Legal News

DOL Extends Comment Period for Proposed Rule to Modify H-2A Regulations
DOL extended the comment period on the proposed rule to modify H-2A regulations until 4/14/08. More...

USCIS to Review Immigration Cases that Could Benefit From Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced it would immediately place certain cases on hold while individuals and groups are considered for exemptions under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (CAA). More...

H-1B Petition Mailing During Cap Season
USCIS Q & A on H-1B Petition Mailing and Delivery. The Q & As address couriers, hours during which deliveries will be accepted, P.O. boxes, and acceptable methods of delivery. More...

USCIS Extends Comment Period For Proposed Change To H-2A Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it is extending the public comment period until April 14, 2008 for a proposed rule that would encourage and facilitate the lawful employment of H-2A foreign temporary agricultural workers. More...

Secure Communities - ICE
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is improving community safety by transforming the way the federal government cooperates with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify, detain, and remove all criminal aliens held in custody. More...

ICE Unveils Sweeping New Plan To Target Criminal Aliens In Jails Nationwide
U.S. Immigration Enforcement (ICE) today unveiled its Secure Communities plan, a comprehensive, multi-year initiative to more effectively identify, detain, and return removable criminal aliens incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons and jails. More...

USCIS published an interim final rule amending its regulations governing H-1B petitions
Petitions Filed on Behalf of H-1B Temporary Workers Subject to or Exempt from the Annual Numerical Limitation. More...

Interim Rule on Intercountry Adoptions
Classification of Aliens as Children of United States Citizens Based on Intercountry Adoptions Under the Hague Convention; Re-Opening and Extension of the Comment Period. More...

DHS Begins Collecting 10 Fingerprints from International Visitors at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it has begun collecting additional fingerprints from international visitors arriving at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). More...

CIS Ombudsman's 2007 Annual Report to Congress
USCIS’ recently released response to the CIS Ombudsman’s 2007 Annual Report to Congress. More...

Embassy Minsk Staff Reduction
The United States will with great regret reduce the number of American staff at our embassy in Minsk by almost half, at the insistence of the Government of Belarus. Visa processing in Belarus is temporarily suspended. More...

Office of Special Counsel's Antidiscrimination Guidance for Employers Following the DHS Safe-Harbor Procedures
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS's) Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter (“no-match rule”), as published in August 2007 and as modified by a Proposed Supplemental Rule that was announced by DHS on March 21, 2008, offers employers who receive nomatch letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA) a safe-harbor in a related immigration enforcement action if those employers follow the series of steps set forth in the no-match rule to ensure that the information provided by affected employees to confirm their work eligibility is genuine. More...

Aytes Memo Revises Adjudicator’s Field Manual Chapter 31
Aytes Memo revises Chapter 31 of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual regarding professional licensure required for particular H-1B specialty occupations. More...

Aytes Memo Revises Adjudicator’s Field Manual Regarding DNA Tests
Aytes Memo revises Chapter 21 of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual regarding genetic relationship testing. More...

DHS Issues Supplemental Proposed Rule With Employer Guidance Regarding No-Match Letters
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking for the No-Match Rule previously issued on August 15, 2007. More...

Naturalization Interviews to be Conducted on Saturdays, Sundays and After Normal Business Hours on Weekdays
In Fiscal Year 2007, USCIS received a significant increase in naturalization applications (Form N-400). To address the increase,USCIS is expanding work hours and adding staff to complete these filings within our processing time goals. More...

USCIS Revises Filing Instructions for Petition for Alien Relative
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised the filing instructions for the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130). Effective immediately, all petitioners filing stand-alone Form I-130s must file their petitions with the Chicago Lockbox instead of a USCIS Service Center. More...

Revised Information Collection on Form N-426 Issued by USCIS
USCIS issued a revised information collection on Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. More...

USCIS Announces Interim Rule on H-1B Visas
U.S. 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. More...

USCIS FAQs: Interim Rule on H-1B Visas
USCIS issued FAQs on March 19, 2008 regarding the interim final rule that prohibits employers from filing more than one petition for an H-1B visa for a single employee in a fiscal year. The interim final rule will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register. More...

Changes To The FY2009 H-1B Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an interim final rule today that prohibits employers from filing more than one petition for an H-1B visa for a single employee in a fiscal year. More...

H-1B Interim rule with request for comments
Petitions Filed on Behalf of H-1B Temporary Workers Subject to or Exempt from the Annual Numerical Limitation. More...

Amended Guidance For Processing of Family-Based Immigrant Visa Petitions
This cable amends guidance for 9 FAM Appendix N 200, section 201.2 Proof of U.S. Citizenship, for the processing of family-based immigrant visa petitions. More...

DHS Signs Visa Waiver Program Agreements with Slovakia, Hungary and Lithuania
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff signed today Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Slovak Minister of the Interior Robert Kalinák, Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi and Lithuanian Ambassador Audrius Bruzga. More...

Revised Information Collection on Form I-694 Issued by USCIS
USCIS issued a revised information collection on Form I-694, Notice of Appeal Under Sections 245A or 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. More...

USCIS Releases Update on Naturalization Application Processing
Processing times for naturalization applications updates from Director Emilio Gonzalez. More...

Iraqi Refugee Processing Fact Sheet Issued by DHS
DHS issued a FACT Sheet on Iraqi Refugee Processing, which addresses the resettlement process, Refugee Admissions Program, determining eligibility and other issues. More...

DHS Secretary Chertoff’s Statement on USCIS Director Gonzalez’s Resignation, effective April 1, 2008
DHS Secretary Chertoff released a statement regarding the resignation of USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez. More...

DHS Signs VISA Waiver Program Agreements with Estonia and Latvia
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff signed today Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Estonian Minister of Internal Affairs Juri Pihl in Tallinn, Estonia, and with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins in Riga, Latvia. More...

EOIR Extends Effective Date of the Immigration Court Practice Manual
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today that it has extended the effective date of the “Immigration Court Practice Manual” to July 1, 2008, in response to requests from members of the bar. More...

Comment Request on HRIFA Supplement to I-485 published by USCIS
USCIS published an information collection on Supplement C, HRIFA Supplement to Form I-485. More...

State Workforce Agency (SWA) Webinar FAQs on TEGL 11-07
SWAs have been given guidance regarding TEGL 11-07, change 1. More...

USCIS National Stakeholder Meeting
The FAQ's address fee waiver rejections, I-730s, Asylee EADS and security checks, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant applicants for adjustment of status, refugee travel documents and re-entry permit, I-129 extension cases, and other issues. More...

USCIS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nationals of Somalia
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Somalia through September 17, 2009. Under this extension, those who have already been granted TPS are eligible to live and work in the United States for an additional 18 months and continue to maintain their status. More...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Reminds Travelers Planning Spring Break 2008
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers planning spring break trips to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean to make sure they have the proper documents. More...

DHS Issued a Five-Year Anniversary Fact Sheet on Progress and Priorities
A 3/6/08 DHS Fact Sheet itemizes the department’s priorities upon its five-year anniversary including border issues, passenger name record agreements, US-VISIT, WHTI requirements, E-verify and more. More...

USCIS Issues Revised Instructions for Travel Document Application
USCIS has issued revised instructions for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The instructions require applicants for re-entry permits and refugee travel documents to provide biometrics at USCIS Application Support Centers. The changes become effective March 5, 2008. More...

DOL Announces Changes in Non-Electronic Filing of Applications for Permanent and Temporary Foreign Labor Certification
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces administrative changes in the locations where future non-electronic applications must be filed under the permanent foreign labor certification program and temporary foreign labor certification programs administered by the ETA's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC). More...

DOL Publishes Adverse Effect Wage Rates
The Department of Labor published a Notice in the Federal Register announcing the 2008 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs), allowable meal charges, and maximum travel subsistence expenses. More...

USCIS Strengthens Intercountry Adoption Process
Children, birthparents and prospective adoptive parents will have greater protections under the Hague Adoption Convention, effective April 1. New safeguards under the Convention include the creation of new forms and improved, centralized examination processes. More...

DHS Fact Sheet on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement
DHS Fact Sheet addresses border and interior enforcement efforts, including E-Verify and No-Match letters. More...

Updated Questions and Answers on Background Check Policy
USCIS released updated background check Q & As. The first draft of the Q & As was released on 2/20/08. More...

ETA Releases FY 2007 PERM Disclosure Data
The ETA Office of Foreign Labor Certification released its official FY 2007 public disclosure data covering cases processed under the Permanent Labor Certification Program. More...

SCOPS Update - 03/27/08

CSC Updates on UPS, Fed Ex and DHL

DOS Updates

Service Center Operations Updates

Vermont Service Center Updates

NBC Updates on RFE Address

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Updates

SCOPS Updates - 03/05/08

NSC Updates - 02/15/08

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