AILA Liaison Requests that USCIS Accept H-1B Petitions with Proof of LCA Filing - (08.25.09)
The AILA/USCIS and AILA/SCOPS Committees submitted a Memorandum to USCIS requesting reinstatement of the practice of allowing the filing of an H-1B petition with proof of filing of the Labor Condition...

AILA Reminds Members of Important Religious Worker Deadline - (08.25.09)
AILA reminds members of an important deadline for religious workers who might benefit from the court’s order in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States. AILA Doc. No. 09082160.

Border Patrol Agents Intercept 23 Undocumented Individuals on Beach in Carlsbad (.pdf 37 KB) - (08.25.09)
On 8/21/09 CBP apprehended 23 Mexican nationals who illegally reached the San Diego coastline by sea. They were taken into Border Patrol custody and sent to a Border Patrol station for processing. AIL...

NEW AMERICANS IN THE PALMETTO STATE: - (08.25.09)
Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are an Economic Powerhouse in South Carolina Washington D.C. - The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are ...

Cap Count for H-1B and H-2B Workers for Fiscal Year 2010 - (06.23.09)
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced information on the number of filings for H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2010 program. USCIS has received approx...

Five Additional Texas Counties Implement Secure Communities Program - (06.23.09)
On 6/16/09 ICE announced that five counties in Texas - Bexar, Willacy, Dimmitt, Webb, and Zapata, have been added to the list of law enforcement agencies that receive biometrics-based immigration hist...

Neufeld Memo Provides Guidance on Equivalency - (06.23.09)
A 6/12/09 memo from Donald Neufeld, Acting Associate Director, Domestic Operations, USCIS, provides guidance on the adjudication of Form I-140 for physicians, regarding whether a foreign medical degre...

Permanent Resident Card Production Delays - (06.23.09)
May 29, 2009 - Applicants may experience up to an eight week delay in the delivery of their permanent resident card while USCIS upgrades card production equipment

Update from VSC on U Visa Processing - (06.23.09)
The VSC is currently working through U petitions in an effort to adjudcate as many as possible before the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2009.

USCIS Announces Elimination of FBI Namecheck Backlog - (06.23.09)
On 6/22/09 USCIS and the FBI announced that all milestones set forth in a business plan announced on 4/2/08 have been met, resulting in the elimination of the FBI National Namecheck Program backlog.

USCIS Reminds Applicants for Adjustment of Status, Asylum, Legalization and TPS Beneficiaries to Obtain Advance Parole Before Traveling Abroad - (06.23.09)
May 29, 2009 - USCIS reminds such individuals that they must obtain advance parole before leaving the United States or risk being unable to return to the U.S. and their pending applications may be den...

USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for I-140s - (06.23.09)
On 6/22/09 USCIS announced that effective June 29, 2009, it will resume Premium Processing Service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker

USCIS Updates Count of FY2010 H-1B Petition Filings - (04.16.09)
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced an updated number of filings for H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2010 program. USCIS has received approximately ...

Clarification of H-1B Lottery System - (03.26.09)
USCIS has confirmed that if USCIS determines that they have received a sufficient number of cases in the first five business days of April to reach the cap, then the "lottery" will be based on petitio...

USCIS Q&As FY 2010 H-1B cap accepted filings - (03.26.09)
USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for FY 2010 Beginning April 1, 2009 Information for Completing and Submitting an FY 2010 H-1B Cap Case Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS&...

Questions & Answers about OTP for Qualified Students & H1B Cap Gap - (02.27.09)
Question and Answer April 4, 2008 (Revised April 10, 2008) EXTENSION OF OPTIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS Regulations Relating to Practical Training: What is optional practical training...

House Passes 2009 Omnibus Bill With Immigration Provisions - (02.26.09)
On 2/25/09, the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R. 1105), totaling $410 billion. The Omnibus appropriations measure includes provisions that would extend...

Premium Processing Service Expanded for Certain Form I-140 Petitions - (02.26.09)
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will expand Premium Processing Service for designated Forms I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) to include alien beneficiaries who ...

Expanding CapGap Relief for All F-1 Students - (02.24.09)
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 8 CFR Part 214 DHS NO. ICEB-2008-0002 ICE NO. 2124-08 RIN 1653-AA56 Extending Period of Optional Practical Training by 17-Months for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students with STEM...

MYTH: Immigrants Send All Their Money Back to Their Home Countries - (02.20.09)
FACT: While it is true that immigrants remit billions of dollars a year to their home countries, this is one of the most targeted and effective forms of direct foreign investment. FACT: In addition to...