.

Wednesday, 4 February 2009

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States, has revised the list of acceptable documents to be used to complete the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Thursday, 29 January 2009

In an attempt to further improve public safety and national security, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded the US-VISIT program to include United States lawful permanent residents, or green card holders.

Thursday, 29 January 2009

There are over 100,000 educational institutions in the United States, many of which are the most prestigious and successful educational institutions in the world. Each year, over 300,000 foreign students attend educational institutions in the US, receiving an education and training in a variety of exciting areas that will improve and expand their future career plans.

Monday, 19 January 2009

A health insurance bill is expected to be renewed by Congress shortly, and such bill will extend health care benefits to certain immigrants, lifting a provision that limited providing benefits to them in the past.

Wednesday, 14 January 2009

US citizenship is now available for certain temporary US visa holders.

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

At the end of 2008, President Bush signed into law the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. This Act is expected to protect foreign migrant workers from coming to the US under false pretenses.

Thursday, 8 January 2009

The US Embassy in Ghana has made the renewal procedure of certain US visas much easier for eligible applicants. It is hopeful that these procedures will be followed in other US embassies and consulates located in other countries.

Tuesday, 6 January 2009

Each month, consular officers and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services of the US Department of Homeland Security report to the US Department of State the number of visas that have been allocated for numerically limited visa categories. Utilizing this information, the Department of State creates a document called the Visa Bulletin to assist foreigners in determining when they are eligible to submit an application to apply for US lawful permanent residence, or a US "green Card."

Thursday, 1 January 2009

Economic analysts suggest that the US government should learn from Canada's highly successful Immigration program to help improve local & national economies.

Monday, 23 June 2008

The USCIS has announced a work gap filler that will provide special authorization to those international students who have expired or expiring work authorization and a pending H1B Working visa for the USA.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Today marks the first day employers can apply for some of the 65,000 USA temporary visas for highly skilled foreigners available for 2009. But, this may also be the last day.

Tuesday, 1 April 2008

US companies that apply for controversial H-1B visas create additional jobs beyond the positions filled by foreign workers.

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Within three years, all Americans and other foreigners from outside the European Union will have to have biometric ID cards to work and live in the UK.

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

American officials are lobbying for an increase in the annual quota of temporary skilled worker (H-1 B) visas.

Thursday, 6 March 2008

Between 2020 and 2025, the foreign-born will account for 15% of the American population, if current immigration trends continue.

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Owners of seasonal businesses in the United States are desperately looking for workers abroad.

Saturday, 1 March 2008

Immigration to the United States could be in the pipeline for many nurses who could fill shortages in California.

Friday, 22 February 2008

If you are considering immigration to the US, your decision could have a positive impact on the future of the US economy, says Dowell Myers, a demographer at the University of Southern California, in a recent study.

Monday, 11 February 2008