USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Earlier known as INS. USCIS is responsible for providing immigration benefits to applicants. Homepage http://wwww.uscis.gov

H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Cap Season

The H-1B Program

U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers.

For more information about the H-1B program, see the link to the left under temporary workers for H-1B Specialty Occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and Fashion Models.

Change of Filing Location for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131).  The change of filing location is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of some USCIS forms from USCIS local offices and Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities.  By Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment, the agency can provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.

Extension of Employment Authorization for Liberian Nationals Covered Under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) automatically extended employment authorization for Liberian nationals covered under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) through Sept. 30, 2010—following President Obama’s announcement today of his decision to extend DED through Sept.

USCIS Fact Sheet on Humanitarian Parole

Fact Sheet

 

Introduction 

Humanitarian parole enables an otherwise inadmissible individual to enter the United States temporarily due to urgent humanitarian reasons. Parole is not intended to be used to avoid regular visa-issuing procedures or to bypass immigration procedures. Parole does not confer any permanent immigration status, but does enable a recipient to apply for and receive employment authorization.

USCIS Reminds Organizations to Send Mandatory Letter of Intent for Fiscal Year 2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds organizations to submit a letter of intent if applying for the FY2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program.  Organizations must submit the mandatory letter by March 26, 2010 to be eligible to apply for funding. 

USCIS Guidance Memo on Adjudicating Reciprocal Exchange Agreements

USCIS issued a memo to provide guidance for processing and adjudicating Form I-129, filed on behalf of P-2 nonimmigrants. In particular, this memo amends the policy guidance that the Service Centers must contact Headquarters prior to adjudication of reciprocal exchange  agreements which have not been previously approved.

USCIS Reminds Petitioners to Provide Approved Labor Condition Applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will not extend the period in which it temporarily accepted H-1B petitions filed with uncertified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs).

Due to processing delays associated with Department of Labor’s (DOL) “iCERT” system, USCIS responded to requests from the public and temporarily allowed H-1B petitions to be filed with uncertified LCAs. This temporary measure went into effect on November 5, 2009 and expired on March 9, 2010.

USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2011 Beginning April 1, 2010

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced  that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010.  Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of a properly filed petition with the correct fee; not the date that the petition is postmarked.

The fiscal year cap (numerical limitation on H-1B petitions) for FY 2011 is 65,000.  Additionally, the first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the H-1B cap.