HLG SPONSORED EVENT: SYMPOSIUM ON INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Hammond Law Group is pleased to announce a Symposium on International Recruitment of Healthcare Workers on Friday, May 5th, 2006. The Symposium is free to all clients and friends of the firm.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/hc_symposium_5_2006.htm

 

FREE TELECONFERENCE: NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND RETROGRESSION: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2006
On March 10, 2005 at 2PM ET / 11AM PT we will be holding a free teleconference for all HLG employer-clients. The teleconference agenda includes:
- Retrogression update
- The new Schedule A Guidance Memorandum
- Strategies for posting Notice if you are Staffing Company
- 10 business-day rule
- Ability to pay
- HLG's efforts to lobby for positive retrogression and regulatory changes
If you are interested in participating on the call, please send an email indicating your interest to: mmc@hammondlawfirm.com. Your confirmation and dial-in number will be sent a few days before the call.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/02.27.2006_alert.htm

USCIS BACKTRACKS - NO HQ POSTINGS ALLOWED
In a startling reversal, the USCIS will not allow staffing companies to post Notice of the job opportunity at a Staffing Company's headquarters. Instead the new policy requires that staffing companies post Notice at the actual hospitals and healthcare facilities where the work will be performed. The reversal has been formalized in a document entitled, "Guidance to Schedule A Blanket Labor Certifications".
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/02.21.2006_alert.htm

NCSBN CONFIRMS NEW INTERNATIONAL TEST CENTERS AND TEST DATES
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has announced the locations and start date for their new international NCLEX examination test centers. The new test centers will be in Sydney, Australia; Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver, Canada; Frankfurt, Germany; Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, India; Mexico City, Mexico; and Taipei, Taiwan. Chiyoda-ku, and Yokohama, Japan will be added to this list at a later date. Test sites in London, England; Seoul, South Korea; and Hong Kong will also remain open.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/02.13.2006_alert.htm

MSN & CAREER BUILDER: WANT A JOB? NURSING HEADS THE LIST
Registered nursing tops the list as the most likely under-supplied occupation in the next 15 years, according to a MSN/Career Builder article. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, there was a shortage of 110,000 RNs in 2000, or about 6 percent of the national demand. The shortage is expected to grow to 29 percent by 2020. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual salaries were $53,640 in November 2004.
http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=708&SiteId=cbmsnhp4708&sc_extcmp=JS_708_home1&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=63d02b94f95845a297d08caf7ffb0b9c-194957549-XB-2

H-1(B) STRATEGIES FOR SPRING 2006
It is Hammond Law Group’s recommendation that employers who seek H-1(b) workers for FY2007 ought to expect to prepare to file these cases in April 2005. The H-1(b) cap allows 65,000 new H-1(b) visas per fiscal year. In fiscal year 2006 (October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006) the H-1(b) cap was reached before the fiscal year actually started -- August 10, 2005. Typical healthcare H-1(b) positions include: physical therapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, speech language therapists and medical technologists.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/2.06.2006_alert.htm

WESTERN GOVERNORS CALL FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM “BASED IN REALITY”
Western governors called on Congress and the administration to approve a comprehensive national immigration policy that addresses realistic workforce needs.
http://www.westgov.org/wga/press/immigration2-28-06.htm

 

PROCESSING TIMES CHART  

 

PRIORITY DATES  

	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
Employment-Based
1st	C	01JUL03	01JUL04	C	C
2nd	C	01JUL02	01JAN02	C	C
3rd	01MAY01	01MAY01	01JAN01	22MAR01	01MAY01
Schedule A Workers	C	C	C	C	C
Other Workers	01OCT01	01OCT01	01OCT01	01OCT01	01OCT01