PERM Processing Times
PERM Processing Times as of 11/30/2010.
Search
ICE Issues Policy Guidance For SEVP-Certified Schools
ICE issues policy guidance for SEVP -certified schools.
For detail please check the attachment.
BALCA Appeal Leads to Voluntary PERM Certification by CO
In a case decided yesterday, we had filed an appeal to BALCA against a PERM denial by the Certifying Officer (“CO”). The ground for denial was that the Job Order did not provide the exact salary offered to the foreign worker. We showed in our appeal that the fault lay with the Job Order form of the State Workforce Agency. The form did not permit us to enter the higher end of the wage range for our job, where we had offered a wage range instead of an exact figure. The CO appears to have agreed with us and has withdrawn denial and certified our case.
Green Card
President Issues FY 2011 Refugee Admissions Numbers and Authorizations
[Federal Register: December 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 234)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 75851-75852]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de10-132]
Presidential Documents
[[Page 75851]]
Presidential Determination No. 2011-02 of October 8, 2010
U.S. Embassy Mexico Announces New Visa Procedures
New Visa Procedures
Beginning January 10, 2011, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates will process visas differently. Under the new procedures, most applicants will go to Applicant Service Centers (ASCs) prior to their consular section interview. The ASC staff will collect the applicant’s biometric information that will be reviewed by the consular section prior to the applicant’s interview. ASCs will be located in buildings separate from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates.
Visa Bulletin - January 2011
Number 28
Volume IX
Washington, D.C.
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Agency
Green Card
Visa Bulletin - January 2011
Visa Bulletin for the month of January 2011.
Guestbook Entry for V. Patel, United States
Name
V. Patel
Country
United States
State
virginia
Guestbook Entry for Goutham, United States
Name
Goutham
Country
United States
State
Oklahoma
Guestbook Entry for Praveen, United States
Name
Praveen
Country
United States
State
Texas
USCIS Temporarily Suspends E-Filing Of Forms I-129 and I-907
File My Application Online (E-Filing)
To start the e-filing process, click the "Log in to E-Filing" link to the right. Click here to calculate your earliest filing date. For instructions and guidance, see the corresponding links to the right.
Forms Currently Available for E-Filing
Guestbook Entry for Jitendra Chaudhary, United States
Name
Jitendra Chaudhary
Country
United States
State
Texas
Guestbook Entry for Theo Borst, United States
Name
Theo Borst
Country
United States
State
California
USCIS Revises Form for Naturalization Candidates Seeking Medical Disability Exceptions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a revised Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions, for individuals with disabilities who are seeking exceptions from the English and civics requirements for naturalization.
USCIS Reminds Haitians to Register for Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Haitian nationals that the registration deadline for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is Jan. 18, 2011.
Haitian nationals who have continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010, and who meet other TPS eligibility requirements, must file their applications for TPS no later than Jan. 18, 2011. The TPS designation for Haiti will remain in effect through July 22, 2011.
FY 2011 H-1B Cap Count (as of December 17, 2010)
|
The H-1B Program U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers. For more information about the H-1B program, see the link to the left under temporary workers for H-1B Specialty Occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and Fashion Models. How USCIS Determines if an H-1B Petition is Subject to the FY 2011 Cap |
Ombudsman Update: Change of Address with USCIS
This Update provides helpful hints for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens on when to change your address with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and do it.
DHS Updates Change Of Address Procedures Information
Changing an address with the various Federal immigration components can be confusing, and failure to properly make an address change can lead to denials and other adverse immigration consequences. The Ombudsman's Office encourages immigration benefits applicants and petitioners to promptly notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and/or the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) of any change in address. Mail forwarding is not always rapid or reliable.
H-1B for Recruiter Position
A recruiting firm for accountants retained our services to file an H-1B petition for a recruiter. Typically, it is difficult to justify that the position of a recruiter qualifies as an H-1B level occupation. Our petition to USCIS argued, however, that even though recruiters do not generally qualify as a specialty level occupation, the present case is different because the beneficiary will be hired as an International Accounting/Finance Recruiter.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Profession/Occupation
Fingerprinting for US Immigration
USCIS requires applicants and petitioners for certain immigration benefits to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting FBI criminal background checks. To better ensure both the quality and integrity of the process, USCIS processes fingerprint cards for immigration benefits only if an authorized fingerprint site prepares them. Authorized fingerprint sites include USCIS offices, Application Support Centers (ASCs), and U.S. consular offices and military installations abroad. In general, USCIS schedules people to be fingerprinted at an authorized fingerprint site after an application or petition is filed. USCIS charges a set fee per person (for most applicants) at the time of filing for this fingerprinting service. Please check the instructions on your Immigration application or petition form to find out if you must be fingerprinted.
The following three points apply for all immigration benefits applications (see exceptionsbelow) requiring an FD-258 fingerprint check filed with USCIS after March 29, 1998:
- Do not submit a completed fingerprint card (FD-258) with your application. Your application will be accepted without the fingerprint card attached. If you submit a completed fingerprint card with your application on or after March 29, 1998, the card will be rejected and you will be scheduled to be fingerprinted by USCIS.
- Do submit fee, in addition to the application fee, payable to USCIS, with your application. The fee is noted at the top of our Forms and Fees page. This charge will cover the cost for you to be fingerprinted by USCIS.
- After USCIS receives your application, USCIS will provide you with an appointment letter with the location of the nearest USCIS authorized fingerprint site. Please read the instructions in the appointment letter, and take it to USCIS authorized fingerprint site when you go to your fingerprint appointment.
Applicants and petitioners residing abroad who are fingerprinted at a United States consular or military installation abroad do not need to be fingerprinted by USCIS and are exempt from the fingerprint fee. These applicants and petitioners must file their completed card at the time their application or petition is filed.
The following forms are subject to exceptions to the above requirements.
- Special Fingerprint Instructions for Form I-600, "Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Orphan Petition)," and Form I-600A, "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Advance Processing Application)"
- Form I-589, "Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal"
To find the Application Support Centers (ASCs) closest to you, see the "USCIS Service and Office Locator" page. You can also call our toll free number at 1-800-375-5283.
Related links
Safety & Security of U.S. Borders: Biometrics
Fingerprints & Other Biometrics
Identification Record Request/Criminal Background Check
Upgrade to 10-Fingerprint Collection
Biometrics -DHS
Green Card
Immigration Law
USCIS Ombudsman Publishes Fact Sheet On Case Assistance Online Pilot Program
USCIS Ombudsman Case Assistance Online pilot program, a new initiative allowing paperless submission of assistance requests. The pilot program is currently available in Texas and DC, with plans to expand nationwide in fall 2011.