Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
President Barack Obama has identified immigration reform as the number one item on his domestic policy agenda. On February 5, the new Congress held its first hearing on overhauling immigration laws. The administration and legislature seem primed for action.
At the February 5th House Judiciary Committee hearing, the new House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Bob Goodlatte…
The Department of Labor (DOL) is launching an online registry to publish data from certified PERM and Labor Condition Applications filed via its online iCERT system. The registry, expected to launch July 1, will include information about cases certified as far back as April 2009. New cases will be available as early as two business…
Employers who plan to file for new H-1B employment visas in FY2014 should be prepared to file by April 1, 2013. H-1B visas generally are limited to a fiscal year distribution of 65,000 (85,000 when U.S. Master’s Degree holder visas are included). The immigration fiscal year begins on October 1. Petitions are accepted for the…
On the heels of the immigration reform plan outlined by a bipartisan Senate group earlier this week, President Obama presented his own proposal for immigration reform in Las Vegas on January 29. Although he promised reform in his first term, he believes that “now is the time.” The bipartisan support is a good sign, the…
On January 28, 2013, a bipartisan Senate group consisting of four Democrats (Charles Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado) and four Republicans (John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida and Jeff Flake of Arizona) announced plans to…
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has spent the last four years creating a one-stop shop for all laws, regulations and policy guidance it administers or promulgates. USCIS will soon unveil “version 1.0” of its effort. The on-line USCIS Policy Manual (“Manual”) will go live at www.uscis.gov later this month. Although the Manual…
With President Barack Obama’s inauguration and the start of his second term, the Administration is heralding yet another year of immigration compliance focused on sanctioning employers. In recent remarks, the President stated that any immigration reform measures should contain penalties for companies that purposely hire undocumented workers.
The Administration’s focus on employer audits is not…
In an effort to expedite visa processing for business travelers from Mexico, the U.S. State Department announced this month the expansion of its Business Facilitation Program (“BFP”) to all U.S. Consulates and Embassies in Mexico. To qualify for the program, participating employers in Mexico must meet one of the following requirements:
1) Be a branch,…
Lawmakers return to Washington for the 113th Congress with comprehensive immigration reform once again moving to the front burner. Comments and proposals are being fielded by prominent political figures, including former President George W. Bush http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/george-w-bush-debate-immigration-policy-with-a-benevolent-spirit.html/ and Senator Marco Rubio http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323442804578235844003050604.html. These and similar calls for Congress to finally address the country’s immigration system,…
The current version of Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf), which all employers must use when on-boarding new hires, expired on 8/31/2012.
USCIS announced a proposed new form for public comment on March 27, 2012 (http://tinyurl.com/aogxuy2), but after receiving thousands of comments and calls from stakeholders to extend the comment period,…
