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RETROGRESSION: THE FINAL PUSH
Right now, we believe that momentum is building in Congress to cure the retrogression problem. This may be our best chance to have the recapture legislation passed. If the recapture legislation is approved in mid-April, the retrogression will be lifted for nurses and physical therapists within the next 30-45 days. If this issue is important to you, please contact your Representatives and Senators and let them know how your hospital or organization is impacted.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.30.2005healthcare_alert.htm

LA TIMES: RETROGRESSION HURTS HOSPITALS
The LA Times highlights how the retrogression delay is a particularly acute problem for ratio-mandated California.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-nurses9mar09,1,3049566.story

CIS DELAYS ACCEPTANCE OF US MASTER DEGREED H-1Bs
The CIS declared that it would not accept H-1B petitions from applicants with U.S. Master’s degrees despite the fact that Congress approved legislation authorizing an additional 20,000 new H-1B numbers for the 2005 Fiscal Year. HLG monitored the progression of news via our Immigration Alerts email.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/H1BVisaReformAct03_04_05.pdf

http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.09.2005alert.htm

http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.28.2005alert.htm

PERM IS NOW LIVE
On March 28, the Department of Labor implemented its PERM regulations, which provide for expedited processing for positions requiring labor certification. On the other hand, PERM will delay processing for labor certification-exempt (Schedule A) occupations, namely Physical Therapists and Registered Nurses.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.31.2005alert.htm

HLG: FILE FY2006 H-1Bs NOW!
If an employer wishes to have an employee start on October 1, 2005, the earliest date that the employer may file the petition with the CIS is April 1, 2005. At this time we have no way to gauge just how quickly the FY2006 H-1(b) cap will be exhausted but we have anecdotal evidence that there will be a large number of new H-1(b) petitions filed in April 2005.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.01.2005alert.htm

FILIPINO GOV'T PUSHES FOR NCLEX IN MANILA
The Chair of the Filipino government’s Commission on Filipinos Overseas urged the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to include the Philippines as a venue for the international licensure examinations for nurses who wish to work in US hospitals.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/mar/17/yehey/top_stories/20050317top7.html

VISASCREEN DEADLINE APPROACHING
CGFNS has issued a reminder that the one year exemption to the VisaScreen requirement for nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and medical technologists who were licensed in the U.S. and employed in Trade NAFTA status prior to September 23, 2003 is quickly approaching. Beginning July 26, 2005 ALL foreign nationals seeking employment in the U.S. as a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist or audiologist, medical technologist, medical technician/clinical laboratory technician, or physician assistant must have a healthcare certificate.
http://www.cgfns.org/press-news.shtml#news12

NCLEX FACT SHEET
NCSBN recently released its quarterly Fact Sheet. Among other things the Fact Sheet highlights NCLEX pass rates for first-time international test takers.
http://www.ncsbn.org/pdfs/NCLEX_fact_sheet.pdf

HLG TO EXHIBIT AT THE SHRM GLOBAL FORUM
The 28th Annual SHRM Global Forum is taking place in Chicago, April 11-13. HLG’s Chris Musillo and William Ward will be exhibiting.
http://www.shrm.org/conferences/global/

HLG TO SPEAK AND EXHIBIT AT MARSKELL – TORONTO
HLG’s Mike Hammond, Kathryn Schababerle and Nicole Reynolds will be at the Marskell Health Careers Interaction Job Fair in Toronto. Mike Hammond will be the lead presenter in a seminar for employer-recruiters. The event runs from April 29 – May 1.
http://marskell.jobscience.com/torontoAPR.htm

VISA RETROGRESSION UPDATE: EB3 NOW APRIL 2002
The retrogression dates for EB3 qualified-applicants has once again crept forward to April 2002, according to the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin is produced monthly, usually around the 15th of the month.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_2150.html