New USCIS system created to streamline the application process for immigration benefits: ELIS
What is USCIS ELIS? USCIS ELIS is a user-friendly system created to streamline the application process for immigration benefits. It allows immigration benefit seekers and their legal representatives to create an account and file benefit requests online. USCIS ELIS provides more accurate and secure customer service. It also allows USCIS to process cases...
New USCIS system created to streamline the application process for immigration benefits: ELIS Continue reading…H.R. 3012: “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act”: Bill passes House by a 20 to 1 margin; moves on to Senate
Update: There is no news on H.R. 3012, the High Skilled Immigrants Act, which was put on hold by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). But even without H.R. 3012, the January 2012 Visa Bulletin showed the China and India EB-2 category (for aliens with advanced degrees or equivalent, or in the national interest (NIW)...
H.R. 3012: “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act”: Bill passes House by a 20 to 1 margin; moves on to Senate Continue reading…USCIS Announces “Entrepreneurs in Residence” Initiative
Agency focuses on fully realizing the job-creating potential of current immigration law Released October 11, 2011 WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas joined the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness in Pittsburgh to announce "Entrepreneurs in Residence." This new innovative initiative will utilize industry expertise to...
USCIS Announces “Entrepreneurs in Residence” Initiative Continue reading…H-1B Cap Update (as of 10/7/2011): 24,000 regular Hs left; 900 advanced degree Hs left
H-1B Cap Update: As of 10/7/11, USCIS received approx 41,000 cap subject H-1B cases and another 19,100 towards the advanced degree cap.
2013 Green Card (Diversity Visa) Lottery Information and Link to Entry Form
The U.S. Department of State has published instructions relating to its upcoming Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery for the 2013 fiscal year. For DV-2013, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply because the countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years:...
2013 Green Card (Diversity Visa) Lottery Information and Link to Entry Form Continue reading…nextgov.com: Say Goodbye to Traditional Immigration Processing Forms
In preparation for a long-delayed transition to online processing of immigration applications, the Homeland Security Department has released new rules for describing forms and filing procedures in official policies. The 43-page federal notice published Monday instructs the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a unit of DHS, to stop typing on documents the...
nextgov.com: Say Goodbye to Traditional Immigration Processing Forms Continue reading…San Francisco Immigration Lawyer Q & A: Upgrading a green card case from EB-3 to EB-2 and shaving years off green card wait time
Question: I have 13 years of teaching experience, before moving to the US. My employer filed my Labor Certification (PERM) application and I-140 under the EB3 category with a priority date in 2009. Now, I am planning to port from EB3 to EB2. Is this possible with the same employer? My previous lawyer did...
San Francisco Immigration Lawyer Q & A: Upgrading a green card case from EB-3 to EB-2 and shaving years off green card wait time Continue reading…San Francisco Immigration Lawyer Q & A: Is my Labor Certification (PERM) based Green Card Application location specific?
Question: My I-140 was approved in May 2006, and my I-485 is still pending since July 2007. I have been working with Company A since 2003, and in January 2011 I moved from Indiana where I lived since 2003, to California. I still work for Company A in same position and with same salary....
San Francisco Immigration Lawyer Q & A: Is my Labor Certification (PERM) based Green Card Application location specific? Continue reading…AILA Liaison Practice Pointer: VSC: Preferred Order of Documents for Submission of Form I-129 Petitions
The Vermont Service Center has confirmed to AILA Liaison that its preferred order of Form I-129 petition and supporting documents at the time of submission is as follows: 1. Fee(s) - staple to first page 2. I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service (if filing as Premium Processing) 3....
AILA Liaison Practice Pointer: VSC: Preferred Order of Documents for Submission of Form I-129 Petitions Continue reading…San Francisco Immigration Lawyer: USCIS Denial Overturned by AAO on Appeal in L-1 New Office Extension Case
Below please find a copy of a January 2011 AAO [Administrative Appeals Office] decision which overturns a denial issued by USCIS in an L-1 "New Office" extension case. L-1 "New Office" petitions are commonly used when an established foreign company wants to expand in the United States and send a manager/executive or...
San Francisco Immigration Lawyer: USCIS Denial Overturned by AAO on Appeal in L-1 New Office Extension Case Continue reading…USCIS Q & A re: National Interest Waivers for Entrepreneurs
NATIONAL INTEREST WAIVER Q11. Is there a "national interest waiver" (NIW)? And if so, what is it? Can an entrepreneur qualify for a NIW? A11. Yes. A NIW exempts the petitioner from the normal requirement of a job offer, and thus from obtaining a labor certification from the U.S. Department...
USCIS Q & A re: National Interest Waivers for Entrepreneurs Continue reading…