USCIS Institutes Provisional Waivers

Beginning March 4, 2013, certain immigrant visa applicants who are spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens (immediate relatives) can apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers before they leave the United States. The provisional unlawful presence waiver process allows individuals, who only need a waiver of inadmissibility for unlawful presence, to apply for a waiver in the United States and before they depart for their immigrant visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

The new process is expected to shorten the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives while those family members are obtaining immigrant visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States.

To determine if the Provisional Waiver can help you, please click HERE to schedule an appointment with us.

USCIS to Implement Customer Identity Verification at Field Offices

On Monday, May 6, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement Customer Identity Verification (CIV) in its field offices. Individuals will now be required to submit biometric data, specifically fingerprints and photographs, when appearing at USCIS offices for interviews or to receive evidence of an immigration benefit. CIV will help to both defend against threats to national security and protect customers from identity fraud by enhancing the agency’s ability to verify identity.

For entire USCIS Press Release, please click:  USCIS to Implement Customer Identity Verification at Field Offices

USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap

For the first time since 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the statutory H-1B cap of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2014 within the first week of the filing period. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the advanced degree exemption.  

 

For the entire USCIS Press Release, please click:  USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap

May Visa Bulletin:

There has been some progress in the Priority Dates as indicated in the May Visa Bulletin for both family-based and employment-based immigrant visa numbers. Unfortunately, the EB-2 category for Indian Nationals remains at September 1, 2004.

You may view the Visa Bulletin by clicking:  May Visa Bulletin 

NY Times Story: Immigration Bill Expected to Focus on Work Skills

The sweeping immigration bill that a bipartisan group of senators is preparing will include a major new merit-based program for foreigners to become permanent legal residents based on their work skills, including both high-skilled and blue-collar workers, according to people familiar with a draft of the legislation.

For the complete NY Times story, please click:  Immigration Bill Expected to Focus on Work Skills

Washington Post: Senate Considers Large Reduction in Family Visas

Key senators are developing plans that would make it harder for the relatives of U.S. citizens to immigrate to this country, while easing the path for more high-skilled foreign workers, according to lawmakers and others negotiating an immigration deal.

The plans — which would run counter to policies that have been in place for generations — are part of ongoing talks between a bipartisan group of eight senators, whose bill is expected to serve as the template for a comprehensive immigration deal between Congress and the White House.

For full story, click:  Senate Considers Large Reduction in Family Visas

LA Times Story - Senators Agree on Path to Legal Status for Illegal Immigrants

WASHINGTON — Eight senators who have spent weeks trying to write a bipartisan bill to overhaul immigration laws have privately agreed on the most contentious part of the draft — how to offer legal status to the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants.

According to aides familiar with the closed-door negotiations, the bill would require illegal immigrants to register with Homeland Security Department authorities, file federal income taxes for their time in America and pay a still-to-be-determined fine. They also must have a clean law enforcement record.

For the entire story, please visit Senators Agree on Path to Legal Status for Illegal Immigrants