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Released Sept. 19, 2011

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marking a significant milestone in its efforts to provide relief to victims of crimes, has for the second straight year approved 10,000 petitions for U nonimmigrant status, also referred to as the U-visa.

On an annual basis, 10,000 U-visas are set aside for victims of crime who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to help law enforcement authorities investigate or prosecute crime.

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

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton  announced a new initiative to streamline the international student visa process for foreign students seeking to study in the United States. The Study in the States initiative is a key component of a government-wide effort to encourage the best and brightest foreign students to study and remain in the U.S.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [mailto:uscis@public.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2011 11:54 AM
To:
Subject: USCIS Office of Public Engagement: Updates on Employment Based Visas and Transformation

Dear Stakeholder-

1) USCIS Announces Use of Fiscal Year 2011 Employment-Based Visa Allocations

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the first phase in a series of proposed enhancements to the EB-5 program. Beginning today, Form I-924 applicants will be able to communicate directly with USCIS adjudicators via email in an effort to streamline the process and quickly raise and resolve issues and questions that arise during the adjudication process. 

State Dept. instructions for the year 2013 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. This year, natives from South Sudan and Poland are eligible, while Bangladesh natives are ineligible. Entries for the DV-2013 program must be submitted electronically between 10/4/11 and 11/5/11.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule governing the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification.

Currently, certain children present in the United States may be eligible for SIJ status if they are:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule in Federal Register that establishes a Transitional Worker (CW) classification for workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The CW classification allows employers in the CNMI to hire nonimmigrant workers who are otherwise ineligible to work. 

USCIS policy memo on the self-petitioning eligibility of a battered or abused stepparent or adoptive parent of a U.S.C., and the eligibility for VAWA relief after termination of a step-relationship.

Please check the attachment to read USCIS policy memo.

The Department has posted a new Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to assist employers and others in understanding how the Service Contract Act (SCA) wages are used by the OFLC in issuing H-2B prevailing wage determinations.