|
FY2013 H-1B Cap Count: USCIS updated its count of FY2013 cap-subject H-1B petitions and advanced degree cap-exempt petitions receipted. As of 4/9/12, nearly 17,400 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 8,200 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. (April 12, 2012)
|
|
| FY2013 H-1B Cap Update: At a stakeholder engagement held on 4/5/2012, USCIS advised that it has received 22,323 cap-subject H-1B petitions as of 4/4/2012. Approximately 25% of the cases are for U.S. advanced degrees. For additional information on the H-1B quota, please click here... (April 5, 2012) |
|
|
Fee Changes for Consular Services to Take Effect April 13, 2012 (March 30, 2012)
|
|
|
U.S. Visa Interview Waiver Program Expands to New Delhi
The U.S Embassy in New Delhi, India announced expansion of the visa interview waiver program. Applicants seeking to renew a B1/B2 visa that has expired within the last 48 months are now eligible to apply for a new visa without an interview. AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 12032261 (March 23, 2012)
|
|
EB-2 Retrogression Likely in May or June
On March 16, 2012, at the AILA Midwest Regional Conference in Chicago, Charlie Oppenheim, Chief, Visa Control and Reporting at DOS, informed participants that he will likely retrogress India and China-mainland born Employment-Based Second Preference priority dates to around August 2007, effective with either the May or June 2012 Visa Bulletin. He also advised that he projects that all EB-1 visas available in FY2012 will be used this year, resulting in no "spilldown" to EB-2. AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 12031639 (posted Mar. 16, 2012). |
|
|
Increase in Request for Evidence and Denials in Key Nonimmigrant Petition Categories (February 10, 2012)
|
|
Pedestrian Lane to Be Added to Otay Mesa, CA Border Crossing -- Construction to Begin February 5, Lane Opening February 23
San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials will open a pilot pedestrian Ready Lane at the Otay Mesa port of entry on February 23. Similar to the existing vehicle Ready Lanes, any traveler with an approved document that has Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology can use the lane for a faster border crossing. For the full press release, see http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/02032012_3.xml (February 10, 2012) |
|
|
Operations at U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria suspended as of February 6. See http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/02/183352.htm (February 10, 2012)
|
|
LMAC partner Sharon R. Mehlman along with Sandra M. Wagner & Kathleen Grzegorek published an op-ed article, Entrepreneurial immigrants could mean creation of more jobs for U.S. citizens, in the U-T San Diego (1/26/2012). Full copy of the article can be found at:
http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/26/entrepreneurial-immigrants-could-mean-creation-of/ |
|
|
The February 2012 Visa Bulletin shows significant advancement of one year (to January 1, 2010) for EB-2 India and China. All other categories except EB-3 Other Workers for China show limited advancement.
|
|
| U.S. Consulate Chennai stops processing immigrant visa petitions effective 1/1/12. U.S. Embassy New Delhi and U.S. Consulate Mumbai will be on the only acceptance centers for IVs in India. |
|
| USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B Cap |
|
| LMAC Blog: In search of fraudulent documents – Does the I-9 process really require employers to be enforcers? |
|
| “Best Law Firms” ranking by U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers® gives LARRABEE | MEHLMAN | ALBI | COKER LLP San Diego’s only Tier One ranking in Immigration Law. Read More... |
|
| Effective December 1, 2011, the U.S. Consulate, Chennai will become the only post in India to adjudicate Blanket L Visa Applications. Individual L-1A/L-1B visas and visas for spouses and children (L-2s) may be processed at any post in India. |
|
| LMAC Blog: Playing with “No-Matches” – Don’t Get Burned – How the Social Security Administration “No-Match” Letters Fit into Worksite Compliance |
|
| LMAC Article: Evaluating an Electronic I-9 Program - the Devil is in the Details |
|
|
The U.S. Consular post in Tijuana, Mexico has moved. All nonimmigrant visa interviews will now be held at the new facility at the following address:
Consulate General of the United States, Tijuana, México
Paseo de Las Culturas s/n
Mesa de Otay, Delegación Centenario
Tijuana, Baja California, México 22425
|
|
