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Introduction

These Questions and Answers provide basic information about the general vaccination requirements for immigrants (including individuals seeking adjustment of status), and specifically about the assessment made by the civil surgeon to determine whether an applicant meets the vaccination requirements. These Questions and Answers do not address the vaccination assessments conducted by panel physicians overseas.

For refugees only, health departments may be considered a civil surgeon for purposes of completing the vaccination record.

Introduction

These questions and answers only provide information about the change in law made by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that removed HIV infection from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance.

Perm processing times  as of 12/31/2009.

The next USCIS National Stakeholder meeting will be held on January 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Tomich Center, 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington D.C. 20529.  Suggested agenda items for this meeting are due by COB January 6, 2010.

This Visa Bulletin is for February 2010.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance to adjudication officers to clarify what constitutes a valid employer-employee relationship to qualify for the H-1B ‘specialty occupation’ classification.  The memorandum clarifies such relationships, particularly as it pertains to independent contractors, self-employed beneficiaries, and beneficiaries placed at third-party worksites.

Release Date: January 15, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Rule Formalizes Longstanding Policy to Expedite Citizenship for Service Men and Women

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the publication of a rule formalizing DHS' longstanding policy to expedite and streamline the citizenship process for men and women bravely serving in America's armed forces.

Release Date: January 15, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Tips for filing form I-821, the application for Temporary Protected Status.

[Federal Register: January 19, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2879-2880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja10-63]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0162]

RIN 1601-ZA08

Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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On Jan. 18, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), today announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need—as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.

 On the one-year anniversary of implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries of the ESTA requirement. Beginning January 20, CBP will initiate a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane.

USCIS processing times as of January 15, 2010.

Questions & Answers: Information for U.S. Citizens in the process of adopting a child from Haiti

Introduction

On Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti experienced an earthquake of devastating proportions. This set of questions and answers provides information for United States citizens in the process of adopting a child from Haiti.

Background