USCIS
eVerify Self Check Expands Throughout US
On February 9, 2012, USCIS announced that eVerify Self Check, a free online service of E-Verify that allows workers to check their own US employment eligibility status, is now available in all 50 US states, Washington, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. Launched in March 2011 by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, today’s announcement delivers on the goal of expanding eVerify Self Check nationally within one year. (more…)
DHS Proposes Certain Regulatory Immigration Reforms
On January 31, 2012, DHS announced a series of regulatory immigration reforms with a view toward attracting and retaining highly skilled immigrants. Although President Obama supports more comprehensive US immigration reform, including creation of a Startup Visa category, strengthening the H-1B visa program, and providing a Green Card to certain graduates of programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), such reform is currently a long-term goal. However, regulatory reforms are measures that agencies such as DHS can take on their own initiative. For this reason, these are shorter-term goals that may be implemented as soon as the rulemaking process for each is complete. The proposed DHS regulatory reforms are listed below. (more…)
USCIS Initiatives Promote Start-Ups, Job Creation
On August 2, 2011, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas outlined a series of policy, operational, and outreach efforts to promote start-ups. They hope this initiative will fuel the US economy and stimulate investment in the US by attracting foreign entrepreneurial talent of exceptional ability or talent who otherwise can create US jobs, form startup companies in the US, and invest capital in US areas of high unemployment. (more…)
I-130 Relative Petition Filing Procedure Change
Effective 15 August 2011, the I-130 filing procedure and I-360 filing procedure in US consulates around the world will change. As of that time, US consular officers may no longer adjudicate I-130 Relative Petitions (for spouses, children, parents, other qualifying relatives) or I-360 Widow (er) petitions filed by qualifying US citizens or US Legal Permanent Residents (LPR, or green card holders). (more…)
I-9 Central
On 13 May 2011, USCIS launched I-9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to the most frequently accessed form on USCIS.gov, Form I-9, Employee Eligibility Verification. This free website provides one-click access to resources, tips and guidance on the completion of Form I-9 and the Form I-9 process. (more…)
US Immigration Benefits: Japanese Nationals
As of March 17, 2011, in light of the recent Japan earthquakes and tsunami, USCIS has issued a reminder of US immigration benefits available to Japanese nationals upon request. USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s ability to establish or maintain lawful US immigration status. Temporary relief measures regarding US immigration benefits for Japanese nationals may include: (more…)
Japan Earthquake: Visa Extension
On March 11, 2011, USCIS issued a notice for Japanese and other Pacific region nationals stranded in the US due to the recent earthquakes and tsunami permitting a visa extension in certain situations. Those who have exceeded or are about to exceed their authorized stay in the US may be permitted up to an additional 30 days to depart from the US. To obtain such additional authorized stay, see instructions below. (more…)
H-1B Visa Registration System Proposed starting March 2012
USCIS has proposed a new H-1B visa registration system for US employers planning to file H-1B visa petitions that are subject to the annual numerical cap. This H-1B visa registration system will require prospective H-1B employers to file an electronic registration for each H-1B visa petition with USCIS prior to filing that H-1B visa petition.
Only registered employers will be allowed to file H-1B visa petitions, and those petitions may only be for H-1B Visa Beneficiaries named in the H-1B visa registration. USCIS will set aside a two week H-1B visa registration period some time in March of each fiscal year, and will provide public notice of that H-1B visa registration period.
E-Verify Self Check System Introduction
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a self-checking version of their E-Verify Employment Verification System tool. DHS created the E-Verify Self Check (Department of Homeland Security/United States Citizenship and Immigration Services—SORN DHS/USCIS—013 E-Verify Self Check System of Records) to assist US individuals in verifying their own legal US work authorization. (more…)
USCIS Immigration Fee Increase 2010
USCIS has announced a US immigration fee increase of approximately 10% on most US immigration petition types except for naturalization (US citizenship), to take effect 23 Nov 2010. Fees for Premium Processing have also increased from $1000 to $1225 per petition. Some fees, including those for Fiance(e) Petitions (I-129F) and the Petition/Extension of Nonimmigrant Status (I-539), have been reduced. The filing fee for naturalization will remain the same. (more…)
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