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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.

After the publication of the H-2A Final Rule addressing the Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States, the Department's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has reopened its H-2A Regulations mailbox for public inquiries. The interested public should direct all general inquiries regarding the H-2A program to the H-2A.Regulations@dol.gov mailbox. However, any case specific inquiries should be directed to the Chicago National Processing Center mailbox at TLC.Chicago@dol.gov

Perm processing dates as of 2/28/10.

Release Date: March 9, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.

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.

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an addition to the recently posted filing instructions for the Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, Form I-824.   The revised instructions include a note in the “Where to File” section, to clarify that applicants who are filing Form I-824 concurrently with another form, should mail their applications according to the filing instructions on the other form.

The Office of Foreign Labor Certification and the Wage and Hour Division have conducted 3 public briefings to advise stakeholders of the contents of the new H-2A Final Rule, which will be effective March 15, 2010. For the materials used in the briefings, click here.

AAO Processing Times as of March 01, 2010.

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has posted a revised Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360).  The new form is dated “12/30/09,” and due to the changes, no previous versions of the form will be accepted 30 days after publication.

Introduction

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the availability of two different grants designed to help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for citizenship and advance integration in the United States. This year’s program will make nearly $7 million available for citizenship education in communities across the country.