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Perm processing times  as of 12/31/2009.

The next USCIS National Stakeholder meeting will be held on January 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Tomich Center, 111 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington D.C. 20529.  Suggested agenda items for this meeting are due by COB January 6, 2010.

This Visa Bulletin is for February 2010.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance to adjudication officers to clarify what constitutes a valid employer-employee relationship to qualify for the H-1B ‘specialty occupation’ classification.  The memorandum clarifies such relationships, particularly as it pertains to independent contractors, self-employed beneficiaries, and beneficiaries placed at third-party worksites.

Release Date: January 15, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Rule Formalizes Longstanding Policy to Expedite Citizenship for Service Men and Women

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the publication of a rule formalizing DHS' longstanding policy to expedite and streamline the citizenship process for men and women bravely serving in America's armed forces.

Release Date: January 15, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Tips for filing form I-821, the application for Temporary Protected Status.

[Federal Register: January 19, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2879-2880]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja10-63]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2009-0162]

RIN 1601-ZA08

Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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On Jan. 18, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), today announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need—as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.

 On the one-year anniversary of implementing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection reminds U.S.-bound travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries of the ESTA requirement. Beginning January 20, CBP will initiate a 60-day transition to enforced ESTA compliance for air carriers; VWP travelers without an approved ESTA may not be allowed to board a U.S.-bound plane.

USCIS processing times as of January 15, 2010.

Questions & Answers: Information for U.S. Citizens in the process of adopting a child from Haiti

Introduction

On Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti experienced an earthquake of devastating proportions. This set of questions and answers provides information for United States citizens in the process of adopting a child from Haiti.

Background

USCIS warns Haitians applying for temporary protected status to be aware of immigration scams. USCIS has a dedicated website providing guidance on its response to Haiti at www.uscis.gov/haitianearthquake.

Representation

All U.S. consulates and embassies will soon require nonimmigrant visa applicants to use Form DS-160, the Department of State’s fully electronic nonimmigrant visa application, instead of Form DS-156, the paper-based application. Form DS-160 has been in use at selected U.S. diplomatic posts for some time, but the State Department announced late last year that all U.S. posts will require the online form by April 30, 2010 at the latest. Many posts have already adopted the form, and more will begin to require it as April 30 approaches.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would allow H-2A workers in the sheepherding industry more time to fully transition to the three-year limitation of stay requirements under the agency’s final rule that became effective on Jan. 17, 2009.  USCIS is making the one-time accommodation in deference to the industry’s prior exemption from the 3-year limitation.  This exemption does not impact other H-2A categories.

The publication of the H2B regulation in December 2008 and the corresponding changes to PERM, H1B, H1B1, H1C and E3 regulations governing temporary professional, nonagricultural or registered nursing programs changed the roles of the SWAs and NPCs in the prevailing wage determination process and necessitated the issuance of policy and procedural guidance to be used by the National Prevailing Wage and Helpdesk Center (NPWHC).