R-1 Visa Memorandum

2018-03-04T00:50:03+00:00Mar 12, 2012|

This memorandum provides instruction to Immigration Service Officers who adjudicate R-1 nonimmigrant petitions for aliens who are coming to the United States temporarily to perform religious work, and their dependents. This memorandum outlines the procedure to be used for recapturing time spent outside the United States by R-1 nonimmigrants when seeking an extension of their [...]

How to Access and Update information in the VIBE in the Event of an RFE

2018-03-03T21:57:42+00:00Feb 17, 2012|

Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) is a Web-based adjudication tool used by USCIS to validate basic information about companies or organizations petitioning to employ certain alien workers. When a company or business is not found on VIBE, it may result in an Request for Evidence (RFE) Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), launched the process on [...]

Significance of Establishing a Priority Date

2018-03-07T17:40:44+00:00Feb 15, 2012|

During the entire Green Card process, the Priority Date (PD) assumes special significance. It is this date that is used to determine when an applicant may file for Adjustment and finally adjudication to become a permanent resident. In PERM based Green Card applications, the PD is the date on which the PERM Application (FORM ETA [...]

New Proposed Rule Will Offer Longer L-1 Validity Periods based on Reciprocity Schedules

2018-03-04T00:24:15+00:00Feb 2, 2012|

Why is the Department promulgating this rule? Current Department regulations require that L visa duration be limited to the validity period of the petition, which, under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, cannot exceed three years. Petitioners may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for extension of petition validity in increments of up [...]

AILA Survey and Consular Issues in H-1B Visa Issuance

2018-03-07T21:48:01+00:00Jan 31, 2012|

This office participated in an AILA survey for the  AILA/Department of State Liaison Committee for an upcoming meeting with DOS. The submission through this survey is not meant for individual case resolution, but rather is being used for an overall tracking of emerging problems and/or trends. We see definite problems with visa issuance at posts, [...]

Office of Special Counsel Issues Best Practices during Worksite Enforcement Audits

2018-03-07T19:55:29+00:00Jan 30, 2012|

Employer Best Practices During Worksite Enforcement Audits DO Develop a transparent process for interacting with employees during the audit, including communicating with employees that the employer is subject to an ICE audit. Provide all workers with a reasonable amount of time to correct discrepancies in their records identified by ICE. Treat all workers in the [...]

USCIS to Propose Changing the Process for Certain Waivers

2018-03-07T15:25:51+00:00Jan 8, 2012|

On Jan. 6, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a notice of intent in the Federal Register outlining its plan to reduce the time that U.S. citizens are separated from their spouses and children under certain circumstances while those family members go through the process of becoming legal immigrants to the United States.  [...]

NY Times Article (January 7, 2012) Reports Easier Route to Green Card Proposed for Some

2018-03-07T15:22:51+00:00Jan 6, 2012|

Today, January 7, 2012, the New York Times reports the Obama administration officials announced on Friday that they will propose a fix to a notorious snag in immigration law that will spare hundreds of thousands of American citizens from prolonged separations from immigrant spouses and children. The change that immigration officials are offering would benefit [...]

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