U.S. Embassy Mexico Has Expanded Expedited Visa Processing For Eligible Companies

January 17, 2013

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico recently announced the expansion of the Business Facilitation Program (BFP), which allows access to a reserved block of visa appointments and provides expedited processing and visa delivery for employees of qualifying firms traveling to the U.S. on company business.  For more information see http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42834&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=575c251490-AILA8_1_15_13&utm_medium=email.

U.S. Department of State Introduces Online Visa Status Check

January 9, 2013

U.S. Department of State (DOS) has introduced the online "Visa Status Check," which allows both immigrant and nonimmigrant applicants to check the status of their cases at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).

You may check your application status with DOS by following this link: 

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=0v3qiwtAHMTfatEnzB+OqHxaaEkhHM36pRCeDo8ZlAil1bH8D8XvWFH99RUnxadhEx7kBZqapH93RUKKzb8QHox1jAIdbUYWjvdoeu1Srz0=

U.S. Embassy in UAE Announces New Visa Appointment System

January 3, 2013

The U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a new visa appointment system, which is intended to allow applicants to schedule a visa interview with more flexibility and up to six (6) months in advance of travel plans. The new system will be available beginning January 6, 2013. 

For more information see the following Press Release:  http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42641&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=8793cc683c-AILA8_1_2_13&utm_medium=email

New Russian Law Ends Inter-Country Adoptions Between Russia and the U.S.

December 28, 2012

U.S. Department of State expressed regret over Russia's passage of the Yakovlev Act, a law that ends inter-country adoptions between the U.S. and Russia, noting that American families have adopted over 60,000 Russian children over the past 20 years.  See the statement that the Department of State released this morning: http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42623&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=3e19ba53c8-AILA8_12_28_12&utm_medium=email

Ciudad Juarez Field Office No Longer Accepts Form I-601 and I-212 Waiver Applications

December 20, 2012

Effective December 5, 2012, with limited exceptions, applicants in Mexico may no longer file Form I-601 when Consular Processing and applying for a hardship waiver or the associated Form I-212 at the USCIS Cuidad Juarez Field Office.  Applicants in Mexico must now file these waiver applications with the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox.  For more information see the following USCIS Press Release: http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42372&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=ee90096df0-AILA8_12_6_12&utm_medium=email

H-1B: When Should Employers Start Thinking About the Cap?

 

December 3, 2012

There are 65,000 H-1B visas (and an additional 20,000 visas for individuals with advanced degree) available each federal fiscal year.  With the federal fiscal year starting October 1 of each year, employers may begin filing H-1B petitions as soon as 6 months prior to the start date, around April 1 of each year.  With that being said, it takes a couple of months to complete the preliminary H-1B process with the U.S. Department of Labor, specifically the filing of the Labor Condition Application and determining the appropriate prevailing wage.  

At TBLO, we recommend starting the H-1B conversation early on (the beginning of the year) to ensure that the petition packet is ready to be filed when the annual cap opens.  If this year was any indication of what to expect, the H-1B numbers will not hold up for very long but a few weeks.  Advice to the H-1B employers:  be well prepared and get the process started early! 

Eligible Nationals of Haiti Must Re-Register for TPS Status by November 30, 2012

November 28, 2012

USCIS reminds eligible nationals of Haiti (and those who last resided in Haiti) who currently have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to re-register for TPS by 11/30/2012. A failure to re-register by this deadline may result in the loss of TPS status.  For more information please read the following:  

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42252&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=dfa8249839-AILA8_11_28_12&utm_medium=email