Latest News

Extension of the H-2A Transition Period Procedures

The Department has sent to the Federal Register an Interim Final Rule (IFR) extending the transition period application filing procedures implemented under the December 2008 H-2A Final Rule. The application filing procedures under the extended transition period apply to all employers with dates of need before June 1, 2010. To read the IFR please click here.

 

Expiration of the H-1C Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Reauthorization Act (NRDAA) of 2005

 Effective December 21, 2009, the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Reauthorization Act will sunset. The Nursing Relief for Disadvantage Areas Act (NRDAA) established the H-1C Program in 1999 to reduce the shortage of qualified nurses in health professional shortage areas. The Program was reauthorized until December 20, 2009 under the Nursing Relief for Disadvantage Areas Reauthorization Act of 2005 which became effective in December 20, 2006.

ICE Releases Secure Communities Standard Operating Procedures

ICE released the 2009 ICE Secure Communities Standard Operating Procedures document for Secure Communities, an initiative making the removal of aliens convicted of serious criminal offenses from the US a priority.  This document describes processes that enable the routing of response messages to the FBI and State Identification Bureaus to confirm identity and immigration status during incarceration booking.