Immigration News  |
| Changes in immigration that impact your life. |
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| TPS Extended for Haitians |
| March 04, 2014 |
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| USCIS has announced that the Secretary of Homeland Security will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Haiti for an additional 18 months, effective July 23, 2014 through January 22, 2016. Current Haitian beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during a 60-day period that runs from March 3, 2014, through May 2, 2014. The extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). |
| Chile Designated Into the Visa Waiver Program |
| March 03, 2014 |
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| The Department of Homeland Security has announced the designation of Chile into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Starting May 1, 2014, eligible Chilean passport holders with both an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and an e-passport will be able to visit the United States without nonimmigrant visitor visas. |
| H2B Cap Count Update |
| February 11, 2014 |
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| USCIS has updated the count of H2B visa petitions received and counted towards the H2B cap for the fiscal year 2014 employment. As of February 7, 2014, USCIS has approved approximately 26,026 beneficiaries for the 1st half of FY 2014. |
| March 2014 Visa Bulletin: EB-3 Priority Dates Advance for All Countries |
| February 10, 2014 |
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| In the recently published U.S. Department of State Visa Bulletin for March 2014, the EB-2 priority dates remained current in respect of all countries other than India and mainland China. The EB-2 priority date remained at 11/15/04 in respect to India and advanced from 01/08/09 to 02/15/09 in respect to mainland China. EB-3 priority dates also advanced marginally for all countries including India. |
| H2B Cap Count Update |
| February 04, 2014 |
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| USCIS has updated the count of H2B visa petitions received and counted towards the H2B cap for the fiscal year 2014 employment. As of January 31, 2014, USCIS has approved approximately 22,692 beneficiaries for the 1st half of FY 2014. |
| USCIS Centralizes Civil Surgeon Application Process |
| January 29, 2014 |
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| USCIS has announced that starting on March 11, 2014, it will implement a new process to receive and adjudicate applications for civil surgeon designation centrally at the National Benefits Center. Once the new process goes into effect, physicians seeking civil surgeon designation will need to complete Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation, and pay a $615 application fee. |
| H2B Cap Count Update |
| January 29, 2014 |
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| USCIS has updated the count of H2B visa petitions received and counted towards the H2B cap for the fiscal year 2014 employment. As of January 24, 2014, USCIS has approved approximately 19,253 beneficiaries for the 1st half of FY 2014. |
| Immigration-Related Discrimination: DOJ Reaches Agreement with Massachusetts Staffing Agency |
| January 25, 2014 |
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| The Justice Department has announced that it has reached an agreement with a Massachusetts Staffing Agency, resolving claims that the company engaged in citizenship status discrimination in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). During DOJ’s investigation, it was found that the company requested unnecessary documents to work-authorized non-U.S. citizens, but not to similarly-situated U.S. citizens. Under the settlement agreement, the company will now identify and provide back pay to individuals who suffered lost wages between September 2011 and January 2014 as a result of the company’s alleged discriminatory documentary practices. |
| H2B Cap Count Update |
| January 23, 2014 |
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| USCIS has updated the count of H2B visa petitions received and counted towards the H2B cap for the fiscal year 2014 employment. As of January 17, 2014, USCIS has approved approximately 17,590 beneficiaries for the 1st half of FY 2014. |
| USCIS Announces 63 Countries Whose Nationals are Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Participation |
| January 20, 2014 |
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| USCIS has announced the list of 63 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year. Each country’s designation is valid for one year from January 18, 2014. The notification, however, does not affect the status of beneficiaries who are currently in the United States in H-2A or H-2B status unless they apply to change or extend their status. |
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