Author Archive

USCIS Issues Draft EB-5 Memo

12/13/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently released a draft memorandum to address “certain foundational issues” in the EB-5 immigrant investor program. USCIS seeks stakeholder input on these foundational issues before providing greater detail and addressing additional issues. On a conference call held on November 9, 2011, to discuss the draft memo, Mr. Mayorkas said […]Read More >

Labor Dept. Current on PERM, H-1B Prevailing Wage Determinations

12/3/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification recently announced that PERM and H-1B prevailing wage determinations are now current. H-2B prevailing wage determinations are expected to become current imminently. The Department explained that “current” has a different meaning depending on the program. In the PERM and H-1B programs, a prevailing wage determination is […]Read More >

H-1B Cap Reached for FY 2012

12/1/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory numerical limit (cap) of 65,000 for fiscal year (FY) 2012. November 22, 2011, was the final receipt date for new H-1B specialty occupation petitions requesting an employment start date in FY 2012. Properly filed […]Read More >

California ‘Dream Act’ Becomes Law

11/13/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

California’s Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law the second portion of the California “Dream Act,” AB 131, which allows undocumented students to qualify for state-funded scholarships and financial aid for state universities after other legal resident and U.S. citizen students have applied. Gov. Brown said it would enable top students to have “a chance […]Read More >

ICE Announces Record Removal Numbers for FY 2011

11/13/2011 Written by Brian D. Zuccaro

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently announced the agency’s fiscal year (FY) 2011 year-end removal numbers. Overall, in FY 2011, ICE’s Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations removed 396,906 individuals, the largest number in the agency’s history. Of these, nearly 55 percent, or 216,698 of the people removed, were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors, […]Read More >