Immigration News  |
| Changes in immigration that impact your life. |
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| February 2012 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Priority Dates for India and China reach 01/01/10 |
| January 15, 2012 |
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| In the recently published U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for February 2012, the EB-2 priority dates for India and China have moved significantly to January 01,2010 from January 01, 2009 in the January 2012 Visa Bulletin. Meanwhile, the EB-2 numbers for other countries remained current, along with EB-1, EB-4, and EB-5 numbers for all countries. In the EB-3 category, the priority dates for professionals and skilled workers advanced from 10/15/04 to 12/01/04 in respect of China; from 08/08/02 to 08/15/02 in respect of India; and from 02/01/06 to 02/22/06 in respect of all other countries. In the EB-3 Other Workers category, the priority dates remained at 04/22/03 in respect of China, but advanced from 08/01/02 to 08/15/02 in respect of India; and from 02/01/06 to 02/22/06 in respect of all other countries. |
| January 2012 Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Priority Dates for India and China reach 01/01/09 |
| December 10, 2011 |
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| In the recently published U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for January 2012, the EB-2 priority dates for India and China have moved significantly to January 01,2009 from March 15, 2008 in the December 2011 Visa Bulletin. Meanwhile, the EB-2 numbers for other countries remained current, along with EB-1, EB-4, and EB-5 numbers for all countries. In the EB-3 category, the priority dates for professionals and skilled workers advanced from 09/08/04 to 10/15/04 in respect of China; from 08/01/02 to 08/08/02 in respect of India; and from 01/15/06 to 02/01/06 in respect of all other countries. In the EB-3 Other Workers category, the priority dates remained at 04/22/03 in respect of China, but advanced from 07/22/02 to 08/01/02 in respect of India; and from 01/01/06 to 02/01/06 in respect of all other countries. |
| Bill that could reduce waiting period of Indians and Chinese for EB Green Cards passed |
| December 01, 2011 |
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| The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Workers Act’ that proposes, among other provisions, a provision to end per-country quota for employment based Green Cards. The bill proposes to eliminate the current provisions under which citizens of a country can be issued no more than 7% of total employment-based Green Cards available annually, and replace it with provisions that would take effect in 3 years, and provide for issuance of employment based Green Cards on first come first served basis, that would result in lesser waiting periods for citizens of China and India. On the family based Green Cards front, the bill proposes to increase country-specific quotas from 7% to 15%. |
| December Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Priority Dates advance significantly for India and China |
| November 11, 2011 |
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| In the recently published U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for December 2011, the EB-2 priority dates for India and China have moved significantly to March 15, 2008, from November 1, 2007 in the November 2011 Visa Bulletin. Meanwhile, the EB-2 numbers for other countries remained current, along with EB-1, EB-4, and EB-5 numbers for all countries. In the EB-3 category, the priority dates for professionals and skilled workers advanced from 08/22/04 to 09/08/04 in respect of China; 07/22/02 to 08/01/02 in respect of India; and from 12/22/05 to 01/15/06 in respect of all other countries. In the EB-3 Other Workers category, the priority dates remained at 04/22/03 in respect of China, but advanced from 06/15/02 to 07/22/02 in respect of India; and from 11/15/05 to 01/01/06 in respect of all other countries. |
| November Visa Bulletin: EB-2 Priority Dates advance for India and China |
| October 10, 2011 |
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| In the recently published U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for November 2011, the EB-2 priority dates for India and China have moved to November 1, 2007, from 15 July, 2007 in the October 2011 Visa Bulletin. Meanwhile, the EB-2 numbers for other countries remained current, along with EB-1, EB-4, and EB-5 numbers for all countries. In the EB-3 category, the priority dates for professionals and skilled workers advanced from 08/08/04 to 08/22/04 in respect of China; 07/15/02 to 07/22/02 in respect of India; and from 12/08/05 to 12/22/05 in respect of all other countries. In the EB-3 Other Workers category, the priority dates remained at 04/22/03 in respect of China, but advanced from 06/08/02 to 06/15/02 in respect of India; and from 09/15/05 to 11/15/05 in respect of all other countries. |
| EB-5 Program: USCIS Announces Direct Email Communication with Form I-924 Applicants |
| September 15, 2011 |
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| USCIS has announced that Form I-924 (Application for Regional Center Under the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program) applicants will now be able to communicate directly with USCIS adjudicators through e-mail, to resolve issues and questions that arise during the adjudication process. Under the new Direct Email Communication process USCIS may email Form I-924 applicants to informally ask for clarification on certain issues to facilitate review, understanding and adjudication of the application, and Form I-924 applicants may email USCIS, questions regarding pending applications, including questions related to RFEs and NOIDs. This process, however, is only available to entities that have a pending Form I-924 application and it is not available to regional center promoters who have pending regional center applications that were filed prior to the implementation of Form I-924 on Nov. 23, 2010. |
| USCIS Issues Q&As Regarding Entrepreneurs and EB-2 NIW Category |
| August 30, 2011 |
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| Under the recently announced USCIS’ initiatives to promote startup enterprises and spur job creation, entrepreneurs may obtain an EB-2 immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements. They may also qualify for a National Interest Waiver (NIW) under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States. USCIS has issued Frequently Asked Questions to clarify this issue. A few relevant extracts from the USCIS Q&As regarding Entrepreneurs and EB-2 NIW Category has been reproduced here for the benefit of our readers. |
| USCIS Issues Q&As Regarding Entrepreneurs and EB-2 Green Card Category |
| August 30, 2011 |
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| Under the recently announced USCIS’ initiatives to promote startup enterprises and spur job creation, entrepreneurs may obtain an EB-2 immigrant visa as a member of a profession holding an Advanced Degree or as an individual of Exceptional Ability in the sciences, arts, or business, if they satisfy the existing requirements. USCIS has issued Frequently Asked Questions to clarify this issue. A few relevant extracts from the USCIS Q&As regarding Entrepreneurs and EB-2 Category has been reproduced here for the benefit of our readers. |
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