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 Effective December 21, 2009, the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Reauthorization Act will sunset. The Nursing Relief for Disadvantage Areas Act (NRDAA) established the H-1C Program in 1999 to reduce the shortage of qualified nurses in health professional shortage areas. The Program was reauthorized until December 20, 2009 under the Nursing Relief for Disadvantage Areas Reauthorization Act of 2005 which became effective in December 20, 2006.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 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.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is announcing a 120-day period in which it will temporarily accept H-1B petitions filed without Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) that have been certified by the Department of Labor (DOL). 

The Department has sent to the Federal Register an Interim Final Rule (IFR) extending the transition period application filing procedures implemented under the December 2008 H-2A Final Rule. The application filing procedures under the extended transition period apply to all employers with dates of need before June 1, 2010. To read the IFR please click here.

As of November 6, 2009, approximately 54,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H1-B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H1-B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H1-B cap of 65,000.

The Department of Homeland Security headquarters seeks motivated students looking to contribute their unique insight, skills and talents to support the important mission of securing the homeland.

Our headquarters offices offer paid summer internship opportunities for full-time and part-time college or university students.

These Questions and Answers only provide information about the assessment by the civil surgeon to determine whether an applicant has been infected with TB and address the most recent updates to the Tuberculin (TB) Component of the Technical Instructions for the Medical Examination of Aliens in the United States.

USCIS Processing Times as of November 16, 2009.

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

November 17, 2009

Question: Are there any new developments on the visa waiver program for Greek citizens?  Where does the U.S. currently stand on this issue?

      Answer: The U.S. Government is in the final stages of the decision process, and we hope to conclude the process soon.

As of November 20, 2009, approximately 56,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions had been filed. USCIS has approved sufficient H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees to meet the exemption of 20,000 from the fiscal year 2010 cap. Any H-1B petitions filed on behalf of an alien with an advanced degree will now count toward the general H-1B cap of 65,000.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has established a streamlined, standardized process for receiving requests for accommodations from customers with disabilities. Customers in need of accommodations from field offices and Application Support Centers should now call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 (TDD: 1-800-767-1833).

Q:  Is there anything that can be done for I-730s and I-485s that are placed on hold for material support issues—i.e., should we send in a declaration stating that the client did not participate in any violence, does not believe the organization was violent, and did not provide material support to support violent activity?  Or should we just wait for further guidance? 
A:  USCIS is open to inquiries regarding these cases that are on hold.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially opened a new Verification Operations Center in Buffalo, N.Y., today.  The Center employs about 135 people and is dedicated solely to USCIS’ verification mission.  The ceremony included a tribute to Medal of Honor recipient, Major John Farquhar, a Scottish immigrant who served with the Union Army during the Civil War and returned to Buffalo representing the city for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advises its customers that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2010, signed by the President on Oct. 28, 2009, extends the following USCIS programs until Sept. 30, 2012:

•  E-Verify
• Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Pilot Program
• special immigrant visa category for non-minister religious workers
• date by which J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitors must obtain that status in order to qualify for the “Conrad 30” program.

Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reminding travelers planning trips across the border into the United States to make sure they have the proper documents this weekend in conjunction with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. As a result, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials want to remind the traveling public that there are a number of steps that can be taken to facilitate their arrival into the United States.
Travelers are reminded to check traffic at all local border crossings within the Buffalo/Niagara region and select the crossing that is least congested.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program office has a new mailing address! SEVP recommends that all correspondence be mailed to the following mailing address: Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Attn: (Branch Name or Job Title), SEVP MS 5600, DHS/ICE, 500 12th Street, SW,; Washington, DC 20598-5600. The new main telephone number is (703) 603-3400.

[Federal Register: November 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 226)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 61517-61524]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no09-9]                        

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that at 12:01 a.m. (CNMI local time/GMT +10.) , Nov. 28, the immigration laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) will be replaced by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and other U.S. immigration laws. The definition of “United States” in the INA simultaneously will be amended to include the CNMI—providing new privileges and easing restrictions to CNMI residents wishing to live and work in the United States.