The Business Immigration Monthly is Hammond Law Group’s latest news eZine, directed at international workers and employers seeking the most up-to-date news on U.S. immigration issues, specifically those that impact workers on H, L, E, and O visas and workers seeking permanent residency. APRIL VISA BULLETIN RELEASED
The Department of State has released the April Visa Bulletin. Unfortunately, the Bulletin shows no movement in any of the EB1, EB2 and EB3 categories.
See: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_3169.html
PLANNING FOR THE 2007 H-1 CAP
The H-1b season is quickly getting closer. We now only have 3 weeks left before April 1. As you may recall, last year all H-1b's were exhausted by May 26th. We are projecting that this year the cap will be reached in 2 weeks or less – perhaps as soon as ONE DAY! With that in mind, it is important to begin the preparation of any H-1b filings NOW! Please contact your HLG attorney immediately to arrange preparation of new H-1b cases.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/planning_for_the_2007_h-1_cap.htm
GATES CALLS FOR “INFINITE” NUMBER OF H-1B VISAS
On March 7th, Microsoft Corporation chairman Bill Gates went to Washington to urge Congress to allow an “infinite” number of high-skilled foreign workers into the US to fill vacant engineering, computer-programming and other jobs. “There is a ‘critical shortage’ of high-tech workers in America and there is only one way to solve that crisis today: open our doors to highly talented scientists and engineers who want to live, work and pay taxes,” comments Gates, “[u]nfortunately, America’s immigration policies are driving away the world’s best and brightest precisely when we need them most.” In addition, he emphasized how foreign talent would be sent to India and China if the US’ immigration laws were not relaxed for foreign scientists and engineers. “Scientists like Albert Einstein were born abroad but did great work here because we welcomed them,” comments Gates, “[t]he contributions of such powerful intellects have been vital to many of the great breakthroughs made right here in America.”
See: http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/08gates.htm
I-485s TRANSFERRED to NSC and TSC
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is reporting that the USCIS has transferred I-485, Adjustment of Status cases from the California Service Center (CSC) to the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) and from the Vermont Service Center (VSC) to the Texas Service Center (TSC), in anticipation of the next stage of bi-specialization. Transfer notices and updates on the USCIS case status system will occur when the transfer takes place. Transferred cases will go into the queue based not on the transfer date, but rather based on the original filing date.
http://www.aila.org
AYTES MEMO RELEASED CLARIFYING FBI BACKGROUND CHECKS
Associate Director of Domestic Operations, Michael L. Aytes, has released a Memo dated December 21, 2006 which explains the current FBI Name Check Policy and announces changes in USCIS policy with regards to missing or incorrect date of birth, validity periods, duplicate requests, and expedited name checks. For full memo see: http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/monthly/BIMmemo.pdf
HLG TO HOLD SEMINAR IN CHICAGO
HLG is planning to hold a free seminar, open to the public, in the Chicago area on May 21st. To register for these seminars please see our website at www.hammondlawfirm.com.
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