July, the National Ice Cream month got a bit hotter this year with wide ranging discussions and apprehensions regarding the need for a comprehensive Immigration Reform. Well, it's not the sole reason; the accompanying cause for the rising heat in the immigration landscape is the H-1B visa. The H-1B like always have been in news for what-so-ever reason it may be. When the H-1B Cap is reached within a day or two, it makes news and when the cap is not reached it's again in news!

Only 20,000 H-1Bs remaining now! So, if you wish to pursue an H-1B, have your employer Contact VisaPro before they run out!

The fact that the H-1B cap is not reached yet (it has been 3 months now), shows how bad the economy is right now and how outrageous it could be in the future. Well, apart from this melancholy, we have two good things to cheer for…!

The first good thing is about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Yes…you got it right…the Recovery Act has made progress!

President Barack Obama in his weekly address touted the gains the Recovery Act has made in a little more than 100 days. While the recession is still far from over, the Recovery Act has helped end the economic free fall, ease the rate of monthly job losses from 700,000 a month, extend unemployment and health insurance to those who have lost their jobs, and deliver $43 billion in tax relief to working families. As the Recovery Act ramps up throughout this summer and fall, it will be instrumental in laying a new foundation for America and American workers to compete and win in the 21st century. Vow! Now that's called an achievement, isn't it?

And the second reason to applaud for is nothing other than the American Independence Day which is celebrated on July 4 of every year but this time it was a little more special. The American Independence Day brought smile to many peoples' faces as the US celebrated its 233rd year of independence with citizenship ceremonies. More than 50 naturalization ceremonies were held during the American Independence Day and approximately 6,000 US immigrants who have been living, working or studying in the US were granted citizenship at the ceremonies.

Michael Aytes, the acting deputy director of the USCIS, says naturalization ceremonies are an extremely important part of what the department does. He says, “There is no more important role we have as an agency than to welcome new citizens during naturalization ceremonies throughout the year...but on the Fourth of July, that role is even more profound as we proudly stand side-by-side with the newest Americans to celebrate our independence together as one family."

More than 500 service members won the right to live in the US indefinitely as US citizens at ceremonies held in Iraq and the US. Liberty Island in New York hosted a special ceremony, Walt Disney World in Florida, where 1,000 US visa holders were granted citizenship in a naturalization event which took place on 3rd July.

Other Developments in Immigration Law

Federal Minimum Wage Will Increase to $7.25 on July 24

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reminds employers and employees that the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on Friday, July 24. With this change, employees who are covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be entitled to pay no less than $7.25 per hour.

We congratulate David Miller for winning last month's Immigration Quiz. Again, we received a significant number of responses from our readers, who talked about various solutions to support their position, but David Miller gave the correct answer and won a