USCIS ANNOUNCES BI-SPECIALIZATION
The USCIS has implemented its bi-specialization system whereby service centers work on certain types of cases. As a result, all Schedule A cases are filed with the Nebraska Service Center with the Texas Service Center sharing the workload on Schedule A cases (i.e. currently Nebraska is transferring I-140 cases to Texas every other day, resulting in approximately a 50/50 sharing of I-140 cases between Nebraska and Texas). Pending I-140 files from the Vermont and California Service Centers have already transferred their files to Texas and HLG has already seen Texas approving some of the files that have been transferred. The bi-specialization system is expected to result in greater efficiency and consistency.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/03.27.2006_alert.htm

 

HLG HEALTHCARE IMMIGRATION BLOG
Immigration legislation is at a crucial juncture. Just like last year, Hammond Law Group is leading a group of immigration attorneys who are universally committed toward making sure that the healthcare industry's needs are met. HLG is pleased to launch it's Healthcare Immigration Advocacy Blog. This Blog allows HLG's attorneys to timely post all critical information about retrogression, green card quotas for nurses and other healthcare occupations, legislation, and advocacy.
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/

ADVOCACY ON HEALTHCARE IMMIGRATION
HLG attorneys have been meeting regularly with Congressional representatives to push for immigration reform for healthcare. The goal remains to exempt Schedule A cases from the quota (or increase the numbers substantially to avoid retrogression) and to create a temporary visa option for registered nurses.
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/

DELAY IN GETTING THE GREEN CARD?
The USCIS has implemented an email system to inquire when there is a long delay between a case approval and receiving the green card. Normally, the USCIS is issuing green cards within a few weeks of the approval. If it takes more than 4 months to get the green card, contact your attorney at Hammond Law Group.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/index.htm

CGFNS ALLOWS ON-LINE STATUS CHECK
CGFNS has just updated their Check Your Status section of the CGFNS website. In the past, applicants could only see if they passed or failed the Qualifying Exam when going online. Beginning with the posting of the March Qualifying Exam results, applicants will be able to view their exam scores online, in addition to being able to see their pass/fail status. Applicants will need their user name and password to access test scores and view their exam results.
www.cgfns.org

NCLEX INVITATIONAL - SEPTEMBER 2006
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) will present the 2006 NCLEX Invitational in Philadelphia. This goal of the one-day educational conference will be to familiarize attendees with the many components of the NCLEX examinations and enlighten them about the development and the administration of the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations.
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?e=6d44feca-fa17-4927-8447-3ccf21544658

NCLEX FACT SHEET
The latest NCLEX Fact Sheet has just been released. Once again Filipino nationals were the leading examinees, as they had nearly four times as many examinees as the second-greatest country, India.
http://www.ncsbn.org/pdfs/NCLEX_Stats_Fact_Sheet.pdf

 

PROCESSING TIMES CHART  

SERVICE CENTER	PROCESSING DATES
California Service Center ( CSC )	Not processing
AZ, CA, GU, HI, NV
Nebraska Service Center ( NSC )	February 1, 2006
AK, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY
Texas Service Center ( TSC )	January 19, 2006
AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Vermont Service Center (VSC)	December 3, 2005
CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, VT, VA, VI, WV

 

PRIORITY DATES  

	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIP-PINES
Employment-Based
1st	C	01JUL04	01JUL05	C	C
2nd	C	01JAN04	01JAN03	C	C
3rd	01MAY01	01MAY01	01MAR01	15APR01	01MAY01
Schedule A Workers	C	C	C	C	C
Other Workers	01OCT00	01OCT00	01OCT00	01OCT00	01OCT00