The DOS publishes an Annual Report of immigrant visa applicants in the family and employment based preference categories registered at the National Visa Center as of 11/1/09.
[Federal Register: February 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 22)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5487-5491]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03fe10-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new rule to enhance the integrity of the immigration adjudication process. The rule clarifies who is authorized to represent applicants and petitioners in cases before DHS; updates and enhances the standards and disciplinary procedures for these immigration practitioners; and eliminates duplicative immigration adjudication rules, procedures and authority.
The new rules and procedures published today in the Federal Register take effect March 3.
Workers in H-1B and H-2B classifications who are admitted to perform labor and services in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam are exempt from the H-1B cap and H-2B cap from November 28, 2009 to December 31, 2014. The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA), Public Law 110-229, provides a special exemption to the statutory numerical limitations (or “caps”) for temporary workers in H nonimmigrant classifications mentioned in Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides additional guidance regarding the Employ American Workers Act (EAWA) to employers seeking to file H-1B petitions.
USCIS published informational videos on "Haitian TPS: How to Register"
Number 18
Volume IX
Washington, D.C.
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Visa Bulletin for March 2010 released.
I am Mr. Jones, the employer. The employee, Mr. Smith, is no longer employed with us because of company's budget issue. However, we may hire him in the near future if circumstance changes.
My question:
Q1. Do we need to withdraw PERM LC for him that was submitted 2009?
Q2. Question from the employee, Mr. Smith:
If Mr. Smith filed an immigration benefit (e.g. visa, petition, change of status), does he need to answer YES / NO to the following question: "Has an immigrant petition ever been filed for you?" Basically: does submitting PERM/LC mean filing an immigrant petition? This question is often asked in application.
A1. I do not know of any law that requires an employer to withdraw a PERM application if an employee leaves or gets laid off, but the employer still retains a good faith intention to hire them back. When we first filed the PERM application, we filed it in good faith, asserting to the USDOL under penalty of perjury that:
You have enough funds available to pay the wage or salary offered the alien and you will be able to place the alien on the payroll on or before the date of the alien’s proposed entrance into the United States.
My wife is on H1B and now she is 7th month pregnant. If she takes leave on non-payment, will she be in H1B status or out of status?
As long as the leave of absence is reasonable and customary (or required by medical necessity), she should be considered in status.
How many months gap is permisible for H-1 and also in GC process if person is on H-1 ?
I mean to say supposse one H-1 holder lost his job and if he got another job after 02 months ( Gap of 02 months ) then his H-1 and GC process will be effected ? His last co. is supporting by keeping her I-140 as such ( no revock )
(Condition: Person has H-1 and his I-140 was also aproved in last co. but due to some reason she left job and would like to join another co. on 3rd month, say after 02 months and would like to file H-1 in this new company )
A gap of even one day (unless excused by USCIS) puts a person out of status and is not permitted. When you leave a sponsoring employer, it certainly calls into question the continuity of existence the green card job'
E Visa company registrations - It is advisable for “E” visa companies to update “registration” files at post every year although there is no specific regulation.
Following-to-Join for adjustment cases - An applicant who is the principal alien and whose spouse or child now needs to follow to join can now continue to deal directly with posts in paths:
[Federal Register: February 9, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 26)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6321-6330]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe10-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 22
[Public Notice: 6887]
RIN 1400-AC58
Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates
AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, State.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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I have adopted a daughter from India. Rajiv S. Khanna Law firm did I-800 for the adoption. Everybody was very helpful throughout the process specially Ms. Sheena Gill. She worked effortlessly on my case, finding an adoption agency to making calls to CBP. This process would not have been possible without Ms. Sheena’s hard work.
USCIS issues memo to provided guidance on the processing and adjudicating of Form I-129 filed on behalf of H-1B "specialty occupation" and H-2B "temporary nonagricultural" workers.
USCIS issues memo to provided guidance on the processing and adjudicating of Form I-129 filed on behalf of H-1B "specialty occupation" and H-2B "temporary nonagricultural" workers.
Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States. The Department has published in the Federal Register a Final Rule amending the regulations governing the labor certification process for the temporary agricultural employment of H-2A aliens in the United States, codified at 20 CFR part 655, and enforcement of employer obligations under the H-2A program, codified at 29 CFR Part 501. The new regulations will go into effect on March 15, 2010.
We applied for my extension for my H1B in December and got the approval before the end of January. The entire process was seamless and the support we received from Fran Fisher and Anna Baker was exemplary. I didn't have to worry about anything during the process and all my questions were promptly answered immediately. Thanks to Fran and Anna for all the help they provided.