DOS: SCHEDULE A CARVE OUT WILL LAST UNTIL AT LEAST OCTOBER 2006                                              The U.S. Department of State (DOS) expects that Schedule A numbers will be available on a “Current” basis throughout all of FY-2006. If the DOS's expectation is accurate, we will not see retrogression of Schedule A occupations -- nurses and physical therapists -- until at least September 30, 2006 . http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/10.25.2005_alert.htm

SJC PASSES FAVORABLE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL BY 14-2 VOTE

On October 20, as part of the budget reconciliation process, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a markup of a proposal to provide temporary relief from the H-1B visa blackout and the employment-based immigrant visa backlogs, in exchange for increased fees on some petitions. http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/10.25b.2005_alert.htm

USCIS ANNOUNCES AN INCREASE IN FILING FEES                                                                                  On September 26th, the USCIS announced that starting October 26, 2005 a new fee structure for filing fees will become effective. The new structure will increase fees on an average of $10 for each application or petition filed. The USCIS has stated that this increase is necessary in order to account for inflation.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/09.29.2005_alert.htm

KC BIZ NEWSPAPER: RN FACULTY SHORTAGE ACUTE                                                                               In the next decade, half of current RNs will retire, and departures from an even older faculty work force, downsized during the student slump, threaten to make increasing demand for nursing degrees academic says a Missouri Health Association spokesperson. http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/hospitals/2005/10/31/kansascity_story4.html?f=et163&hbx=e_vert

AARP: LOOKING ABROAD TO RECRUIT HEALTHCARE WORKERS                                                               The AARP Policy and Research Division recently completed an international review of the challenges facing long term care providers in providing quality care in relation to the supply, demand and shortage of qualified caregivers. http://www.healthstaff.org/graphics/GRoAFall2005.pdf

BOSTON.COM: THE MAKING OF AN ICU NURSE                                                                              Boston.com, in connection with The Boston Globe, recently published a multi-part series chronicling the life of a first-year ICU nurse.  Globe reporters followed Julia Zelixon for seven months, as she cared for two dozen desperately ill patients.                                                              http://www.boston.com/news/specials/nursing/

HLG ANNOUNCES UPCOMING VISA RETROGRESSION AND PERM UPDATE SEMINARS
Join Hammond Law Group, LLC attorneys Sherry Neal, Amy Dalal, and Peter Le for a free seminar where we will discuss updates on Visa Retrogression and PERM.               http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/11.02.2005_alert.htm

PROCESSING TIMES CHART  

 

PRIORITY DATES  

	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
Employment-Based
1st	C	01/01/00	08/01/02	C	C
2nd	C	05/01/00	11/01/99	C	C
3rd	03/01/01	05/01/00	01/01/98	01/01/01	03/01/01
Schedule A Workers	C	C	C	C	C
Other Workers	10/01/00	10/01/00	10/01/00	10/01/00	10/01/00