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AUTHOR:  Rebecca Massiatte.

As of September 8, 2013, Iowa joins Mississippi, Florida and Idaho as participant states in the Records and Information from DMV’s for E-Verify (RIDE) program. 
 
The RIDE program allows the federal government’s E-Verify system to verify information from employees who submit a state driver’s license or state identification document in the

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AUTHOR:  Harry J. Joe.

Despite USCIS’s 251 prior approvals of L-1B Specialized Knowledge Visa Petitions filed by Fogo De Chao for gaucho chefs, a federal District Court in Washington, D.C., upheld the USCIS’s denial of such a petition for Rones Gasparetto  and found the agency’s interpretation of “specialized knowledge” was not arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable.

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AUTHOR:  Melina Villalobos.

The Department of State has taken another step toward the creation of a secure and efficient online immigrant and visa application experience.  The DOS on September 3, 2013, began using an online immigrant visa application, replacing the old paper DS-230 and DS-3032 forms.  
 
Applicants can apply online using Form DS-260

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Whether to pre-populate Section 1 of the Form I-9 has become a hot topic because of the rising use of electronic I-9 software. Section 1, Employee Information and Verification, contains basic information about the employer, such as name, address, and date of birth. I-9 software makes it easy for the employer to complete Section 1…

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, is initiating  hundreds of worksite investigations  by serving Notices of Inspection and Administrative Subpoenas on employers this week—many requesting that the requested documents be delivered Tuesday after the Labor Day.  HR managers and in-house counsel may find less time to holiday.

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Reports have surfaced that some U.S. consulates are denying H-1B visa applications on the ground that the certified Labor Condition Application referenced the incorrect wage level for the position. This can mean significant staffing issues for employers expecting workers on H-1B visas.

In about a month, beneficiaries of FY 2014 H-1B petitions will be able

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As previously reported, over the past several weeks, a number of U.S. consulates were temporarily closed due to security concerns creating processing delays for U.S. visa applicants.  Consular posts in 20 cities, including all three posts processing visas in Saudi Arabia, were closed from August 5 through August 10 in conjunction with a worldwide travel…

Author:  Helen Pihlstrom.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has provided additional guidance on the implementation of the Supreme Court’s United States v. Windsor ruling, which invalidated part of the Defense of Marriage Act. In a Frequently Asked Questions, last updated on August 2, 2013, USCIS addresses in more detail how it will handle

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