USCIS reminds all approved EB-5 regional centers with a designation letter dated on or before Sept.
Effective December 8, 2014, the Department is no longer issuing prevailing wage determinations in the H-2B program based on employer provided wage surveys. This action is in response to the Court order entered December 5, 2014 in Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas et al v. Solis, No. 14-3557 (3rd Cir.).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has approved the statutory maximum of 10,000 petitions for U-1 nonimmigrant status (U visas) for fiscal year 2015. This marks the sixth straight year that USCIS has reached the statutory maximum since it began issuing U visas in 2008.
USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, has added the Czech Republic, Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal, and Sweden to the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year. The notice listing the 68 eligible countries published on Dec. 16, 2014 in the Federal Register.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today launched the Border Wait Time app making it easier for travelers to plan their trip across the border. The app provides estimated wait times and open lane status at land ports of entry allowing travelers to make an informed decision of where and when to cross the border. Wait times for pedestrian and passenger and commercial vehicle crossings are broken down by lane type (standard, SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, Ready Lane, etc.). Travelers can download the app for free from Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing an email address for state juvenile courts and child welfare agencies to submit general questions about the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) program. You can also submit requests for a USCIS representative to talk to your organization about the program. The address is: USCIS-IGAOutreach@uscis.dhs.gov.
The Department has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing new Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for each state, based on the Farm Labor Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The AEWRs are the minimum hourly wage rates the Department has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment for a particular agricultural job and area, so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely affected.
Pursuant to REAL ID regulations, beginning December 1, 2014, federal agencies may not accept State-issued driver's licenses or identification cards for official purposes from individuals born after December 1, 1964, unless the license or card is REAL ID-compliant and was issued by a compliant State as determined by DHS.
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob J. Lew, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas will help USCIS celebrate our nation’s 237th birthday as the agency welcomes more than 7,800 new citizens during more than 100 naturalization ceremonies across the country and overseas from July 1 to July 5.
Statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano:
1. Certification of Decisions to the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO)
Purpose
This policy memorandum (PM) and accompanying revisions to the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) guide officers on the proper use of the decision
certification mechanism described in 8CFR 103.4. This PM revises Subchapters 3.5, 10.7, 10.8, 10.14 and 10.18 of the AFM ;AFM Update AD13 -08.
Scope
Unless specifically exempted herein, this PM applies to and binds all U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS)employees
Under Phase II, DHS and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will expand the exchange of biographic entry data collected on third-country nationals (those who are neither citizens of Canada nor of the United States), permanent residents of Canada who are not U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents of the United States who are not Canadian citizens, to all automated land ports of entry at the common border, including all major land border crossings.
USCIS is announcing its latest customer service enhancement to E-Verify that will allow direct notification to employees. Currently, if there is a record mismatch that needs to be resolved before the employee can be confirmed as work authorized, a Tentative Nonconfirmation (TNC) is issued to the employer, who must then contact the affected employee. Now, with this new enhancement, if an employee voluntarily provides his or her email address on the Form I-9, E-Verify will notify the employee of a TNC at the same time it notifies the employer.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release July 10, 2013 White House Report: The Economic Benefits of Fixing Our Broken Immigration System
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced today that the extension of the border zone in New Mexico for Border Crossing Card holders is now effective. Following publish of the final rule in June with an implementation date 30-days from publish, Border Crossing Card holders can now travel up to 55 miles from the border without obtaining a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.
This report contains information on requests for consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals. The cumulative number of requests received and accepted for processing, biometrics appointments scheduled, requests under review, and requests approved and denied are displayed. The report also shows the number of accepted and approved requests from the top countries of origin and location of residence.
Please click the attachment below or clike this link here to view the Report on Characteristics of H1B Speciality Occupation Workers
Written testimony of USCIS Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Associate Director Joseph Langlois for a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security hearing titled “Border Security Oversight, Part III: Examining Asylum Requests” Release Date: July 17, 2013
2247 Rayburn House Office Building
USCIS reminds eligible nationals of El Salvador (and persons without nationality who last regularly resided in El Salvador) and who currently have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to re-register for TPS by Monday July 29, 2013. Failure to re-register by this deadline may result in the loss of your TPS status and your work authorization.
On Aug. 5, USCIS will start issuing redesigned certificates including:
The redesigned certificates feature state-of-the-art technology to deter counterfeiting, prevent tampering, and allow for quick and accurate authentication.