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New
Year… New Dreams…
and a whole new way of processing
your visas! We welcomed
2005 a year ago with a resolution
to combine technology and
visa processing, giving
the ultimate user experience
to our clients and the users
of our website. And we did
a lot more. When I look
back at the year gone by,
I feel proud to have added
you to my list of friends
across the world. I
wish you a very Happy and
Prosperous New Year –
2006. Check
this exclusive greeting
card made for you. The
special greeting card that
our team prepared to wish
you Happy Holidays was well
appreciated by everyone.
Thank you all for your wishes
and continued support.
Apart from the holiday greetings
and New Year wishes that
kept me busy during the
past few weeks, I also received
a lot of emails enquiring
about the RSS
feature. Those who subscribed
to RSS to receive news updates
from our website were very
pleased with this unique
feature. Subscribers to
RSS receive alerts to updates
as soon as they are posted
on our website. RSS is more
secured and convenient compared
with email delivery. You
can subscribe to the updates
through RSS by clicking
on the 
buttons at various sections
in the newsletter.
The month of December saw
some stunning developments
on the immigration front.
The U.S. House of Representatives
passed the Sensenbrenner
Bill at lightning speed.
And then the House adopted
a conference report on the
budget reconciliation package,
striking off the provisions
relating to the recapture
of H-1B and Immigrant visa
numbers. This was a blow
to pro-immigration lobbyists
and the businesses waiting
for a temporary relief from
H-1B cap and Immigrant visa
backlogs. We cover these
recent developments in our
Industry Perspective
article.
Starting this month your
Immigration Monitor
will cover visa procedures
at the consulate in your
home country. We are visiting
East Asia this month, discussing
the K-1 Fiancée visa
process at the U.S. consulates
in China, Korea, Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam. Do
check out the article in
our In Focus
section and send
your feedback on our
initiative to cover issues
specific to your situation,
and also if you would like
us to write about any visa
process at the consulate
in your home country. If
you have processed a family
or work visa at a consulate,
don’t forget to share
your immigration experiences
for the benefit of the readers
of Immigration Monitor
and other users of VisaPro.com.
Did you miss receiving your
Immigration Monitor
last month? Is your Immigration
Monitor being diverted
to the junk/spam folder
of your email? Just add
our address Immigration-Monitor@VisaPro.com
in the list of your contacts
so that you receive it straight
into your email Inbox. I
am sure you wouldn’t
want to miss out on the
latest you need to know
from the immigration front.
Have you ever visited the
U.S. and experienced the
procedures at the border?
Are you planning a visit
to the U.S. and wondering
what happens when you land
at the airport? In 2004
the US-VISIT entry-exit
system was implemented at
all international airports
throughout the U.S. to enhance
the security of U.S. citizens
and visitors, expedite legitimate
travel, and safeguard personal
privacy of visitors. This
month’s Immigration
Article provides
the tips and procedures
to ‘Avoid confusion
at US Port of Entry’.
VisaPro wishes you a happy
and safe flight and a smooth
passage through the immigration
procedures at the border.
Your Opinion
for the poll question last
month was divided. Over
40% of participants believe
that the fact that the US
welcomed 86 million air
passengers in 2005, the
highest in the US history,
means increased security
threats. Recently the U.S.
Government released the
news that the US-VISIT Program
has intercepted 970 people
with criminal histories
during the last two years.
Do you think the programs
like US-VISIT have secured
the U.S. borders? Express
your opinion in this month’s
poll.
Last month Hank Meyer had
a tough competition to win
the November Immigration
Quiz. This time
it seemed to be a cakewalk
for Sumir
Duggal.
This time too we received
almost the same number of
responses, some well-researched
and explained in detail,
but Alas! Most of them were
wrong. Congratulations to
Sumir Duggal for winning
a FREE online consultation
with VisaPro Attorney. Would
you like to see your name
as the WINNER in the next
issue of Immigration
Monitor? Surf through
VisaPro.com to find the
correct answer to this month’s
question.
As part of our continued
efforts to provide you with
The Best, our team is currently
working on various exciting
projects for this year.
How would you feel if you
visit VisaPro.com and are
able to view only the information
specific to your country?
VisaPro’s country-specific
websites will be a treasure-house
of information, providing
you with the information
on procedures followed at
the consular offices in
your country, and news updates
specific to your country.
I am really excited to see
the first one up and running,
and then the rest will be
history.
A lot of activity is expected
in the next few months when
the fate of the various
legislations pending on
the round-table will be
decided. As always, we will
keep you posted on all the
news you need to know.
All the Best in
2006! |
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USCIS reaches H-1B Advanced Degree Cap for FY 2006
USCIS announced that it has received enough H-1B petitions that qualify for the exemption from the H-1B numerical limitations for foreign workers with a U.S.-earned master’s or higher degree. The “final receipt date” for these 20,000 cap-exempt H-1B petitions is January 17, 2006. |
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| DOWNLOAD |
| Download
this Newsletter in PDF Format |
 |
| YOUR
OPINION |
| Since
its inception, the
US-VISIT Program has
intercepted over 970
persons with a criminal
history. Does this
mean that the U.S.
has significantly
increased security
at its borders? |
|
a. |
Yes |
| b. |
No |
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Cast
Your Vote |
| View
Results |
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| IMMIGRATION
QUIZ |
Win
a FREE Online Consultation!
Submit
your answer to the
query below. The best
response will be published
in the next Immigration
Monitor and
the winner will receive
a FREE
Online Consultation
from an Experienced
VisaPro Immigration
Attorney during the
month of February
2006. |
|
| After
changing status from
B-1 to H-1B visa I
went to Canada for
H-1B stamping, however,
the officer rejected
my application. Can
I reapply in my home
country for stamping
on the same H-1B? |
| Submit
Your Answer |
|
| Winner
of the Immigration
Quiz - December 2005:
|
| Sumir
Duggal |
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| The
Question: |
| I
hold a 10-year multiple
entry B-1/B-2 visa
valid till 2008. I
entered the U.S. on
B-1 status and changed
status to H-1B. I
intend to quit the
job and start my own
company in China.
Can I continue to
use my existing B-1
visa for short visits
to the U.S.? |
|
| The
Winning Response: |
| In
this case, the applicant
initially entered
US on B-1/B-2 multiple
entry visa valid till
2008 and then got
it changed to H-1B.
I think, he should
be allowed to visit
States on his B-1
visa till its valid
date ,and once he
starts his business
in China. |
|
| Sumir
Duggal
receives a FREE
Online Consultation
from an Experienced
VisaPro Immigration
Attorney during the
month of January 2006. |
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USCIS issues guidance on E-3 visa applications
In particular, USCIS has provided specific
information on the eligibility requirements
and documentation needed for individuals
wishing to either change their nonimmigrant
status to that of an E-3 worker or to
extend their E-3 status.
USCIS
revises guidelines on filing of Affidavit
of Support
A recent memorandum notifies
that a person completing an Affidavit
of Support (Form I-864) on behalf of
an adjustment of status applicant is
only required to file one Federal income
tax return, for the tax year that is
most recent as of the date the Form
I-864 was signed.
H-2B Cap for first half of FY 2006 reached
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) announced that it has
received a sufficient number of petitions
to reach the congressionally mandated
H-2B cap for the first six months of
Fiscal Year 2006 (FY 2006).
Fiancée
visa processing in East Asian countries
In this article we attempt to cover
K-1 visa processing procedures followed
by Consular Posts in East Asian countries
like China, Korea, Philippines, Thailand
and Vietnam. The information will help
foreign national fiancés from
these countries be better prepared for
the K-1 visa interview.
A
cold December for pro-immigration measures
The “immigration shocks”
started with the passing of H.R. 4437,
the Border Protection, Antiterrorism,
and Illegal Immigration Control Bill
in the House of Representatives. A mere
three days later, the House passed a
conference report on the budget reconciliation
package that omitted the provisions
that would have recaptured unused H-1B
and employment-based visa numbers.
Avoid
confusion at US Port of Entry
Approximately 28 million nonimmigrants
enter or leave the U.S. annually to
conduct business, study, visit family,
or tour the country. Legitimate visitors
are always welcome and the U.S. government
is committed to facilitating their travel.
However, a critical need for tighter
security requires strict entry and exit
procedures at the Port of Entry.
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| QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS |
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| 1. |
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I
need some information
on how to obtain an
R-1 visa. I am a native
missionary in India
and the last time
I entered the US,
I was advised by the
INS to obtain an R-1
for my next visit
to the States.
To qualify for the
Religious Worker (R-1)
visa you have to have
been a member of the
denomination that
is sponsoring you
for 2 years immediately
preceding the filing
of the petition, and
you must be entering
the US to provide
services to a church
or non-profit para-church
organization, as a
minister (licensed
or ordained), or as
a religious professional,
or in a religious
occupation or vocation.
Additionally, you
must be entering the
US to work solely
for the sponsoring
organization. The
R-1 visa is good for
up to 5 years, 3 years
on the initial application
and can be renewed
for an additional
2 years. To obtain
the R-1 visa, you
should apply at the
U.S. Embassy or Consulate
in India with jurisdiction
over your place of
residence. Since you
do not need prior
USCIS approval, you
may submit Forms DS-156
& DS-157 with
the supporting documents
to obtain the R-1
visa. |
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| GOT
A QUESTION? |
If
you have
a short,
simple
query
on immigration
to the
U.S.,
send your
questions
to us.
We will
select
and answer
a few
of the
queries
in every
issue.
Note:
Responses
posted
in this
section
provide
only general
information.
Since
immigration
law is
a complex
matter,
please
consult
an immigration
attorney
before
acting
upon any
responses
provided. |
| Ask
Your Question |
|
|
|
|
Click
here to learn more about
the R-1 visa application
process and required documents
and contact
us for assistance with
the application process. |
| 2. |
|
|
One
of our employee's wife who
is on H-4 status wants to
know when he can file an
H-1 petition for his wife.
Can he go for Premium Processing
and when will he get an
approval. Can he file now
and get an approval with
in 3 weeks. Please reply. |
|
Your
employee’s wife will
have to wait till April
06, before she can apply
for an H-1B visa, and then
she cannot begin working
on the H-1B until October
1, 2006. The biggest drawback
to the H-1B visa is that
they are limited to 65,000
per year, and unfortunately
the cap for the fiscal year
2006 (10/01/2006 - 09/30/2006)
was reached in early August
2005. Even though she may
apply under Premium Processing
starting April 1, 2006,
and the petition can be
approved within 15 days,
she would not be able to
start working in the US
until October 1, 2006. However,
if your employee's wife
has an advanced degree from
a US institution of higher
education she could apply
for an H-1B visa under
a special rule.
Please
contact
us if you need further
help. |
|
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"I want to thank
you, Pam, and the
others at VisaPro
who were involved,
for the wonderful
way you handled our
R visa case over the
past week. You were
all so patient and
helpful coaching me
to get my documents
together. As a church
member with no immigtration
experience, I was
trying to help our
Hispanic pastor and
his family stay legal.
You even called me
on Sunday afternoon
to be sure I would
get things to you
in time. You knew
you were dealing with
a rank amateur on
immmigration matters,
and you all pitched
in on my perceived
problem. When I finally
got the documents
to you, you realized
there wasn't a crisis.
At that point, although
you could not have
been blamed for shooting
me on sight if I had
walked through the
door, you were most
polite and efficient
in shutting the case
down, charging me
only for a consultation.
You can be sure that,
if ever again I am
involved in an immigration
matter, I will call
VisaPro as my first
step. Thanks again
for your efficient
and friendly help."
Best regards,
Rod Rawlins,
Member
Christ
Center Wesleyan Church
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Immigration News |
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interesting immigration-related
news to report? We will give a
FREE Online Consultation
to whoever provides us with the
best news story of the month.
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your story. |
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| "Immigration
Monitor" is published
monthly for users and clients of VisaPro.com.
Our goal is to help keep you informed
of the trends and events related to
US Immigration. |
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