Entries by Cyrus Mehta

IMMIGRANTS CAN BOOST THE ECONOMY

by Cyrus D. Mehta* With the euphoria of President Obama’s historic inauguration and his quick moves to bring about transparency and accountability in government, as well as due process by ordering the closing of Guantanamo and other secret CIA prisons overseas, it remains to be seen whether immigrants will get a boost or not with […]

AAO RULES THAT MBBS DEGREE QUALIFIES UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED SECOND PREFERENCE

by Cyrus D. Mehta* In recent times, attorneys who have been representing foreign physicians with an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree have reported that the USCIS Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and Texas Service Centers (TSC) have rejected arguments that the MBBS qualifies as an advanced degree. Since the MBBS is normally […]

January 2009 Immigration Update

Headlines: 1. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Challenges Legality of E-Verify Requirement for Federal Contractors – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the DHS challenging the legality of requiring federal contractors to begin using E-Verify by January 15. 2. DHS Issues Interim Rule on I-9 Verification Documents – The interim rule, among other […]

THE H-1B VISA PROGRAM IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

by Adam Ketcher* Looking forward to FY2010, last week’s article (THE H-1B VISA PROGRAM – https://cyrusmehta.com/perseus/news.aspx?SubIdx=ocyrus20081219943) provided an update on the H-1B visa program for those who anticipate filing petitions for new H-1B employment in April. But what about those H-1B beneficiaries who were chosen in last year’s H-1B lottery and began their employment in […]

The H-1B VISA PROGRAM

by Cyrus D. Mehta* (Updated 12/16/2008) On April 1, 2009, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions in advance of October 1, 2009, which is the date when H-1B visas under Fiscal Year 2010 become available. Since it is anticipated notwithstanding the economic downturn that there may be more petitions […]

VERMONT SERVICE CENTER INDICATES THAT IT WILL NOT FOLLOW MATTER OF MARIA T. GARCIA IN INTERPRETING THE CHILD STATUS PROTECTION ACT

by David A. Isaacson* On November 3, 2008, Vermont Service Center (“VSC”) Counsel Thomas F. McCarthy sent a letter to attorney Alan Lee indicating that the VSC will not follow the unpublished decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals in Maria T. Garcia, A# 79 001 587, interpreting the Child Status Protection Act (“CSPA”).1 That […]

December 2008 Immigration Update

Headlines: 1. E-Verify Deadline Approaches for Federal Contractors – Federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to begin using the E-Verify online work authorization verification system starting January 15, 2009. 2. Canada Fast-Tracks Skilled Workers – Applicants who are not eligible for the federal skilled worker category may qualify under another category. 3. USCIS Revises […]

REFLECTING ON THE MUMBAI ATTACKS

By Cyrus D. Mehta* CDMA salutes and honors all of those who died in the senseless and wanton terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week. We also express our deepest sympathies to the family members and friends of the victims. CDMA has deep ties with the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay). I was born and grew […]

OBAMA AND IMMIGRATION

by Cyrus D. Mehta* In addition to creating a new sense of hope after the election of Barack Obama, there is also hope for immigration reform under the new administration. There was a huge turnout in the Latino and new American vote in the 2008 presidential election. 66% of the Latino vote went for Obama, […]