The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently updated their list of Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) approved schools. The schools listed have all been certified to participate in the program. The program allows foreign students interested in obtaining an education in the United States to complete a…
Processing Time reports for all of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Service Centers were released on February 17, 2010 with processing dates as of December 31, 2009. If you filed a petition with one of the Service Centers, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing…
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Liaison Committee received reports from AILA members that CBP inspectors at the Newark, New Jersey airport port of entry were apparently assisting in an investigation involving certain H-1B nonimmigrants from India and certain H-1B petitioner companies. The CBP…
Due to the passage of the Employ American Worker Act (EAWA), the USCIS is required to collect Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) information on each H-1B petitioning employer. Under the EAWA legislation, any company that has received TARP funding and seeks to hire new H-1B workers is considered an “H-1B…
The Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), Alejandro Mayorkas and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have entered into an agreement to strengthen and enhance local immigrant integration efforts. Launched as a pilot, this agreement will remain in effect for two (2) years with evaluations conducted by…
The Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) recently reversed the final determination of a Certifying Officer (CO) denying labor certification (LC) for an alien worker for the position of Household Assistant. The employer filed a LC which was accepted for processing on June 5, 2006. On September 20th, the…
On January 14, 2010, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo obtained a temporary restraining order against the International Immigrants Foundation, Inc. (“IIF”), International Professional Association, Inc. (“IPA”), and their President Edward Juarez. As a result of the order, the organizations must refrain from providing immigration services and from soliciting new clients.…
The Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), Alejandro Mayorkas has recently issued a response to the recommendations of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman regarding the temporary acceptance of Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) for certain H-1B filings. Until March 9, 2010, the USCIS Service Centers will…
The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times were released on January 28, 2010 with processing dates as of January 4, 2010. If you filed an appeal, please review the links below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case. Administrative Appeals Office The current processing time for…
In support of an H-1B petition, a petitioner must not only establish that the beneficiary is coming to the United States temporarily to work in a specialty occupation but the petitioner must also satisfy the requirement of being a U.S. employer by establishing that a valid employer-employee relationship exists between…