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News: Obama Administration Announces Temporary Relief for DREAMers

Deferred action is a form of prosecutorial discretion that does not provide immigration status, but does allow an otherwise deportable alien permission to live and work in the United States for a temporary duration. This news brings long awaited relief to a group known as DREAMers, young undocumented people who might have qualified for the […]

California Service Center Answers H-1B Questions

CSC representatives stated that the processing goal for all H-1B cases is 60. Officials stated that all cap subject petitions are currently being processed within the 60 day processing time. Officials also stated that they will not prioritize cap subject cases for the October 1, 2011 start date unless their processing is outside of the […]

Chanderlaw: Legislative Update: New Bills Introduced; Congress Members Seek Prosecutorial Discretion for LGBT Families

Representative Chaffetz (R-UT) introduced H.R. 3012, the Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act, to the House Judiciary Committee. The legislation proposes to eliminate per-country caps for employment-based immigrants and increases the per-country caps for family-based immigrants. Representative Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 1618, SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act of 2011. The bill proposes […]

Recent Increase in ICE Arrests Result of 7 Day Cross Check Operation

The seven day operation involved 1,900 ICE officers FROM 24 field offices. Of the 2,901 individuals taken into custody, 1,282 aliens had multiple criminal convictions. 1,600 aliens had felony convictions for manslaughter, attempted murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug trafficking, child abuse, sexual crimes against minors, and aggravated assault. 42 were gang members. 151 were convicted […]

2013 Diversity Visa Registration Period to Open October 4, 2011

Interested persons may submit entries for the Diversity Visa Lottery Program by utilizing the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at www.dvlottery.state.gov. DOS recommends that interested persons register as soon as possible as high demand may result in website delays. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program allocates 55,000 Diversity Visas each fiscal year to persons from designated […]

Vermont Service Center Updates I-130 and K-1 Procedures

First, the VSC announced that the processing times I-129F K-1 Fiancée petitions had decreased from seven to five months. It announced the processing time for immediate relative petitions is current. Next, the VSC announced changes to the adjudication of I-129F K-1 petitions. The validity dates on approvals has been changed from 90 days to four […]

USCIS Proposes Changes to TPS Employment Authorization Policy

During a Stakeholder meeting held September 8, 2011, participants commented that withdrawal of EADs during the appeal process placed a significant financial burden on typically low-skilled laborers and the most vulnerable. Participants suggested economic need should be considered as a factor in extending employment authorization. Participants also argued that EADs are often the only identification […]

Highlights of USCIS EB-5 Stakeholder Meeting

Regional Center Statistics USCIS stated there are currently 173 approved Regional Centers operating in 40 states, including the District of Columbia and Guam. A complete list of Regional Centers is available at http://www.uscis.gov/eb-5centers . 90 — 95% of EB-5 petitions are filed by aliens investing in Regional Centers. The number of Regional Center proposals has […]

Department of State Announces Inspections of Summer Work Travel Program

The Department of State will conduct on-site reviews of the largest program sponsors to monitor performance, assess regulatory compliance, consult regarding implementation of the interim final rules. Based on previous inspections, the Department of State will not visit sponsors based solely on the size of the program, but will conduct compliance reviews on designated sponsors […]