(News and views from IBLF staff and attorneys)
DHS recently announced an extension to Employment Authorization eligibility to H-4 spouses of certain H-1B workers who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status.
On April, 1, 2015 USCIS will begin accepting H1B applications. It is expected that the quota of H1B visas will be filled the first day by lottery because the need in our current economy for specialized computer skills exceed the total H1B visas allocated by the U.S. Congress for the year 2015. In other words, the FY 2015 H-1B Cap Count will remain the same:
F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Syria and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the civil unrest in Syria since March 2011, have been granted temporary relief by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As of January 5, 2015 through September 30, 2016, an extension of an earlier suspension of the applicability of certain requirements governing on-campus and off-campus employment for F-1 nonimmigrant students has been granted.
A recent notice by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of the Syrian Arab Republic for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. The extension allows currently eligible beneficiaries to retain TPS from April 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016. Additionally, Syria has received a redesignation TPS for 18 months, effective April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016.
A recent notice by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of El Salvador for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from March 10, 2015, through September 9, 2016.
Five new countries are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B Nonimmigrant Worker programs for the first time. The newly designated countries include the Czech Republic, Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal, and Sweden. This determination is effective January 18, 2015. Additionally, 63 countries previously designated in the January 17, 2014 notice continue to be eligible.
- 在2014财政年度，EB-5项目为美国本土经济带来了约55亿美金。
- 全美目前有600个获批的区域中心，在2013-2014财政年度，移民局终止了7个因未递交I-924A年度报告的区域中心，并对28个因“不再促进经济增长”的区域中心发出了“意图终止”的通知。
- 移民局目前收到有270份I-924区域中心申请，11万份I-526移民申请，以及2500份I-829临时绿卡条件移除申请。
- 目前移民局对I-924申请的处理时间为8.5个月，I-526申请的处理时间为14.3个月，I-829申请的处理时间为6.9个月。
- 移民局已开始对I-924区域中心申请进行面试及实地考察。
- In Fiscal Year 2014, the EB-5 Program has brought approximately $5.5 billion to the US economy.
- There are 600 approved regional centers in the US. USCIS approved 230 from Fiscal Year 2013 to 2014, terminated 7 for failing to comply with the I-924A annual filing requirement, and issued Notice of Intent of Deny to 28 regional centers as "they are no longer promoting economic growth."
- 270 I-924 regional center petitions were filed, approximately 11,000 I-526 petitions are pending with USCIS, and 2,500 I-829 petition were filed.
INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS - Starting about Jan 9th, IBLF will recommence its meetings about the process and the validity of the Nov 20 Executive Order. If you miss the informational sessions, you can still get information by calling us at our main number, email us with your interest, or attend a future session which we are scheduling from time to time.
Repost of the American Immigration Lawyers Association: AILA "Take on President Obama’s "Immigration Accountability Executive Action" Plan".
