| Dear Readers, As most of you undoubtedly know, the USCIS began accepting H-1B petitions for FY 2006 on Friday, April 1st. These 65,000 H-1Bs are available for all eligible applicants.
However, as of now, AILA advises us that USCIS officials are unsure whether or not the Service will honor the March 8th, 2005 press release stating the FY 2005 numbers will be open to all eligible H-1B applicants or if the agency will go back to declaring that only individuals holding a masters degree or higher from a U.S. university will be eligible.
Whatever the result, applicants should file early to get the fastest possible decision regarding their cases. It is my pleasure to serve you and keep you informed. If you have any questions or concerns about immigration, please feel free to e-mail me at sardar@durrani.com. Sincerely, 
Sardar Durrani |
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» NSC Reverses Itself on Filing of I-751 When Separated But Not Divorced
» USCIS Reminds Applicants of Phase Two of Direct Mail Program
» Department of Labor Issues Overview of O*NET Job Zones
» Sensenbrenner/Conyers Announce Committee Oversight Plans & Hearings For Reauthorization of PATRIOT ACT
» USCIS Announces New Guidance Regarding Indochinese Parolee Adjustments
» CBP Issues Multiple Instructions For Processing Various Petitions
» CBP Provides Guidance For TN Visa Admission
» CBP Releases Memo on Admission Procedures for LPR Children
» CBP Establishes Admissibility Review Office
» CBP Restates Policy on I-94 Correction
» AILA Releases New Issue of CONNECT, Their Montly Business Immigration Newsletter
» Inspectors Given Guidance On Use of Interpreters
» Report: Leaders Must Address Immigration Issues
» Sensing Voters Fears, European Governments Get Tough On Immigration
» Immigration Control Grabs Spotlight
» Immigration Benefits Australia
NSC Reverses Itself on Filing of I-751 When Separated But Not Divorced The Nebraska Service Center has reversed its earlier notice and now indicates that where a petitioner and beneficiary are separated but not yet divorced, they may not file a joint petition or waiver of the joint filing requirement. You can read the rest of this story online here. USCIS Reminds Applicants of Phase Two of Direct Mail Program U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminded its customers today, in compliance with a Federal Register notice published on November 19, 2004, that starting on April 1, 2005 they must mail the following applications directly to the Chicago lockbox instead of submitting them to their local District Office. You can read the rest of this information here. Department of Labor Issues Overview of O*NET Job Zones The Department of Labor has released an informative document which explains the four new job zones for PERM. These zones replace the old system with only two wage levels. You can read the overview here. Sensenbrenner/Conyers Announce Committee Oversight Plans & Hearings For Reauthorization of PATRIOT ACT House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today announced the Committee’s oversight plans for reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act, parts of which expire at the end of 2005 without congressional action.
Chairman Sensenbrenner said, “Consideration of reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act represents one of the most important tasks Congress faces this year. Lawmakers will focus a keen eye on all aspects of this law and how it has been implemented. What improvements, if any, are needed? Does the PATRIOT Act deserve to be made permanent? These are a few of the questions that will be asked.” You can read the rest of this story here. USCIS Announces New Guidance Regarding Indochinese Parolee Adjustments U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today two significant changes to the management of the Indochinese Parolee Adjustment Program. Statutory changes included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 (Public Law 108-447) have eliminated both the three-year filing period window and the adjustment cap. You can read the rest of this story online here. CBP Issues Multiple Instructions For Processing Various Petitions The U.S. Customs & Border Patrol has released four new sets of instructions for processing J-2 and H-2B admissions, fees for I-192 applicants, and has also released instructions regarding international students with SEVIS errors. You can read CBP's SEVIS Instructions here. You can read CBP's I-192 Instructions here. You can read CBP's J-2 Instructions here. You can read CBP's H-2B Instructions here. CBP Provides Guidance For TN Visa Admission The CBP also has issued guidance to its field offices on TN Visa admission standards. You can read the rest of this story here. CBP Releases Memo on Admission Procedures for LPR Children The CBP also recently released a memo dealing with admission practices for lawful permanent residents. You can read the rest of this story here. CBP Establishes Admissibility Review Office In other news, the CBP also has created an office whose specific charge is abmissibility review. Strangely enough, they released a document detailing the new offices' duties. You can read the rest of this story here. CBP Restates Policy on I-94 Correction The CBP also restated its policy on corrections to I-94 documents, reversing their previous position. You can read the rest of this story here.
» AILA Releases New Issue of CONNECT, Their Montly Business Immigration Newsletter
» Inspectors Given Guidance On Use of Interpreters
» Report: Leaders Must Address Immigration Issues
» Sensing Voters Fears, European Governments Get Tough On Immigration
» Immigration Control Grabs Spotlight
» Immigration Benefits Australia
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