Visa Bulletin - December 2013
Number 63
Volume IX
Washington, D.C.
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Number 63
Volume IX
Washington, D.C.
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
WASHINGTON—In recognition of Veterans Day, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct naturalization ceremonies across the country that will feature military members, military spouses and veterans taking the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens. From Nov. 7-13, USCIS is welcoming approximately 8,000 new U.S. citizens during 120 naturalization ceremonies throughout the nation and overseas.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned consumers about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, throughout the country.
Processing Queue | Priority Dates | |
---|---|---|
Month | Year | |
Analyst Reviews | March | 2013 |
Audit Review |
1. Does the FBI accept personal checks, business checks, or cash?
2. Do you have procedures for expeditious handling?
3. Where can I get my fingerprints taken?
4. What if my fingerprints are continuously rejected?
5. Can I use the fingerprint card I download from this site?
6. Will my fingerprint card be returned?
7. How do I notify the FBI if my address has changed since I submitted my request for my Criminal History Summary or if I want to verify my correct address was submitted?
8. Does the FBI provide apostilles*?
9. How do I challenge my FBI record?
10. How can law enforcement entities request certified copies of fingerprints and/or Criminal History Summary information?
1. No.
The NPWC uses the Prevailing Wage Determination Policy Guidance in issuing wage determinations for the Nonagricultural Immigration Programs. The Department updated the guidance in November 2009 following the publication of the H-2B regulation and the corresponding changes to PERM, H-1B, H-1B1, H-1C and E-3 regulations that affected the prevailing wage determination process.
Below are Fact Sheets for 4th Quarter of FY 2013 (07/01/2013-09/30/2013)
On October 17, 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a change in the schedule for the release of certain reports due to the lapse in Federal appropriations resulting in the Government shutdown. Among the affected reports is the Farm Labor Survey (FLS) report upon which the Department relies in order to establish the Adverse Effect Wage Rates in the H-2A program. The new release date for the FLS report will be December 5, 2013.
In light of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (named “Yolanda” by Philippine authorities), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would like to remind Filipino nationals that they may be eligible for certain immigration relief measures if requested.
The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has announced that it will stop sending Adobe PDF copies of approved Temporary Labor Certifications (TLCs) to H-2A employers and authorized representatives on Nov. 18, 2013.
WASHINGTON- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced an enhancement to the E-Verify program that will help combat identify fraud by identifying and deterring fraudulent use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) for employment eligibility verification.
I went there at 7, just in case 1 hour earlier. Office opens officially at 7:30, but security let me in. The office is on 4th floor, but they let me in because we had 4 month old baby. So durin security check you are checked like in airport, I took off shoes and family members too.
We went and there is reception and I checked in my additional evidence.
This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance on the adjudication of Form I-485, Application to Register or Adjust Status, filed by immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who were last admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). This PM updates the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) by adding a new section (j) to Chapter 10.3 and 23.5 (AFM Update AD11-30).
For more details on the memorandum please click the attachment
E-Verify added an enhancement that will help identify and deter fraudulent use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) for employment eligibility verification. E-Verify is now able to detect patterns that indicate an SSN may have been used fraudulently. The enhancement strengthens the integrity of the E-Verify program by implementing standards that have proven effective in protecting individual identities.
Our office was retained to file a B-1/B-2 extension on behalf of a 34-year old male who was diagnosed with autism and requires ongoing supervision and monitoring. He is dependent on his mother, a permanent resident of the US, who is his legal guardian and only source of care. His father is a resident of Botswana. Botswana regulations do not make provisions for a child above the age of 21 to reside in the country as a dependent. Even in the US, regulations do not consider children over the age of 21 to be dependents of their parents.
The main applicant and his wife filed their I-485 petitions together. At the time of filing, the wife was pregnant.
This policy memorandum (PM) amends Chapter 21.1 of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) to ensure consistent adjudication of parole requests made on behalf of aliens who are present without admission or parole and who are spouses, children and parents of those serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or who previously served in the U.S. Armed Forces or Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.
For more details on this memo please click the attachment
What is Administrative Processing?
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant's interview by a Consular Officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply.
I have worked with Mr. Khanna and his staff on H-1B and green card applications for a few of my employees over the last 4 years. Never having done this before previously and with very limited knowledge of the immigration arena, I have found all of the staff members to be extremely helpful! There is never a time where I can't ask questions or seek guidance. Communication is very important and they never dissapear on me. Rather than it feeling like a client-lawyer relationship, I feel like it is more of a partnership. They are here to make the process smooth and as painless as possible. I would recommend their services to anyone who is in need, whether it be an individual or an employer.
On October 23, 2013, the USCIS Service Center Operations Directorate hosted an engagement with AILA representatives. USCIS addressed questions related to DOMA, provisional waivers and TPS grantee applications among several other topics.
The attached information provides a review of the questions solicited by AILA and the responses provided by USCIS.
The generosity of this man astounds me. Rajiv Khanna not only thoroughly knowledgeable, but he is always able to convey the law in terms that you can grasp. With some lawyers, you walk away thinking how smart THEY are. With Mr. Khanna, you finish the conference thinking that your problem is not as big as you thought and the law not as complicated as you thought prior to the call. His entire spirit is to help people and this comes through in every conversation. We found Mr. Khanna on line while in the midst of a sticky situation re: my husband's Green Card about two years ago. He was a Godsend. His knowledge, advice and reassurance were invaluable. We recently turned to him re: the possibility of foreign investors for our new business, and an immigration question re: a friend of mine. He never fails to come through. I highly recommend Mr. Khanna not just for his amazing breadth of knowledge, but for his personal caring and kindness.