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January 2011 Visa Bulletin Shows Retrogression of Family-Based Dates

On December 8, 2010, the Department of State released the most recent Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant visas for various categories of employment based and family based immigrant petitions. The Visa Bulletin posts the priority dates, or dates of application receipt, of immigrant visa petitions for which visas have become […]

USCIS Announces Plans to Stop Processing I-130s Overseas

The move is being made as a cost reduction effort. New filing procedures will requiring filing of I-130s at a United States based lockbox. Public comment can be made at [email protected]. About the Author Vishal Chander is an immigration attorney and founder of The Chander Law Firm PC in New York City. He advises employers […]

USCIS Issues Guidance on Fee Changes

USCIS’s Latest Fee Schedule Takes Effect Fact Sheet Adjusted Fees Take Effect Nov. 23, Along with New and Revised Forms Introduction After publishing a final fee rule in the Federal Register on Sept. 24, 2010, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin collecting adjusted fees for immigration applications and petitions on Nov. 23, 2010. […]

New H-1B Form Requires “Deemed Export” Certification

The Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations prohibit the release of certain controlled technology and software to foreign nations. Employers must treat H-1B access to controlled technology as an export of the technology to foreign national’s home country. H-1B employers have therefore been regulated to have either obtained the appropriate license of […]

USCIS Announces 51,200 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions Filed as of December 3, 2010

On December 10, 2010, USCIS announced that approximately 51,200 cap-subject H-1B petitions had been filed for fiscal year 2011. This means that there are fewer than 13,800 cap-subject H-1B visas remaining for fiscal year 2011. This number indicates that significantly fewer H-1B petitions have been filed compared to last year at this time. It may […]

DOJ Civil Rights Division Issues Guidance on Immigration Related Unfair Employment

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices has issued guidance sheets regarding Social Security No-Match letters. The guidance warns employers against taking unlawful actions against employees when receiving such letters and guides them to work with employees to obtain records to verify social security discrepancies. […]

U.S.-Mexico Global Traveler Agreement Entered

On November 30, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the signing of an agreement with Mexico Ministry of the Interior Secretary José Francisco Blake Mora expressing an intent to develop a Global Entry international trusted traveler program pilot between the United States and Mexico. The goal of the program would be to facilitate […]

Vishal Chander Chairs Comprehensive Immigration Reform Panel at 2010 NAPABA National Convention

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — On November 19, 2010, Vishal Chander, Managing Partner of The Chander Law Firm, chaired and spoke on the panel “The Politics and Policy of Comprehensive Immigration Reform” at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) National Convention in Los Angeles, California. Also speaking on the panel were Professor Hiroshi Motomura […]

Vishal Chander Speaks to NAPALSA About Immigration Law

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — On November 19, 2010, Vishal Chander, Managing Attorney of The Chander Law Firm, spoke on a panel regarding careers in immigration law at the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (NAPALSA) National Convention. Also speaking on the panel were Professor Hiroshi Motomura of the University of California, Los Angeles, Ms. […]