Customs and Border Protection is in the process of automating traveler arrival records to streamline passenger processing. The current processing time for entering foreign visitors’ travel information into the I-94 database is 30 days or more. This does not affect the majority of foreign travelers visiting for business or leisure and will not affect any [...]
Two new USCIS Web Manuals are available as of June 2012 for E-Verify users. These checklists will be useful to clients. M-1043 - Self-Assessment Guide For E-Verify Web Services Users M-1044 - Self-Assessment Guide For E-Verify Direct Access Users
On 07/11/12 Senators Grassley entered a statement into the Congressional Record announcing that he and Senator Schumer had reached an agreement on additional H-1B enforcement provisions and was therefore lifting his hold on H.R. 3012. H.R. 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, introduced on September 22, 2011 by Rep. Chaffetz (R-UT), eliminates the [...]
ICE press release announcing that the Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has accepted the University of Northern Virginia's application for new Designated School Officials. Nonimmigrant students who require action may now contact the school directly with requests. http://www.ice.gov/sevis/alerts/unva.htm
DHS announced an expanded list of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) designated-degree programs that qualify eligible graduates on student visas for an optional practical training (OPT) extension. This announcement builds on a series of administrative reforms designed to further the Department's commitment to attracting international students. Under the OPT program, international students who graduate [...]
USCIS has provided a new online resource page providing new videos, publications, and practice tests aimed at helping people prepare for the English language test portion of the form N-400 eligibility interview. Get the Naturalization Study Materials for English Test here.
USCIS Q&As, updated 3/29/12, on post-completion optional practical training (OPT) and F-1 status under cap-gap regulations that permit the automatic extension of F-1 student status for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions. Extension of OPT and Cap-Gap regulations
A news article from ComputerWorld reports that as H-1B visa use stagnates, experts say changes to less strict L-1 could bring U.S. job losses. For sure, the H-1B occupies the center of the workforce visa debate. But there has been little effort in Congress this term to change the H-1B cap, which remains at 85,000, [...]
Department of Labor publishes revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Programs.
On Jan. 8, 2010, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance to adjudication officers to clarify what constitutes a valid employer-employee relationship to qualify for the H-1B ‘specialty occupation’ classification. This was updated on March 12, 2012. Read the revised and updated Q&A on Employer-employee relationship.