Immigration News

08-16-2011
Current H-1B Count

USCIS published H-1B cap updates:

08-12-2011
Immigration initiatives for start-ups

USCIS announces initiatives to promote startup enterprises.

08-12-2011
Prevailing Wage Determination Delays


DOL released an update regarding delays in the processing of Prevailing Wage Requests.

08-12-2011
USCIS Director Mayorkas' Message for Entrepreneurs

Encouraging Entrepreneurs and High Skilled Workers to Bolster the U.S. Economy and Spur Job Growth

07-29-2011
Current H-1B Cap
H-1B Count as of July 22, 2011
07-29-2011
ICE raids University of Northern Virginia

ICE raid targets University of Northern Virginia- The Washington Post

Annandale offices of the University of Northern Virginia was raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on July 28, 2011.

 


07-15-2011
Current H-1B Count

New H-1B Count as of July 1, 2011*:
H-1B Regular Cap (65,000):               19,000
H-1B Master’s Exemption (20,000):    12,200

*www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count

07-01-2011
USCIS NEW CHIEF OF STAFF

As of June 27, 2011 the new Chief of Staff of USCIS is Rebecca S. Carson.


07-01-2011
24,000 New Citizens for 2011 Forth of July Celebrations
USCIS is welcoming over 24,000 new US citizens in this year's Fourth of July celebrations.
06-23-2011
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011

Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Harry Reid (D-NV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) and John Kerry (D-MA) introduce “Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011”

06-17-2011
Major H-1B and Green Card Reform Bill

Democrats seek major H-1B and Green Card reform.   U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren introduced the new bill on Tuesday June 14, 2011.


06-17-2011
The "New American" Fortune 500

Partnership for a New American Economy published a report called The "New American" Fortune 500.  Report states aproximately 40% of New Americans are among the nations's Top Entrepreneurs and that the companies “had at least one founder who was either an immigrant or raised by someone who immigrated to the United States.”  Annual revenues of these companies are totaling $4.2 trillion and they employ 10.9 million people worldwide.

06-13-2011
New Service Center Processing Times
USCIS released new Processing Times for Service Centers:
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do
06-13-2011
July 2011 Visa Bulletin
Department of State published July 2011 Visa Bulletin.
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/visabulletin/VisaBulletin_July2011.pdf
06-07-2011
Current FY H-1B Cap Count

FY 2012 H-1B Cap Count as of 6/1/11:
Regular cap: 13,600, Master exemption cap: 9,300 receipted.

06-05-2011
New EB5 immigrant investor proposals could expedite processing times
USCIS  has issued a proposal which could dramatically impact the processing times for EB5 investor visa applications as well as applications for processing new EB5 Regional Center projects. The proposals are set out in detail in a recent press release. If implemented the proposed 15 day response time could revive interest in the EB5 investor visa program by providing investors and EB5 project developers more certainty with predictable and reasonable processing period for new applications.
06-03-2011
5 managers and supervisors indicted in Houston.

Five managers and supervisors at Mambo Seafood in Houston indicted for harboring illegal aliens.

06-03-2011
11 arrested for using fraud documents to gain employment in the US
11 arrested following their grand jury indictment for using fraud documents to gain employment in the US.
06-03-2011
Obama on Immigration Reform
The Obama Administration has issued a white paper stating its position on immigration reform. See White House news release.
03-23-2011
EB5 Regional Center Pilot Program
 A new proposal in Congress would make the EB5 regional center pilot program permanent.
01-30-2011
H-1B Cap Reached
The H-1b cap has now been reached for the Immigration year 2010-2011. April 1, 2011 is the first date that applications can be filed for a start date of October 1, 2011.
01-30-2011
Start Up Visa discussed at International Economic Forum

By: DBG

The Start Up Visa was discussed at the recent International Economic Forum at Davos Switzerland. See this recent Forbes Magazine Article for more information.
11-02-2010

Immigration Fees to increase November 23 2010. USCIS announced fee increases for most US visa applications and petitions. Find out more about the new fees.

A new proposal for an Entrepreneur Visa may create new American Jobs. This and other creative proposals may help spur a movement in the current Impasse in Congress on Immigration Reform. For more information on Immigration Reform go to our Immigration Reform Website.