January 30, 2012
In this issue
EB-5: Invest in the US for Permanent Residency. Part Two of a Four-Part Series.
Update and Predictions on Visa Bulletin Priority Dates
Upcoming USCIS Teleconference: Adjudication of L-1B "Specialized Knowledge" Worker Petitions
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EB-5: Invest in the US for Permanent Residency. Part Two of a Four-Part Series.
This is a continuation of our four-part series on the EB-5 green card program. Part one was featured in ILG’s October 2011 Newsletter. (more)
Update and Predictions on Visa Bulletin Priority Dates
After the February Visa......
October 03, 2011
In this issue
EB-5: Invest in the US for Permanent Residency
Update on Recent I-797 Receipt and Approval Notice Changes
November Visa Bulletin: True Advancement for EB-2 for the First Time in Over Four Years!
Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B Cap Count - Updated 10/07/2011
Job Promotions at ILG
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EB-5: Invest in the US for Permanent Residency
This is the first of a four-part series.
Investors around the world put their hard-earned cash into the US every day, be it US stocks, bonds or real estate. Increasingly, people are investing for something more valuable and long lasting: US citizenship. (more......
August 17, 2011
Newsletter - August 2011
Articles
What’s Going on with Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Determinations?
Visa Bulletin Priority Date Continues to Advance in Critical Categories
A Maryland School System Agrees to Pay $4.2 Million for Violations of H-1B Program
Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B Cap Count as of August 12, 2011
What’s Going on with Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Determinations?
DOL’s National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC) is currently not issuing Prevailing Wage Determinations (PWDs) for PERM Labor Certification cases, nor are they reviewing requests for reconsideration of previous prevailing wage determinations. It appears PWDs stopped in early June.(more)
Visa Bulletin...
May 02, 2011
Articles
Export Control License: End-Client is Responsible
Department of State Has Expanded Authority to Revoke Visas
FY2012 H-1B Cap Count After The First Month
DHS Eliminates List of Countries Subject to Special Registration Requirements
Export Control License: End-Client is Responsible
As previously reported, the current form I-129 requires H-1B, L-1 and O-1 petitioners to verify whether export control license is required before the petitioner may provide access to controlled technology or technical data to foreign persons in the U.S.(more)
Department of State Has Expanded Authority to Revoke Visas
A new rule went into effect on April 27th giving consular officers authority to...
February 01, 2011
Articles
Erroneous PERM Denials on the Rise
Export Control Compliance Certification Required on Form I-129 Starting February 20th
How's Your "VIBE": USCIS Close to Utilizing a New Business Verification System
L-1 Visa Applicants Using Blanket L Approval Likely to Receive USCIS-Level of Scrutiny
Erroneous PERM Denials on the Rise
Type "PERM denial" into a search engine and it becomes apparent: erroneous PERM denials are becoming widespread. Frustrating stories abound in online forums about cases that have been pending for two years, due to an audit, only to be denied in the end with illogical rationale or plain government error.(more)
Export Control Compliance Certification Required on Form...
October 01, 2010
Articles
Changing Lanes: Moving From EB-3 Into The Less Congested EB-2 Lane
More Data Pointing To Increase In Government Enforcement Activities
Fiscal Year 2011 H-1B Cap Count Update
Social Networking Sites And Their Use By FDNS
Changing Lanes: Moving From EB-3 Into The Less Congested EB-2 Lane
Each month, the Visa Bulletin continues to reveal a significant difference between the cut-off date for permanent resident applicants in the EB-2 and EB-3 category. Those waiting in the slower EB-3 lane are left to ask: Can I move into the EB-2 lane?(more)
More Data Pointing To Increase In Government Enforcement Activities
The Bureau of National Affairs recently reported that penalties from......
August 02, 2010
Articles
INCREASE IN FEES FOR SOME H-1B AND L-1 EMPLOYERS
H-1B WORKSITE CHANGE: WHEN ARE H-1B AMENDMENTS NECESSARY OR RECOMMENDED
H-1B PETITION ISSUES: EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP
NEW FEES FOR VISA WAIVER PROGRAM TRAVELERS
NEW ONLINE FEATURES TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT USCIS
E-VERIFY UPDATE
Increase In Fees For Some H-1B and L-1 Employers
On August 13, 2010 President Obama signed a bill directing $600 million more to securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The money will be used to hire more enforcement agents and adding other security measures such as new communication equipments and unmanned drones to improve border surveillance.(more)
H-1B Worksite Change: When Are H-1B...
April 01, 2010
Articles
PERM SUPERVISED RECRUITMENT
FISCAL YEAR 2011 H-1B CAP
FISCAL YEAR 2009 H-1B PETITIONERS
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TIP
PERM Supervised Recruitment
Due to the high rate of unemployment, Department of Labor (DOL) has suggested it will subject more Labor Certification (PERM) cases to "supervised recruitment." Supervised recruitment is one of the tools DOL uses to protect the integrity of the PERM program. Against this backdrop, employers need to understand what supervised recruitment is and prepare for additional recruitment steps and delays. (more)
Fiscal Year 2011 H-1B Cap
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of April 22nd, it received...
February 01, 2010
Articles
H1B NEWS REGARDING EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP
LATEST ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM
SPOTLIGHT ON ILG'S LCA AND I-9 RELATED SERVICES
H1B News Regarding Employer-Employee Relationship
Effective immediately, H-1B petitions must include evidence that valid employer-employee relationship exists. Such a relationship hinges on the employer’s right to control the means and manner in which the work is performed. USCIS’ memorandum lists a variety of factors to be considered when evaluating the employer’s right to control the H-1B employee including the manner and extent to which the employer actually supervises the employee; the employer’s right to control the employee’s daily work and work...
October 01, 2009
Articles
RFE TRENDS
VISA PROCESSING RE-ENTRY ISSUES
VISA BULLETIN CUT OFF DATES
ONSITE VISITS AND AUDITS
RFE Trends
On a mission to eradicate fraud, USCIS is increasingly responding to petitions, including H-1Bs, L-1s, I-140, I-485 and others, with burdensome Requests for Evidence (RFE). Further exacerbating this problem is the fact that it has become the norm for USCIS to allow only 30 days for a response. Below is a brief discussion on the requests typical for the most common type of cases...
July 01, 2009
Articles
ALTERNATIVES TO PERM
UPDATE ON FY 2010 H1-B COUNT
NEW I-9 REQUIREMENT
GOV ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
ALTERNATIVES TO PERM
Whether your company recently reduced its workforce or the general job market is simply not strong enough to support an application for Labor Certification (PERM), there are other employment-based permanent residency option that do not require proving there is a shortage of qualified and willing US workers. Additionally, these categories often lead to permanent residency in much less time, and should be considered even if Labor Certification is a viable option. (more)
NEXT QUARTER TOPICS
RETROGRESSION OF VISA...
February 02, 2009
Articles
FY2010 H1-B UPDATE
LABOR CERTIFICATION IN A WEAKENED JOB MARKET
RIF AND H1-B EMPLOYEES. HERE ARE THE FAQ'S
E-VERIFY AND I-9'S
FY2010 H1-B UPDATE
Companies wishing to file H-1B petitions for workers who have not held H-1B status should plan ahead to ensure their petitions are ready for submission on April 1, 2009 – the first day that H-1B petitions will be accepted for fiscal year 2010. Background on H-1B Quota or "Cap" There number of H-1Bs that can be granted each year is limited to 85,000. This includes the 20,000 H-1Bs set aside for applicants who possess advanced degrees from US universities. (more)
NEXT QUARTER TOPICS
RECAP ON H1-B...
July 01, 2008
Articles
JUNIPER NETWORKS
E-VERIFY
FBI NAME CHECK
H-1B WRAP UP
F-1 OPT EXTENSION
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
DID YOU KNOW
JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC. PRAISES ILG'S SERVICE
Juniper Networks, Inc. came to ILG a few years ago and asked for help with a dilemma it was facing with its immigration program. The company’s Immigration Specialist was being promoted to another department within the company and her manager, the head of its immigration program was moving out of state and he would only be available to answer immigration questions via telephone or email; not in person. Juniper did not want to increase its headcount by hiring a replacement so they turned to ILG...