Month: December 2016

DHS final rule removes the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) Regulation for certain nonimmigrants of identified Islamic Countries. Final rule is published in the Federal Register 12/23/16. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/04/28/2011-10305/removing-designated-countries-from-the-national-security-entry-exit-registration-system-nseers

USCIS asks you to please download the Historic Records Reports by March 31, 2017, if you have you been using E-Verify more than 10 years In April 2017, USCIS must dispose of transaction records that are over 10 years old. USCIS has created a Historic Records Report that contains transaction records dated on or before Dec. 31, 2006. E-Verify employers

Starting December 23, 2016, applicants must use the 12/23/16 edition of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization ONLY! USCIS will reject earlier versions of the form after that date. Also, please note applications postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23 must include the new fees or USCIS will not be able to accept them. Special Note for Applicants at Group

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 https://travel.state.gov/ As of November 21, 2016, the National Visa Center (NVC) no longer accepts documents submitted by email for cases processing at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez. The only applicants affected by this change are those whose case number begins with the three letter code “MEP.” If you are sending documents to NVC on behalf of

The H-2B returning worker exemption provides relief from the annual cap on H-2B visas by exempting an H-2B worker from the current fiscal year’s cap if he or she has worked for the petitioning employer during one of the previous three years. The H-2B returning worker exemption is no longer in effect as of CALL, WRITE AND EMAIL YOUR SENATORS

We and our representatives at AILA asked USCIS about the long employment based processing times. Employment Based Processing Delays We hear from a number of employers they continue to see horrendous processing delays for a number of employment-based benefits- including H-1B, L-1A/B, EB2 National Interest Waiver (NIW), and EB1.A Multinational Manager. 2017 H1B Cap What about the H1B Cap backlogs?

A reminder regarding the December 9, 2016 expiration date of the non-minister EB-4 special immigrant category and the immigrant investor pilot program (I5 and R5) unless extended by Congress before then.