Release Date
08/19/2021
As of Aug. 13, 2021, USCIS has received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. USCIS will reject and return any cap-subject petitions for H-2B returning workers received after Aug. 13, together with any accompanying fees.
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
Workers in H-1B and H-2B classifications who are admitted to perform labor and services in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam are exempt from the H-1B cap and H-2B cap from November 28, 2009 to December 31, 2014. The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA), Public Law 110-229, provides a special exemption to the statutory numerical limitations (or “caps”) for temporary workers in H nonimmigrant classifications mentioned in Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
E Visa company registrations - It is advisable for “E” visa companies to update “registration” files at post every year although there is no specific regulation.
Following-to-Join for adjustment cases - An applicant who is the principal alien and whose spouse or child now needs to follow to join can now continue to deal directly with posts in paths:
1
. Immigrant visa at the same post as the one where the following-to-join will process;
USCIS issues memo to provided guidance on the processing and adjudicating of Form I-129 filed on behalf of H-1B "specialty occupation" and H-2B "temporary nonagricultural" workers.
USCIS issues memo to provided guidance on the processing and adjudicating of Form I-129 filed on behalf of H-1B "specialty occupation" and H-2B "temporary nonagricultural" workers.
Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States. The Department has published in the Federal Register a Final Rule amending the regulations governing the labor certification process for the temporary agricultural employment of H-2A aliens in the United States, codified at 20 CFR part 655, and enforcement of employer obligations under the H-2A program, codified at 29 CFR Part 501. The new regulations will go into effect on March 15, 2010.
[Federal Register: February 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 32)]
[Notices]
[Page 7293-7294]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18fe10-59]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Release Date
06/02/2021
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a pilot program for accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for U nonimmigrants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
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.
Release Date: October 12, 2022
Increase Will Help Address the Need for Seasonal Workers and Reduce Irregular Migration
[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.
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 policy update will help provide stability to U Visa Petitioners supporting law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
12/06/2021 01:32 PM EST
Starting Mar. 14, USCIS will only accept the 12/06/21 edition. Until then, you can use the 04/24/19 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
12/02/2021 03:05 PM EST
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?
[Federal Register: January 19, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2879-2880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja10-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS-2009-0162]
RIN 1601-ZA08
Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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The Department of Labor has posted an update regarding the processing of H-2B labor certifications granted under the 2008 Final Rule. To read the update, please visit the H-2B Program Page.
As part of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification's (OFLC) on-going efforts to increase public engagement, the OFLC will host a webinar on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, designed to educate stakeholders, program users, and other interested members of the public on recent program workload trends, common deficiencies and best practices associated with employer requests for H-2B prevailing wage determinations and applications for temporary labor certification under the H-2A and H-2B visa programs.
U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration OFFICE OF FOREIGN LABOR CERTIFICATION 2015 H-2B Interim Final Rule FAQs Round 16: Foreign Labor Recruiter List 1. What is the Foreign Labor Recruiter List? The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) compiles a list of people and entities that employers have indicated that they engage or plan to engage to carry out the recruitment of prospective H-2B workers (“foreign labor recruiters”). See 20 CFR 655.9.
In response to statutory requirements, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will allow up to 12,998 nonimmigrants in fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) program.
ETA is announcing a process change related to the submission of applications for temporary labor certification under the H-2B visa program intended to reduce burdens on employers and streamline the adjudication of temporary need.
USCIS urges prospective H-2B employers seeking to hire potential “returning workers” with employment start dates in fiscal year (FY) 2017 to continue to identify these workers and provide the H-2B Returning Worker Certification.