| Updated November 25, 2011
USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B Cap. On November 23, 2011,
USCIS announced that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions
to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2012. USCIS is
notifying the public that Nov. 22, 2011, was the final receipt date for
new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start
date in FY 2012.
Properly filed cases will be considered received on the date that USCIS
physically receives the petition; not the date that the petition was
postmarked. USCIS will reject cap-subject petitions for new H-1B specialty
occupation workers seeking an employment start date in FY 2012 that arrive
after Nov. 22, 2011.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Updated November 15, 2011
DOS Announces Expedited Student Visa Processing. DOS press
release announcing that worldwide, the maximum wait for a student visa
appointment should be fewer than 15 days. Click here.
For more information please visit http://www.state.gov/.
USCIS Introduces Revised I-693, report of a Medical Examination
and Vaccination Record, on 11/1/11, and providing information on the
transition to the new form. Beginning 1/1/12, civil surgeons must use the
new form dated 10/11/11. Click here.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Director Mayorkas Announces New EADs and N-560s with Enhanced
Security Features. USCIS news release announcing the launch of an
enhanced Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a redesigned
Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) with new features intended to
deter counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate fast and accurate
authentication. Click here
for the USCIS news release.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Updated October 8, 2011
DOS Notice on 2013 Diversity Visa Lottery. DOS public notice
provides information and instructions for applying for the 2013 Diversity
Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2013). The online registration period for the
2013 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2013) began on Tuesday, October 4, 2011,
at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and will conclude on
Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4).
DOS Notice
click here.
For more information please visit
http://travel.state.gov/
Updated June 15, 2011
USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Visa Processing to
Help America Win the Future. On May 19, 2011, USCIS proposed
significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant
Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming
the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama
administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration
system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st
century.
The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant
investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10
U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated
Regional Center.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Updated April 27, 2011
Final Rule Adopts Interim Rule Improving Integrity of Form I-9
Process. On April 14, 2011, USCIS announced a final rule that adopts,
without change, an interim rule to improve the integrity of the Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) process. The main changes made by the
interim rule and adopted by the final rule include: prohibiting employers
from accepting expired documents; revising the list of acceptable
documents by removing outdated documents and making technical amendments.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Updated April 2, 2011
H-1B Cap Exemptions Based on Relation or Affiliation. On March
18, 2011, in response to recent stakeholder feedback, USCIS announced that
it is currently reviewing its policy on H-1B cap exemptions for non-profit
entities that are related to or affiliated with an institution of higher
education. Until further guidance is issued, USCIS is temporarily applying
interim procedures to H-1B non-profit entity petitions filed with the
agency seeking an exemption from the statutory H-1B numerical cap based on
an affiliation with or relation to an institution of higher education.
For more information please visit http://www.uscis.gov/.
Updated March 3, 2011
Avoid Green Card Lottery Fraud: Fraudsters will frequently
e-mail potential victims posing as State Department or other government
officials with requests to wire or transfer money online as part of a
“processing fee.” You should never transfer money to anyone who e-mails
you claiming that you have won the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery or been
selected for a Green Card.
Learn more at:
http://blog.uscis.gov/2011/03/e-mail-scam-avoid-green-card-lottery.html
Immigration and Customs Enforcement publishes a National Detainee
Handbook outlining detainee’s rights and responsibilities. Click
here for a copy.
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