Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers planning trips across the border into the United States to make sure they have the proper documents this weekend in conjunction with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. As a result, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials want to remind the traveling public that there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival into the United States.
Travelers are reminded to check traffic at all local border crossings within the Buffalo/Niagara region and select the crossing that is least congested.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises its customers that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2010, signed by the President on Oct. 28, 2009, extends the following USCIS programs until Sept. 30, 2012:

•  E-Verify
• Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Pilot Program
• special immigrant visa category for non-minister religious workers
• date by which J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors must obtain that status in order to qualify for the “Conrad 30” program.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially opened a new Verification Operations Center in Buffalo, N.Y., today.  The Center employs about 135 people and is dedicated solely to USCIS’ verification mission.  The ceremony included a tribute to Medal of Honor recipient, Major John Farquhar, a Scottish immigrant who served with the Union Army during the Civil War and returned to Buffalo representing the city for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Q:  Is there anything that can be done for I-730s and I-485s that are placed on hold for material support issues—i.e., should we send in a declaration stating that the client did not participate in any violence, does not believe the organization was violent, and did not provide material support to support violent activity?  Or should we just wait for further guidance? 
A:  USCIS is open to inquiries regarding these cases that are on hold.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has established a streamlined, standardized process for receiving requests for accommodations from customers with disabilities. Customers in need of accommodations from field offices and Application Support Centers should now call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD: 1-800-767-1833).

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

November 17, 2009

Question: Are there any new developments on the visa waiver program for Greek citizens?  Where does the U.S. currently stand on this issue?

      Answer: The U.S. Government is in the final stages of the decision process, and we hope to conclude the process soon.

USCIS Processing Times as of November 16, 2009.

These Questions and Answers only provide information about the assessment by the civil surgeon to determine whether an applicant has been infected with TB and address the most recent updates to the Tuberculin (TB) Component of the Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security headquarters seeks motivated students looking to contribute their unique insight, skills and talents to support the important mission of securing the homeland.

Our headquarters offices offer paid summer internship opportunities for full-time and part-time college or university students.

As of November 6, 2009, approximately 54,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H1-B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000.