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Mexico City,  January 7, 2013 — The United States Embassy is pleased to announce the expansion of its Business Facilitation Program (BFP) that allows access to expedited visa processing for employees of qualifying firms traveling to the U.S. on company business. The BFP will provide time-saving benefits for businesses whose employees need to travel to the U.S., and highlights the United States’ commitment to deepening trade and economic engagement with Mexico.

This policy memorandum (PM) revises and clarifies guidance issued on October 9, 2009 relating  to late filing of a joint Form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence, and authorizes officers to issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for untimely filed joint I-751s.

To read more on this memorandum click here

Form I-693 is normally valid for a period of one year from the date it was signed by the civil surgeon. In accordance with USCIS policy, in any case that is adjudicated on or before September 30, 2013, the officer will accept as valid a Form I-693 that was signed more than one year before the date of the adjudication of a pending adjustment of status or temporary residence application if the following conditions are met:

• Form I-693 was included with the initial filing of the adjustment of status or temporary residence application; and

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1872-1878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00049]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2526-12; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2012-0013] RIN 1615-ZB16

Extension and Redesignation of Sudan for Temporary Protected Status

Beginning Jan. 12, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) National Customer Service Center (NCSC) will expand its live, toll-free telephone assistance service to include Saturday hours. Customer service representatives at our NCSC will now take calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time.

USCIS frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on a new process that will allow certain spouses, children & parents of a U.S. citizen to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver while they are still in the United States.

Please check the attached document for detail.

The Department has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing new Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for each state based on the Farm Labor Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The AEWRs are the minimum hourly wage rates the Department has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment for a particular agricultural job and area so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely affected.

The Department has published a notice in the Federal Register establishing new prevailing wage rates for certain occupations processed under H-2A special procedures. The wage rates established by this Federal Register notice apply only to the following activities: open range production of livestock, itinerant animal shearing, sheepherding and goatherding, and custom combine operations. To read the Federal Register notice please click here.

Resource designed to enhance consistency and efficiency of immigration adjudications

On January 2nd, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens present in the United States without a visa, who are in the process of seeking immigrant visas to become lawful U.S. permanent residents, may apply and be approved for provisional unlawful presence waivers before departing the United States to attend their immigrant visa interviews. USCIS will begin accepting provisional unlawful presence waivers on March 4th, 2013.