Archive for February, 2011

State Dept. Announces New Passport Forms Starting March 1

2/20/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

The Department of State has announced that new passport forms will be available on March 1, 2011. The Department advises that applicants should continue to use the current forms to submit a passport application before that date. Travel.State.Gov and all passport facilities will make the new forms available on March 1, 2011. The passport forms […]Read More >

Visa Numbers Move Slowly

2/13/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for February 2011. Priority dates in several employment-based (EB) categories moved ahead, although not by much overall. For example, the third preference “Other Workers” worldwide category advanced from April 22, 2003, to May 1, 2003. The Mexico third preference category advanced from April 15, 2003, to […]Read More >

House Holds Hearing on Worksite Enforcement Issues

2/10/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

On January 26, 2011, the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement held a hearing on worksite enforcement issues. Testifying on the panel were Kumar Kibble, Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Mark Krikorian, Executive Director, Center for Immigration Studies; Michael Kutler, INS Senior Special Agent, and Daniel Griswold, Director, […]Read More >

ICE Announces New I-9 Compliance Inspection Center, Partnership With Tyson Foods; Audits Increase

2/3/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

On January 20, 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the creation of an employment compliance inspection center in Crystal City, Virginia. At the center, 15 auditors will support ICE’s worksite enforcement strategy by helping agency field offices around the country expedite employment authorization verification (Form I-9) audits of businesses selected for inspection by […]Read More >

H-1B Cap Reached for FY 2011

2/1/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on January 26, 2011, that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap for fiscal year (FY) 2011. USCIS noted that January 26, 2011, is the “final receipt date” for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY 2011. […]Read More >