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Visa Bulletin for March 2010 released.

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:

1

. Immigrant visa at the same post as the one where the following-to-join will process;

[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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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.

The Board of Immigration Appeals was closed February 5-11, 2010, due to extreme weather conditions in the Washington, DC, area. On this occasion, the Board will apply a temporary "grace period" for the following filings:

(1) the filing was due on any date from Friday, February 5, 2010, to Thursday, February 18, 2010, and

(2) the filing was received on or before February 19, 2010.

The grace period will apply automatically. No request or documentation is required.

AAO processing times as of February 01, 2010.

USCIS Processing Times as of February 17th, 2010.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that approximately 3,000 workers from companies in 17 states — Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

According to DOL updates as of 1/31/2010, they are working on PERM application filed in the following months:

Analyst Review: April 2009

Audits: December 2007

Standard Appeals: September 2007

Govt's Error Appeal: Current

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition.  The new form is dated 12/11/09.  The changes are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of benefit forms from USCIS local offices and Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities.  Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites federal contractors and subcontractors affected by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause to attend a free E-Verify informational seminar on Feb. 23 or 24 at 2451 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Va.

Each two-hour seminar will include a demonstration of the E-Verify system, presentations concerning issues related to the employment verification process, and question and answer segments with government representatives.