Implementation of New USCIS Immigrant Fee Feb. 1
New fee allows USCIS to recover the costs of processing immigrant visas after individuals receive their visa packages from the Department of State abroad
New fee allows USCIS to recover the costs of processing immigrant visas after individuals receive their visa packages from the Department of State abroad
Visas for Domestic Employees of B, E, F, H, I, J, L, O, P, and Q Visa Holders and U.S. Citizens Temporarily Assigned To The United States (B-1)
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6263-6269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01555]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 62
[Public Notice 8163]
RIN 1400-AD28
Exchange Visitor Program--Fees and Charges
AGENCY: U.S. Department of State.
ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comment.
USCIS published improved forms in easier-to-use formats and with new data collection technologies:
USCIS has launched a new Form Improvements Initiative Web page which explains the types of improvements in the initiative, introduces recently published and upcoming forms, and links to each form’s landing Web page. You’ll also find information related to form improvement initiatives, including enhanced Web content (i.e., posting filing addresses and detailed fee information on form landing pages) and filing reminders.
USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Thursday, Feb. 7, 11 p.m. to Friday, Feb. 8, 5 a.m. EST.
During this time, the following on-line tools will be unavailable:
For immediate change of address needs during the outage, we suggest you submit the form manually.
The Department of Labor has posted new FAQs for the H-2A program. Topics include signatures, job preferences, and fees. These FAQs are available here.
On January 8, 2013, the Department published a notice in the Federal Register establishing new 2013 prevailing wage rates for certain occupations processed under H-2A special procedures, including for sheepherding/goatherding and open range production of livestock occupations which became effective immediately. See, 78 FR 1260 (Jan. 8, 2013). The Department is hereby updating prevailing wage rates for these occupations that must be offered and paid in certain states effective as of January 8, 2013.
you wish to appear as an attorney or accredited representative ("representative") before USCIS for an applicant who has already filed his/her benefit request in USCIS ELIS, you must take the following steps:
The Department of Labor has posted new FAQs for the H-2A program. Topics include custom combine activities, housing inspections, filing an application, rates of pay, reimbursable costs, surety bonds, and recruitment.
These FAQs are available here.
On February 11, 2013, USCIS published a revised Form N-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, with an edition date of 1/03/2013. USCIS will accept older editions for 60 days. Beginning April 12, 2013, USCIS will only accept the 1/03/2013 edition.
There is now a single filing address for this form. Customers filing Form N-470 must now mail them to the Dallas Lockbox facility. The new centralized filing location will streamline intake functions, enhancing customer service and improving operational efficiency.
USCIS celebrates Presidents’ Day by welcoming thousands of new citizens in special naturalization ceremonies across the nation.
For the list of highlighted ceremonies please click here
On February 28, 2013, USCIS will disable the alternative legacy online filing channel for Form I-539 and offer customers the option to:
Following the launch of our paperless electronic immigration system, USCIS ELIS, we offered customers three ways to file the Form I-539. Since then, USCIS has improved USCIS ELIS and consolidated its filing methods.
Reminder: Applicants may begin filing Form I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, on March 4, 2013.
To review and check information and FAQ's on this topic please click this link below.
USCIS Publishes FAQ On Filing A Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
To read DACA Statistics for January 2013 please check attached document.
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5182-5183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01422]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world. During the last decade, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed more than 6.6 million naturalized citizens into the fabric of our nation. In fiscal year 2012, approximately 676,396 individuals naturalized.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification will implement an enhancement to its Labor Condition Application (LCA) Electronic Filing Module within the iCERT System allowing employers or their authorized attorneys or agents to reuse previously filed LCAs under the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa programs. This new feature is expected to significantly reduce the administrative time and cost of preparing and submitting the ETA Form 9035E.
To learn more about the new reuse feature please read this factsheet.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas today announced that users of E-Verify, the free Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States, have given the program high marks in a recent customer survey.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release January 29, 2013
FACT SHEET: Fixing our Broken Immigration System so Everyone Plays by the Rules
America’s immigration system is broken. Too many employers game the system by hiring undocumented workers and there are 11 million people living in the shadows. Neither is good for the economy or the country.
On Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., U.S. citizens may apply for or renew their passport book or passport card at any one of 25 passport agencies/centers that are open to the general public. No appointment is necessary on March 9 – normally, U.S. citizens would have to make an appointment at passport agencies.
DHS, USCIS invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, and the estimated burden (i.e. the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond).
USCIS extends application Form I-821D Revision for 30 days.
For more information on this notice please click here
ETA 9141 FORM QUESTIONS
Are there any items on the ETA 9141 that requestors are routinely leaving incomplete and may cause a delay in processing or result in the request being voided?