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USCIS Extends Relief Measures for Filipino Typhoon Victims
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013, of agency efforts to provide relief to victims of the typhoon.
Filipino nationals in the United States should visit www.uscis.gov to learn about a series of existing relief measures that may be available to them if requested. These relief measures include:
AAO Processing Times as of January 1, 2014
AAO Processing Times
This chart shows the average amount of time it takes to receive a decision in a particular type of case after the case file is received by the AAO. Processing times are directly related to the volume of cases received.
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AAO Processing Times as of January 1, 2014 |
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Form Number |
Case Type |
Time |
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I-129CW | ||
Agency
Readout of the President’s Meeting with Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus
The President met with members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The group discussed their shared goals for 2014, and the President expressed his desire to continue to work together to advance a number of our priorities for the year to strengthen our economy, create jobs and build the middle class. The President has declared 2014 a year of action, and while he will continue to use his executive authority - his pen and phone - to get things done, he will also work with Congress to make progress on behalf of the American people.
Test Book
Just a test. Delete.
USCIS Announces 63 Countries Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
USCIS announced the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, has added Austria, Italy, Panama, and Thailand to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year.
PERM Processing Times (as of 01/14/2014)
PERM Processing Times (as of 01/14/2014)
| Processing Queue | Priority Dates | |
|---|---|---|
| Month | Year | |
| Analyst Reviews | May | Month2013 |
| Audit Review | October | 2012 |
| Reconsideration Requests to the CO | January | 2014 |
| Gov't Error Reconsiderations | Current | |
Green Card
Immigration Law
F-1 OPT Unpaid Employment Acceptable
We have won a series of cases where USCIS had earlier held that unpaid employment under OPT was legally unacceptable to maintain status. We have argued that such holding is contrary to all law, policy and precedence. Students are NOT required to engage in PAID employment. All these cases were won after we filed our briefs pursuant to Motions to Reopen (MTR).
Guidance Pertaining to Applicants for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers
On March 4, 2013, USCIS began a new provisional unlawful presence waiver program for certain relatives of U.S. citizens whose only ground of inadmissibility is unlawful presence in the United States under section 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I) and (II) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). See 78 FR 536-01 (January 3, 2013). The provisional unlawful presence waiver process allows immediate relatives of U.S.
Guestbook Entry for Maryam Jazayeri, United States
USCIS Introduces Form I-910 and Centralizes the Civil Surgeon Application Process
Starting on March 11, 2014, USCIS will implement a new process to receive and adjudicate applications for civil surgeon designation centrally at the National Benefits Center. This process change requires physicians seeking civil surgeon designation to file a formal application at a USCIS Lockbox. Centralizing the civil surgeon application process will:
N-400 Timeline - Naturalization Experience
Finally the last Friday, Jan 17th I became an American Citizen, it's was a easy, quickly and simple ceremony at 26 Federal Plaza, I was request to be there at 11:00 am, when arrive to the place a big line inside was waiting for me but was fast, them I went to the 3rd floor, make another line with my letter and GC, a few minutes later I was lil interview about the questions on the letter and give my GC to the officer, them somebody show me my seat, almost full with like 150 people from 57 diferent countries.
Citizenship and Naturalization
N-400 Timeline, 3 year rule (marriage based application)
Here is my journey thus far:
GC holder since March 21, 2008 (married to U.S. citizen since 1997)
6/11/12: N-400 sent via UPS to Lewisville, TX
6/12/12: N-400 delivered
6/13/12: NOA received (Priority Date: 06/12/12)
7/18/12: FP notice recd
8/09/12: FP scheduled - Done
9/04/12: In line for Interview scheduling
10/12/12: NOA received, Interview scheduled
14/01/13: Interview Done, N-14 "Request for evidence" given to me
Green Card
Citizenship and Naturalization
DOL Releases its Foreign Labor Certification Annual Report for FY 2012
The 2012 Annual Report presents information on the Prevailing Wage Determination Process, Permanent Labor Certification, and Temporary Nonimmigrant Labor Certification for FY 2012. The report also contains State Employment-Based Labor Certification Profiles, information on STEM-related occupations in the labor certification programs, H-2A Agricultural Certification Statistics, and top Country Employment-Based Immigration Profiles. Click here to view the 2012 Annual Report.
USCIS Tips for Filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
When filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, it is important to fill out the application completely and provide all required information with your initial filing. Please read and follow the filing tips to ensure proper processing.
Complete the Form Fully and Accurately
Guestbook Entry for Ganesh venkatraman, United States
Radio Show, 2013 June 6
Immigration.com
Immigration Law
Question 1:
How can I file for an H-1B petition if I have left less than six months before my passport expires?
Answer:
I am assuming they are India born. That should not be problem. You can still apply for H-1B if the passport has less than six months left. But as a practical matter, passport renewals are very quick in the U.S. So, I am not sure where the problem is. When you send it to the Indian Consulate, it is my understanding that it is not more than a week toten day process. In Washington D.C. I have not checked for a while, but it used to be like a 24 hour process. I am not sure what the problem is here. You could apply even without renewing, but it is best to just renew the passport.
Question 2:
I am currently on H-1 B Visa. Is there a way I can change the visa to F-2 without going back to India? My fiancée is here on F-1 Visa that is valid up to Sep. 20, 2014?
Answer:
They can convert or change status within the United States if they have never been out of status. So, once they get married they can apply for an F-2 within the United States.
Question 3:
After getting married to a Green Card holder and applying for a spouse visa, is it possible to apply for an H-1 Visa?
Answer:
H-1s are not in any way hindered by an existing Green Card application. So, if you have a Green Card application that would not in any way impede or create problems with your H-1 application. Therefore, if you do apply for a Green Card it does not in any way stop you from applying for an H-1 after the Green Card application is filed.
Question 4:
How will I know if my H-1B petition has been accepted in the quota?
Answer:
The quickest way to find out is if your employer’s fee checks have been cashed. If the receipt is getting delayed just have your employer follow through and see if the fee receipt has been cashed. In that case it is almost sure that you are made a part of the line.
Visa Bulletin - July 2013
Agency
Green Card
CRS Report on Immigration of Foreign Nationals with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Degrees
CRS releases report on Immigration of Foreign Nationals with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees.
Please check attached report.
H-1B Approved after Denial
Our office was retained to process an H-1 Change of Status petition for a Quality Assurance Engineer working on a turnkey project owned by a middle vendor at a client location. We explained to USCIS that the end-client was infact the vendor, who “owned” the project. USCIS denied the petition, holdingthat we had failed to obtain proper documentation from the end-client. We filed an MTR with extensive arguments and evidence that the petitioner was the actual employer of the beneficiary and that the vendor, not the end-client, owned the project.