NEW I-601 WAIVER PROCESS WILL BE EFFECTIVE ON MARCH 4 2013

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States under certain circumstances. The … Read more

Supreme Court Rules on Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant Law; Racial Profiling Provision Upheld for Now

Supreme Court on Monday stroke down 3 out of 4 provisions of Arizona’s immigration enforcement law, but upheld the provision that requires local police to check the immigration status of anyone they have “reasonable suspicion” to believe is in the U.S. unlawfully. “This ruling is, on balance, encouraging, particularly because the court kept the door … Read more

U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Remarks Announcing New Interview Waiver Pilot Program

U.S. ambassador in China announced today that since February 13, 2012, the United States will lauch a new pilot program that permits consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified nonimmigrant applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within 48 months of the expiration of their previously held visa, and within the same classification as the … Read more

Obama’s 05-10-11 Remarks on Immigration Reform

In a sweeping seech in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, President Obama rallied voters to unite in support of comprehensive immigration reform – a longstanding campaign promise on which he has yet to deliver. While immigration rights activists largely approved of the sentiment behind the gesture, many argue that more action must be taken – … Read more

US Labor Department announces protocols for certifying U visa applications

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced protocols to complete the portion of the U visa nonimmigrant status application requiring certification by a law enforcement agency that the applicant is a victim of a qualifying crime and willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of that crime. U visas, as … Read more

New Application and Petition Fees Go Into Effect on Nov. 23, 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds customers that its new fee schedule goes into effect Nov. 23, 2010.  Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after this date must include the new fee, or they will be rejected. The new fee schedule increases application and petition fees by an average of about … Read more

USCIS Implements H-1B/L-1 Filing Fee Increase

WASHINGTON—On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective immediately, Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, … Read more

FY2011 H-1B Cap Count

USCIS updated its count of FY2011 cap-subject H-1B petitions and advanced degree cap-exempt petitions receipted. As of 10/8/10, approximately 41,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 15,400 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.