When Immigration Matters

A. STATUTORY NUMBERS

An interesting read from Julia Preston of the New York Times regarding allegations from Republican lawmakers that the Obama administration is attempting to enact “meaningful immigration reform absent legislative action” — that is, without the consent of the American people through a vote in Congress.

Just hours before the law was to take effect, Judge Susan Bolton of Federal District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the most controversial parts of Arizona’s immigration enforcement law that have re-ignited the national immigration debate.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that beginning October 1, 2010, domestic offices and U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, will no longer accept cash payment.  Eliminating the acceptance of cash will reduce USCIS operating costs.  As an alternative to cash, our customers may pay using checks (including personal checks), money orders, and credit cards.  Checks and money orders must be made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Processing of your application will not be affected by the use of an alternative payment method.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed for the first time a standardized fee waiver form in an effort to provide relief for financially disadvantaged individuals seeking immigration benefits.  USCIS has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment on the proposed form – Form I-912, Request for Individual Fee Waiver.

Here is the latest H-1B cap count released (July 16, 2010).  More information can be found at the USCIS H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Cap Season Page.

Katie Couric talks to experts on both sides of the Arizona immigration law (SB 1070) that has ignited a firestorm of controversy as well as a federal lawsuit.  She is joined by Christina Rodriguez, a Law Professor at NYU;  Doris Meissner, a Senior Fellow at Migration Policy Institute and a former INS Commissioner; and Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). 

In the midst of an economic downturn, Americans are looking for long-term strategic solutions to our unemployment woes.  One solution is to leverage our immigration system to attract investors to come to the United States and create jobs in exchange for a coveted green card.  

Here is the latest H-1B cap count released (July 2, 2010).  More information can be found at the USCIS H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Cap Season Page.

Announcing the New National Electronic Job Registry for Use in the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Labor Certification Program. The National Electronic Job Registry (job registry) in which H-2A job orders will be posted and available to the public will be operational on July 8, 2010.