Practice Pointer: Third Country Nationals (TCNs) Should Use Caution When Processing - (04.08.10)
The Department of State Liaison Committee reminds AILA members and their third country national clients (TCNs) to use caution when considering applying for non-immigrant visas at U.S. consular...

VSC Reports on H-1B Petitions Received at VSC (Updated 04/08/10 - (04.08.10)
At the VSC Stakeholder meeting held on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, VSC reported that, as of close of business on Monday, April 5, 2010, VSC had received a total of 9,525 cap-subject H-1B petitions. Of tho...

Extension of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training - (04.08.10)
Introduction These Questions & Answers address the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request...

USCIS Reminds Petitioners to Provide Approved - (03.31.10)
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will not extend the period in which it temporarily accepted H-1B petitions filed with uncertified Labor Con...

Senators Schumer and Graham Present Their Blueprint for Comprehensive Immigration Reform - (03.24.10)
WASHINGTON, DC - In an editorial published in today's The Washington Post, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) presented their blueprint for immigration reform l...

USCIS to Accept H-1B Petitions for Fiscal Year 2011 - (03.15.10)
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2011 cap on April 1, 2010. Ca...

Statement by the President on Today’s Meetings on Immigrat ion Reform - (03.15.10)
Statement by the President on Today’s Meetings on Immigrat ion Reform. Today I met with Senators Schumer and Graham and was pleased to learn of their progress in forging a proposal to fix our broken i...

USCIS Clarifies Requirements for Agents Filing as Petitioners for the O and P Visa Classification - (01.19.10)
Introduction U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clarifying for performing arts associations and their members the regulatory requirements for agents who file as petitioners f...

TSC Denies EB3 I-140 Based on Degree Equivalency Issue - (01.18.10)
On December 18, 2007 the USCIS Texas Service Center (TSC) denied an EB3 I-140 petition, stating: [T]he petitioner was notified through a request for evidence that, if the labor certification i...

Extension of Validity of Medical Certifications on Form I-693 - (01.18.10)
12-30-09 Memorandum TO: Field Leadership FROM: Donald Neufeld/s/ Acting Associate Director SUBJECT: 1. Purpose This memorandum temporarily extends the validity of civil surgeon endorsements on Form I-...

USCIS Issues Guidance Memorandum on Establishing the “Employee- - (01.18.10)
USCIS Update Jan. 13, 2009 USCIS Issues Guidance Memorandum on Establishing the “Employee- Employer Relationship” in H-1B Petitions WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)...

TPS Registration Process for Haitians - (01.18.10)
In a telephonic briefing on 1/15/10, USCIS Director Mayorkas indicated that the registration process for TPS for Haitian nationals will begin upon publication in the Federal Register. The agency’s goa...

AILA Religious Workers Committee Update on Visa Availability - (09.25.09)
AILA reminds members of the sunset of the EB-4 non-minister permanent resident religious worker category on September 30, 2009. This category includes petitions for those applying in the religious occ...

AILA/SCOPS Practice Pointer: I-485 Filings for Ordained Ministers - (09.25.09)
As of October 1, 2009, Employment-based Fourth Preference immigrant visas will be available again for ordained ministers. (AILA Doc. No 09091061) (The classification for non-ordained relig...

AILA’s Immigration This Week: September 24, 2009 - (09.25.09)
1. Scialabba Memo Regarding Inadmissibility Due to HIV Infection A September 15, 2009, Memo from Lori Scialabba and Donald Neufeld directs USCIS officers to hold in abeyance any waiver application and...

DOS Provides Background on Visa Allocation Process - (09.25.09)
In connection with the notification that all employment-based visas had been allocated for FY2009, Charles Oppenheim, Chief, Immigrant Control and Reporting Division Visa Services Office, provided the...

Fact Sheet: USCIS.gov 'E-Notification Capability' - (09.25.09)
Background On June 25, President Obama announced that in the next 90 days USCIS would launch a vastly improved USCIS.gov public website to help customers navigate the immigration system and remain up-...

Fact Sheet: USCIS.gov 'My Case Status' - (09.25.09)
Background On June 25, President Obama announced that in the next 90 days USCIS would launch a vastly improved USCIS.gov public website to help customers navigate the immigration system and remain up-...

Fort Worth Woman Sentenced to 44 Months for Visa Fraud Scheme - (09.25.09)
On 9/23/09 ICE announced that Maria Refugia Camarillo was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison following her guilty plea for conspiring to commit fraud in connection with immigration documents. Be...

Legal Issues for School Districts Related to the Education of Undocumented Children - (09.25.09)
A joint publication from the National Education Association and the National School Board Association that outlines the issues on providing educational services to undocumented children following the ...