AAO Processing Times
AAO Processing Times as of March 01, 2010.
AAO Processing Times as of March 01, 2010.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification and the Wage and Hour Division have conducted 3 public briefings to advise stakeholders of the contents of the new H-2A Final Rule, which will be effective March 15, 2010. For the materials used in the briefings, click here.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an addition to the recently posted filing instructions for the Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, Form I-824. The revised instructions include a note in the “Where to File” section, to clarify that applicants who are filing Form I-824 concurrently with another form, should mail their applications according to the filing instructions on the other form.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of a properly filed petition with the correct fee; not the date that the petition is postmarked.
The fiscal year cap (numerical limitation on H-1B petitions) for FY 2011 is 65,000. Additionally, the first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals who have earned a U.S. master’s degree or higher are exempt from the H-1B cap.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has posted a revised Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360). The new form is dated “12/30/09,” and due to the changes, no previous versions of the form will be accepted 30 days after publication.
To support implementation of the new H-2A regulations and current H-2B regulations, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification is making available the ETA Form 9142 - Application for Temporary Employment Certification in a fillable Adobe Acrobat PDF format to provide users with the option to save and reuse the information on the form for future applications. To access the fillable form, please check attachment.
On March 15, 2010 Secretary Solis announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) will begin exercising its authority to certify applications for U Nonimmigrant Status Visas ("U Visas").
What are U Visas?
USCIS issued a memo to provide guidance for processing and adjudicating Form I-129, filed on behalf of P-2 nonimmigrants. In particular, this memo amends the policy guidance that the Service Centers must contact Headquarters prior to adjudication of reciprocal exchange agreements which have not been previously approved.
Release Date: March 17, 2010
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Agreement with Department of Justice and Outreach Initiatives Will Strengthen E-Verify for Employers and Employees
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas to announce a trio of initiatives to strengthen the efficiency and accuracy of the E-Verify system.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds organizations to submit a letter of intent if applying for the FY2010 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. Organizations must submit the mandatory letter by March 26, 2010 to be eligible to apply for funding.
Fact Sheet
Introduction
Humanitarian parole enables an otherwise inadmissible individual to enter the United States temporarily due to urgent humanitarian reasons. Parole is not intended to be used to avoid regular visa-issuing procedures or to bypass immigration procedures. Parole does not confer any permanent immigration status, but does enable a recipient to apply for and receive employment authorization.
EBSA News Release: [03/19/2010]
Contact Name: Joseph DeWolk or Gloria Della
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676 or x8664
Release Number: 10-0366-NAT
The U.S. Department of Labor released updated model notice packages to enable group health plans and employers to provide notice on the availability of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act continuation coverage premium reductions under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through March 31.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) automatically extended employment authorization for Liberian nationals covered under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) through Sept. 30, 2010—following President Obama’s announcement today of his decision to extend DED through Sept.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced revised filing instructions and addresses for applicants filing an Application for Travel Document (Form I-131). The change of filing location is part of an overall effort to transition the intake of some USCIS forms from USCIS local offices and Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. By Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment, the agency can provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications and fees.
Release Date: March 19, 2010
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano met with stakeholders today to discuss ongoing efforts to work together to create a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.
[Federal Register: March 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 13784]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr10-99]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Announcement of Public Webinar on the Changes to the Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of webinar.
OFLC has issued updated prevailing wage FAQs to assist employers and others. These FAQs replace those issued in December 2009 by updating certain information. To see the FAQs click attachment.
[Federal Register: March 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 56)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14111-14116]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24mr10-17]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 22
[Public Notice: 6928]
RIN 1400-AC57 and 1400-AC58
Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.
The Department has posted the first round of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) addressing the H-2A program under the new regulations, which took effect March 15, 2010. To see the FAQs check the attachment.
The attached report presents the results of USCIS consolidated balance sheet audit for fiscal year (FY) 2009.
Release Date: March 9, 2010
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.
After the publication of the H-2A Final Rule addressing the Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States, the Department's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has reopened its H-2A Regulations mailbox for public inquiries. The interested public should direct all general inquiries regarding the H-2A program to the H-2A.Regulations@dol.gov mailbox. However, any case specific inquiries should be directed to the Chicago National Processing Center mailbox at TLC.Chicago@dol.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will not extend the period in which it temporarily accepted H-1B petitions filed with uncertified Labor Condition Applications (LCAs).
Due to processing delays associated with Department of Labor’s (DOL) “iCERT” system, USCIS responded to requests from the public and temporarily allowed H-1B petitions to be filed with uncertified LCAs. This temporary measure went into effect on November 5, 2009 and expired on March 9, 2010.