tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88305004254312243732023-11-15T13:08:30.223-05:00Immigration Law & Policy AnalysisYour source for understanding the effects of immigration law and policy on your business or career.Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-64925980438194749272012-06-13T21:10:00.002-04:002012-06-13T21:10:19.492-04:00H1B cap reached<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the 65,000 allotted cap for H-1B employment beginning in fiscal year 2013. USCIS determined June 11, 2012 as the cutoff date. USCIS will consider petitions received on that date as properly filed irrespective of what date was on the envelope as postmark. All other petitions will be rejected unless they qualify for one of the following exceptions: <span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
What will not count against the cap are:</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span> extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the U.S.;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span> change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span> allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span> allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in a second H-1B position.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 14pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
If you are wondering what happened to the 20,000 cases that are exempt from the quota for U.S. masters degree. Well, after accounting, USCIS determined that the 20,000 set-aside for U.S. masters degree exemption cases were received by June 7, 2012. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what to do?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have already sent your case, then sit tight until you get a response. If you haven't yet filed the case, you might have to wait till the next date.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-7720643305293180392012-05-28T21:14:00.002-04:002012-05-28T21:20:19.712-04:00USCIS opens Electronic Immigration System<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #080808; font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ELIS is a name for the USCIS's online electronic immigration benefits
system. The word ELIS resonates of the word "ELLIS," an island
through which more than 12 million immigrants entered between 1892-1954.
Originally a mere 3-acre plot, is now almost 30-acre plot: a result of real
estate acquisition by the port authority. Whereas ELLIS needed a ten-fold
increase in real estate to accommodate the great influx of immigrants entering
the U.S., ELIS needs only a few megabytes of online real estate. For now, ELIS
will only take care of I-539 extend/change non-immigrant status. But there are
plans to expand this portal to include immigration related services (not just nonimmigrant
services).</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The ELIS system is available to accept requests for extension of status
for those who are in B-1, B-2, M-1, or M-2 status. Also included are F-1s who
were admitted with I-94s that contained an end date, rather than the
standard D/S indicating validity for duration of status. It is also available
for nonimmigrants seeking to change status to B-1, B-2, F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2,
M-1, or M-2. Finally, it is available for F-1 or M-1 students seeking to
reinstate status.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So, what to do?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If you are applying for a change or extension of nonimmigrant status,
check out the detailed chart at the <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b1659e415d116310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b1659e415d116310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD"><b><span style="color: #0025e5; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">USCIS WebSite</span></b></a>.
There you will also find instructions on opening your account for using ELIS.
In order to visit ELLIS, you have to go to New York. But ELIS, you can visit
from your living room.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-45281707900393762762012-05-28T20:35:00.000-04:002012-05-28T20:35:00.688-04:00Online tool to prepare for the naturalization test<!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?-->
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent;">As immigration lawyers, we often receive requests from clients about resources for preparing for the American citizenship exam. Over the last 17 years of our practice, things have changed quite a bit. Back then, there were few, if any, resources to prepare for this test and the oath. There were but a couple of books available from the federal government's press. Then, a different types of spiral bound pamphlets came about. But, now…. Smithsonian Institution has published one of the best resources to prepare for the civics portion of the naturalization test. </span>USCIS Director, Alejandro Mayorkas, said on May 22, 2012, that “Using the Smithsonian Institution's extensive collection, this online tool will help individuals learn about the founding principles of American democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a meaningful way.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">This interactive, online tool is a fun way to prepare for the test.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">So, what to do?</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">If you going to appear for the naturalization test or the citizenship oath, check this out: </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship available at <a href="http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship"><span style="color: #0029fa;">http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-75166962159723899492012-05-08T23:02:00.000-04:002012-05-20T12:28:50.485-04:00I-9 Compliance... what is an employer's responsibility?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Employers often
feel nervous about accepting I-9 documents for employment verification. Some
human resources officers feel the stress about getting it wrong. So, what kind
of care should employers exercise while reviewing the I-9 forms?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Well, the manual
states this: if documents reasonably
appear on their face to be genuine and relate to the person presenting them,
the employer must accept the documents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Key words in the above statement are: <i>reasonably</i>, <i>face</i>,
and <i>relate</i>. If a candidate presents papers bearing a photo
identification that resembles the person presenting them, then the employer
need not worry. The test is “reasonableness”—what would a reasonable employer
do? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">So, what to do? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Exercising reasonable care is a bit more complicated
than it sounds. The care exercised by a reasonable employer must be greater
than a random person off the street would exercise. But reasonable also doesn’t
mean that the employer act with the vigilance of a border patrol officer. As
long as the document presented resembles the person presenting, and on its face
(i.e., without the use of forensics) it appears genuine, and meets the other
elements of due care that an employer must exercise, the employer likely meets
the good faith compliance duty against any potential charges of knowingly
hiring an unverified or unverifiable candidate.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Review the employer's handbook published by the USCIS:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Also, sign up for e-verify. Learn more about <a href="http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=75bce2e261405110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=75bce2e261405110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD" target="_blank">e-verify</a> . If the automatic link does not work, click on: http://goo.gl/ormdO</span></div>
<br />Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-55125516761192519532012-04-26T20:47:00.003-04:002012-04-26T20:47:54.940-04:00Oral Argument in US Supreme Court about Arizona's Immigration Law SB 1070<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On 4/25/12 the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of Arizona's controversial immigration law SB 1070 that confers powers of immigration inquiry and detention of aliens on local police if they believe that the subject aliens are in the U.S. illegally. Chief Justice Roberts made it clear that he did not want the oral arguments to turn into a case about racial or ethnic profiling. The Court wanted to make sure the arguments primarily addressed the Supremacy Clause argument. This argument states that immigration is a federal domain, therefore, it preempts any state's efforts to control immigration issues. The attorney for Arizona agreed and stated that Arizona did not intend to compete with the U.S. in enforcing immigration policy, but merely wanted to be a junior enforcer to the federal authorities. One of the explicit purposes of the law is "attrition by enforcement." That means that if aliens suspected of being in the country are interrogated and detained until their immigration status can be verified, they will likely pack up and leave voluntarily. But this could result in mass incarcerations because even citizens don't walk around with citizenship papers or birth certificates. So, if a citizen is detained and his immigration status is not verified for several days, he could be held for that long. The Supreme Court showed no interest in such possible effects of the implementation of the law; the justices were only interested in the preemptive nature of the law. If the law is upheld, mass incarceration could be its immediate effect. Most of the justices seemed to indicate that they might side with Arizona on this case. Although, with Justice Elena Kagan having disqualified herself from the case, the votes would have to be at least 5-3 for either side to prevail. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what to do?</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial;">
<span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you live or work in Arizona, chances are that after the Court renders the decision, the local police may be able to ask anyone for documentation to prove citizenship or authority to stay in the U.S. So, if you don't carry papers in Arizona, you may likely be incarcerated by local police on immigration violation charges-- even if you have H1B status but don' have your papers with you.</span></span></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-14872232353681200642012-04-18T13:39:00.000-04:002012-04-18T13:39:10.595-04:00Vartelas v. Holder... The Supreme Court Decides!<br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family: inherit;">Until March 31, 1996, green card holders (LPRs) with criminal convictions who voluntarily left the U.S. for a brief, casual, and innocent trip abroad, did not face being stopped at the border. They were afforded the same due process rights as if they never left the U.S. and were in deportation proceedings. LPRs in the U.S. have more rights than those without LPR status or those outside the U.S. So, for the above described brief, casual, and innocent trip, the LPR was treated as if he had never left the U.S. and therefore enjoyed the due process rights. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-us"><br /></span><span lang="en-us">However, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 </span><span lang="en-us">
(IIRIRA) that took effect on April 1, 1997, changed all that. After IIRIRA, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) determined that the returning LPR with a pre-1996 conviction would face being stopped at the border and not being permitted into the U.S., just as if he were never in the U.S. even if the trip was brief, casual, and innocent. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="en-us"><br /></span>On March 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court changed that again with the decision in VARTELAS v. HOLDER. In this case, Mr. Vartelas, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to make counterfeit security in 1994, was returning from a week-long trip to Greece. He was stopped and not permitted to enter due to his 1994 guilty plea. One of the key questions here was that does guilty plea amount to a conviction as intended in the IIRIRA law? Anyway, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that the IIRIRA 1997 rule does not apply to Vartelas and he should be afforded due process rights as if he never left the U.S. Applying IIRIRA 1997 rule to LPRs such as Vartelas would place new disabilities on LPRs when their trip overseas was brief, casual, and innocent. The Court gave examples of the types of visits that could qualify as brief, casual, and innocent: journeys abroad to fulfill religious obligations, attend funerals and weddings of family members, tend to vital financial interests, or respond to family emergencies.<br />The implications for LPRs with pre-1996 convictions are that they are afforded higher due process rights so they have a better chance of explaining their side of the story and gain reentry to the U.S. Without this decision, such an LPR would not even get a chance to explain their situation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, what to do?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are an LPR with a pre-1996 conviction, this higher protection may be available to you. </span><br />
<br />Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-9295279534725560792012-04-07T00:11:00.002-04:002012-04-07T00:12:23.743-04:00H1B Quota...already one-third cap reached (?)<br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to field estimates, anywhere from 25-33% of the 65,000 H1B quota is already reached. As of April 6, 2012, 16,700 cap subject and 5,600 cap exempt applications are estimated to have been filed. Last year, on April 7, 2011, these numbers were 5,900 cap subject, and 4,500 cap exempt. Last year, the cap subject number of 16,000 was not reached until June 28, however, the cap exempt number was almost the same by April 18th. The cap exempt numbers are for professionals who received masters degree from the U.S. If the 2012 exempt numbers are about the same as those from 2011, that could mean that not a significant number of applicants filed on the basis of U.S. earned masters degree. That goes against the usual trend in the face of rising unemployment. In other words, when unemployment rises, more people attend graduate programs. That is not the case here, so as far as H1b workers are concerned, there seems to be optimism about economic recovery. Now, let's break down the unemployment numbers. On April 6, 2012 the unemployment rate dropped to 8.2%. In 2011, the unemployment rate near 8% was in November; at 8.6%. And even before then, in August 2011, the number was 9.4%. The drop from August 2011 to November 2011 was nearly 8.5%, whereas, the drop from November 2011 to April 2012 was only 5%. So, when unemployment rate dropped at a slower rate, more cap subject applications were filed; almost three times as many as last year. What explains this mystery? Again, optimism in the private sector's employment recovery. Is that outlook supported by the data? Well, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 6, 2012, majority of gains in the jobs were in the manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and other private sector jobs, whereas, the least growth was in the public sector jobs. As far as pure number crunching, the public sector job loss contributes to a perspective of slow recovery. However, the private sector job gains were in the areas where majority of the H1B applications are filed (private sector engineering, information technology, finance, and healthcare). This could explain more applicants (actually, employers) rushing to file cap subject H1b applications.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what to do?</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, if you have a cap subject application, file it now. If the applications continue to be filed at the current rate, the quota will run out well before October.</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-58873861017432996422012-04-06T23:39:00.002-04:002012-04-06T23:39:46.620-04:00EB-2 Priority Dates for India and China<br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DOS Practice Alert: EB-2 India & China Priority Date Projections</span></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">:</span></span> <span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"On March 16, 2012, at the AILA Midwest Regional Conference in Chicago, Charlie Oppenheim, Chief, Visa Control and Reporting at DOS, informed participants that he will likely retrogress India and China-mainland born Employment-Based Second Preference priority dates to around August 2007, effective with either the May or June 2012 Visa Bulletin. He also advised that he projects that all EB-1 visas available in FY2012 will be used this year, resulting in no "</span></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">spill down</span></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">" to EB-2."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, what to do?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Tahoma;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, usually retrogressions are temporary so don't give up on filing labor certifications or adjustment of status. Also, if you currently have an approved August 2007 I-140 EB3, you can use that for EB2.</span></span></span></div>Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8830500425431224373.post-33656908699271856492012-04-06T23:02:00.004-04:002012-04-08T21:06:19.428-04:00WelcomeWelcome to Attorney Seth D. Miller's Blog. The objective of this blog is to provide you with immigration law and policy news and analysis. We will look at how the big picture (federal law) affects the small picture (your business or career). We will also guide you to maximize your immigration benefits.Seth Miller's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804780175135712845noreply@blogger.com0