USCIS National Stakeholder January 2010 Meeting Minutes
USCIS released the January 26, 2010 National Stakeholders Meeting Questions and Answers.
USCIS released the January 26, 2010 National Stakeholders Meeting Questions and Answers.
Please See attached document for AAO processing times for January 2010.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is alerting customers of certain Notices of Approval (Forms I-797) issued between Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, 2010, with incorrect or missing information. The form types impacted are Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) and Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the availability of a revised Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, Form N-648, for public comment.
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"
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:
[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 Union home ministry has done the impossible: make the country so attractive to Americans of Indian origin almost overnight that they are queuing up here in hordes for Indian citizenship.
Requests for Overseas Citizenship of India, commonly known as dual citizenship, has shot up in recent days by as much as 1,600 per cent in one consular post in the US.
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.