Business Immigration Insights

As the results of the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery are released, the State Department is again warning applicants about the increase in visa lottery scams.  The scams include letters notifying applicants that they have "won" and that they must quickly pay a fee in order to continue with the process.  Those chosen for participation in the program will not be notified by mail; rather, applicants must check their status online, and follow the instructions for registration.  The State Department's FAQs on this issue can be found HERE

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed the remaining countries from the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). Under NSEERS, nationals of certain predominantly-Muslim countries were required to register with DHS, and have their fingerprints and photographs taken by immigration officials. Newer systems, including the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology Program (US-VISIT), are able to record the arrival and departure of foreign nationals visiting the United States, making the use of NSEERS redundant. DHS has ...

USCIS has announced a voluntary service that allows members of the public to verify their employment eligibility in the United States. E-Verify Self Check may be useful to anyone who wishes to confirm that the government's records about them are accurate, and to address any mismatches among Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration databases. Once employment eligibility is confirmed in E-Verify Self Check, job seekers are unlikely to experience any delays when hired by an employer that uses the E-Verify system.

Before the verification process is ...

USCIS has announced a range of benefits that may be available to Japanese nationals following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Those who are here on Visa Waiver, which requires departure within 90 days, may visit a local USCIS office (see USCIS Office Locator) for help in remaining longer. Those who are at US airports may visit the office of US Customs and Border Protection there. USCIS will approve changes of status and extensions that might not otherwise be approvable due to untimely filing or failure to maintain status. USCIS will also renew grants of parole, expedite ...

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services sent three officers to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to naturalize 98 soldiers, sailors and Marines. Four of the new US citizens received Purple Hearts for wounds received during their deployment.

The USCIS announced that it will begin issuing combined advance parole and employment authorization documents (EADs) to adjustment of status applicants who apply for both concurrently with their Form I-485 adjustment of status applications. The new cards, which will resemble the current EADs, will be endorsed “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole”. Recipients of EADs should review them carefully to ensure they are endorsed for travel as well, otherwise they will need to have the "old style" advance parole document in-hand when departing the United States (unless they are ...

Hunton & Williams LLP has received The National Law Journal's 2011 Pro Bono Award, recognizing six law firms that "best reflect the pro bono tradition"  The firm was lauded as one of three law firms that led the profession's response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Representing Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services, a Hunton & Williams team -- including attorney Suzan Kern and senior professional assistant Carol Schlenker of the immigration practice group -- urged the Department of Homeland Security to extend the deadline for Haitians in the United States to apply ...

USCIS recently announced how the agency will implement the Help HAITI Act of 2010, which authorizes lawful permanent resident status (a "green card") for orphaned children from Haiti who were paroled into the United States after the January 12, 2010, earthquake under the "Haitian Orphan Parole Program."

The USCIS has revised and released its Employer Handbook.  The Handbook contains detailed instructions for completing Form I-9, which is used to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.  It also contains a detailed FAQ section that answers the more common I-9 questions.  Employers should ensure that all those involved in the I-9 process have a copy of the updated Handbook.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced recently that US employers who petition for foreign workers in the H-1B, H-1B1 (Chile/Singapore), L-1, and O-1A categories will not be required to complete Part 6 of Form I-129 until February 20, 2011.  Part 6 contains the employer certification regarding licensing requirements under export controls and ITAR, recently discussed in this blog. USCIS received a number of inquiries from stakeholders requesting that the agency delay implementation of this requirement in order to give petitioners time to establish the necessary ...