Effective June 29, 2009, the USCIS will resume Premium Processing Service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(f)(2). After an evaluation of its I-140 backlog reduction efforts and increased I-140 adjudicative efficiencies, USCIS has concluded that it is now able to provide Premium Process Service for this benefit. [...] Read more »
How Do I Use the Premium Processing Service?
What is it? Premium Processing Service provides faster processing of certain employment-based petitions and applications. Specifically, USCIS provides 15 calendar day processing to those who choose to use this service or USCIS will refund the Premium Processing fee and the relating case will continue to receive faster processing. The processing period that is used to [...] Read more »
USCIS Reminds Applicants for Adjustment of Status, Asylum, Legalization, and TPS Beneficiaries to Obtain Advance Parole Before Traveling Abroad
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds individuals that they must obtain Advance Parole from USCIS before traveling abroad if they have: been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS); a pending application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident; a pending application for relief under section 203 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief [...] Read more »
Cap Count for H-1B and H-2B Workers for Fiscal Year 2010
What is a “Cap”? The word “Cap” used in this Update refers to annual numerical limitations set by Congress on certain nonimmigrant visa classifications, e.g., H-1B and H-2B. Caps control the number of workers that can be issued a visa in a given fiscal year to enter the United States pursuant to a particular nonimmigrant [...] Read more »
USCIS Announces Extension of the J-1 Entry Date for International Medical Graduates to Qualify for “Conrad 30” Waiver
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds customers that Public Law 111-9, signed by President Obama on March 20, 2009, extends the date until Sept. 30, 2009 by which international medical graduates have to have been granted J-1 nonimmigrant status in order to later qualify for the “Conrad 30″ program. Before this latest extension was [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers Revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Effective
Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a reminder that effective April 3, 2009, all U.S. employers are required to use the revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, (Rev. 02/02/09). The revision date can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the form. The interim final rule, published Dec.17, 2008 in the Federal [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Extension of Post Completion Practical Training and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the Cap Gap Regulations
These Questions & Answers address the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of October 1, 2009 under the FY 2010 H-1B cap. What is the H-1B [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Employ American Workers Act and its Effect on H-1B Petitions
Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional requirements for employers, who receive funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act before they may hire a foreign national to work in the H-1B specialty occupation category. Background On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law [...] Read more »
USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2010 Beginning April 1, 2009
Petitioners Are Reminded to Follow Regulatory Requirements U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2010 (FY 2010) cap on April 1, 2009. Cases will be considered accepted on the date that USCIS takes possession of the petition; not the date that the petition is postmarked. The [...] Read more »
USCIS Announces New Requirements for Hiring H-1B Foreign Workers
Changes Apply to Companies that Receive TARP Funding U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced additional requirements for employers, who receive funds through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (covered funding), before they may hire a foreign national to work in the H-1B specialty occupation category. The [...] Read more »
