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Effective March 7, 2011, new H&L category visa appointments are no longer available at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai. H&L visa appointments may be scheduled in New Delhi, Chennai, or Hyderabad through VFS. More information is found here.

WASHINGTON— As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will permit victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation and others who have filed civil action against their employer and held A-3 and G-5 visas to remain and work legally in the U.S. while their civil cases are pending.

This advisory is for Japanese and other foreign nationals from the Pacific stranded in the United States due to the earthquakes and tsunami devastation in the Pacific. If you have exceeded or are about to exceed your authorized stay in the U.S. you may be permitted up to an additional 30 days to depart.

Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

USCIS Publishes Stakeholder Engagement Presentation Slides On Form I-730.

Please check the attachment for Presentation Slides.

Please check the attachment to see the CRS report on Noncitizen Health Insurance Coverage And Use Of Select Safety-Net Providers.

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in response to recent stakeholder feedback, that it is currently reviewing its policy on H-1B cap exemptions for non-profit entities that are related to or affiliated with an institution of higher education. Until further guidance is issued, USCIS is temporarily applying interim procedures to H-1B non-profit entity petitions filed with the agency seeking an exemption from the statutory H-1B numerical cap based on an affiliation with or relation to an institution of higher education.

—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking comments from the public on the proposed prevailing wage rates received from the Guam Department of Labor for construction workers in Guam employed under the H-2B temporary worker program, and the system the governor of Guam uses to determine the rates.

WASHINGTON—In light of the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Japanese nationals of certain U.S. immigration benefits available upon request.

USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s ability to establish or maintain lawful immigration status. Temporary relief measures available to eligible nationals of Japan may include:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will start accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2012 cap on April 1, 2011. Cases will be considered accepted on the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition for which the correct fee has been submitted; not the date that the petition is postmarked.

U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Such workers include scientists, engineers, and computer programmers, among others.

On March 21, 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of E-Verify Self Check—an innovative service that allows individuals in the United States to check their employment eligibility status before formally seeking employment.

E-Verify Self Check is the first online E-Verify program offered directly to workers and job seekers. This voluntary, free, fast and secure service was developed through a partnership between DHS and the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Introduction

USCIS publishes transcript of E-Verify Self Check press conference. Please check the attachment to read the transcript.

Please check the attachment to read the CRS Report.

[Federal Register: March 23, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 56)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 16231-16233]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr11-1]                        


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Rules and Regulations

The Department has published today in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the Temporary Non-agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the United States (H-2B program).  The NPRM proposes to amend the H-2B regulations at 20 CFR Part 655, Subpart A which govern the process by which employers apply for a temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor (Department) to be able to hire foreign workers in H-2B status.  The Department is accepting comments on the proposed rulemaking until May 17, 2011.  To read the full text

This Policy Memorandum provides guidance on processing fee waiver requests filed pursuant to 8 CFR 103.7(c) as amended by changes made in the final rule " U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Fee Schedule, " published in the Federal Register (FR) on September 24, 2010.

USCIS Ombudsman update on H-2B Petition RFEs issued by USCIS that question the ”temporary” nature of the employer’s business need for foreign labor. Topics include a “temporary” employment need, and additional information that may help USCIS adjudicate the petition.

Click here to view CIS Ombudsman update.

Please check the attachment to view correction on Exchange Visitor Program Fees and Charges.

Please check the attachment.

The U.S. Department of State's Immigrant Visa Control and Reporting Division, has confirmed a dramatic reduction in the use of EB-1 immigrant visa numbers and the resulting favorable effect on the EB-2 category for immigrant visas chargeable to India.

DOS advised that demand for visa numbers in the EB1 category has declined significantly. Thus, approximately 12,000 unused EB1 numbers will be available to shift downward to the EB2 category, starting in May 2011.