Immigration News  |
| Changes in immigration that impact your life. |
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| H-1Bs for FY2010 May Go Off Soon, Employers Hurry Up |
| November 18, 2009 |
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| USCIS has observed a rapid increase in the H-1B filings as 900 H-1B petitions were filed in just one week. As of November 13, 2009, USCIS has received approximately 55,600 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The rapid increase in the H-1B filings indicates that H-1Bs will go off soon. We advise employers to contact VisaPro immediately to meet their H-1B needs for the current year and start planning for the FY2011 filing season, which begins in just a few months, on April 1, 2010. |
| State Department Releases Visa Bulletin for December 2009 |
| November 11, 2009 |
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| The Department of State (DOS) has released the Visa Bulletin for December 2009. The cut-off dates for employment-based preference categories remain unchanged except a slight advancement by 8 days for India under EB-3 category. |
| USCIS Extends Grace Period for Accepting Previous Version of Form G-28 |
| November 9, 2009 |
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| USCIS on November 9, 2009, announced that the previous version of the Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative (Form G-28) will be accepted until further notice. USCIS encourages attorneys and accredited representatives to use the new Form G-28; however, USCIS will not reject filings of the previous Form G-28 version until further notice. |
| USCIS Revises Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record |
| November 6, 2009 |
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| USCIS has revised the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to include new updates regarding testing for Tuberculosis. USCIS took this action based on the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Update to the Tuberculosis Component of the Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens in the United States, which took effect on Nov. 1, 2009. |
| DOL Certifies More Than 5,500 Workers in 16 states as Eligible to Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) |
| November 5, 2009 |
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| The U.S. Department of Labor on November 5, 2009, announced that approximately 5,500 workers from companies in 16 states — Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin — are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Workers covered by these latest TAA certifications will be contacted by their respective states with instructions on how to apply for individual benefits and services. |
| USCIS Reaches the Advanced Degree Quota for FY2010 H-1B |
| November 3, 2009 |
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| The latest FY2010 H-1B cap statistics from USCIS indicates the rise in the demand of the H-1B visa in October. USCIS has recently stated that it has successfully received 20,000 H-1B petitions for U.S. advanced degrees holders and the advanced degree quota has now been exhausted, however USCIS will continue to accept regular H-1B petitions for FY2010 employment. As of October 30, 2009, USCIS has received approximately 53,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions. |
| USCIS Establishes Transitional Worker Visa for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) |
| October 27, 2009 |
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| USCIS on October 27, 2009, published an interim final rule in the Federal Register that creates a Transitional Worker visa classification in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The Transitional Worker Visa category is a new nonimmigrant visa classification under INA using the admission code CW-1 for the principal transitional worker and CW-2 for dependents. The transition period begins on November 28, 2009 and ends on December 31, 2014 and the CW classification is valid only for the duration of the transition period. |
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