by David A. Isaacson* On March 26, 2008, USCIS deputy director Jonathan Scharfen issued an important memorandum regarding implementation of the government’s new exemption authority with respect to certain terrorism-related bars.1 Previously, many otherwise deserving adjustment applicants, including a number of asylees, had been denied their green cards because of their support for or membership […]
On April 14, 2008, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted a computer-generated random selection process on H-1B petitions to select H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2009. Selected petitions would continue to full adjudication. Those filed under the premium process program would move faster and USCIS designated April 14 as the first day […]
by Cyrus D. Mehta* In a statement released on April 10, 2008, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that based on a preliminary count, it has received “nearly 163,000” total H-1B petitions out of which “more that 31,200” were subject to the H-1B Master’s 20,000 cap. The USCIS will soon conduct a […]
April 2008 Immigration Update Headlines: 1. Employers to File FY 2009 H-1B Petitions on April 1; USCIS Publishes Interim Rule Prohibiting Multiple H-1B Petitions for Same Employee – The H-1B supply is expected to be exhausted immediately; USCIS published an interim final rule prohibiting employers from filing multiple H-1B petitions for the same employee. 2. […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), anticipating that April 1, 2008 will see a repeat of the mass filings from last year, offers a list of measures the petitioner can take to ensure that the petition is correctly filed on its website, www.uscis.gov. We reproduce substantial portions of this governmental advisory, along with our own […]
by Cyrus D. Mehta * US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) transmitted an interim final rule to the Federal Register today that prohibits employers from filing multiple H-1B petitions for the same employee. According to the USCIS, these changes will ensure that companies filing H-1B petitions subject to congressionally mandated numerical limits have an equal […]
by Cora-Ann V. Pestaina* In order to qualify under the Employer-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category pursuant to §203(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; 8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(2), the position described on a labor certification must require an advanced degree or, in the alternative, a Bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressive post-baccalaureate experience.1 The employer […]
by Patricia S. Mann * The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”), and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (“IIRIRA”), passed by Congress over a decade ago, in April 1996, and in September 1996, respectively, had a number of harsh consequences for both undocumented immigrants and for legal permanent residents. For example, […]
Headlines: 1. Filing Tips for H-1B Applications – The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers recommends these tips for employers planning to file H-1B applications. 2. USCIS Announces Centralized Filing Location for H-1B Cap Exempt Petitioners – This includes petitions filed by institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations or entities related to or affiliated with […]
by Cyrus D. Mehta * In recent months, immigration practitioners are reporting an increase in audit notifications each time a PERM application is filed with the Atlanta and Chicago Processing Centers. The audits primarily request a “business necessity” justification for job requirements with the Department of Labor (DOL) finds excessive. An employer’s job requirement will […]
