Latest News

Adoption Notice Re: Cambodia Ratifies New Adoption Law; Adoptions Pending Implementation Have Been Suspended

On December 3, 2009 new laws intended to create a thorough nationwide child welfare system and an intercountry adoption procedure in conformance with The Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention were implemented in Cambodia. However, the processing of adoption petitions for Cambodia was still suspended on December 21, 2009 due to concerns relating to fraud, lack of legal framework, and lack of safeguards in Cambodia to protect children’s best interests.  USCIS remains unable to approve any Form I-600.

State Dept. Proposes Rule on Exchange Visitor Program Secondary School Students

[Federal Register: December 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 245)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 68200-68208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de09-23]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 62

[Public Notice: 6853]

RIN 1400-AC56

Exchange Visitor Program--Secondary School Students

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comment.

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USCIS Updates FY 2010 H-1B and H-2B Count (Updated 12/17/09)

As of December 15, 2009, approximately 64,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H-1B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H-1B cap of 65,000.

USCIS Announces Advance Parole Procedures for the CNMI

SAIPAN, CNMI— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds aliens living in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to apply for Advance Parole before traveling abroad if they do not otherwise have U.S. lawful permanent resident status or an appropriate U.S. visa (NOT a visa for “B” visitor admission only).  Advance Parole is permission to re-enter the United States after traveling outside the United States, and allows people lawfully living and working in the CNMI during the period ending Nov.