Visa Bulletin – March 2024

March Visa Bulletin for the FY 2024 was released few days. Here are key insights and updates to it with some predictions.

How to use Demand Data to calculate EB3 to EB2 Porting?

As per visa allocation each year under each category, USCIS/DOL should use 233 visas every month for EB2-India. Normally this should reduce demand by 233 every month. Since we are not seeing any reduction in demand data, it suggests that there are many individuals who are upgrading their case from EB3 to EB2. So what is the rate at which EB3 to EB2 porting is happening? Simple Calculations that could be used to estimate this is ...

EB3 to EB2 Porting with same employer: Not a good idea

These days it is been topic of the town for Indian nationals to port their priority date from EB3 to EB2 category. So far this totally makes sense. This could tremendously reduce the wait time for an individual to receive a green card. But an individual and his employer should be very careful while taking this step if they are planning to port the case with a same (current) employer. There are rumors that many employers are upgrading their employees’ petition from EB3 to EB2 category just to retain their employees.

I-485 Case Tracker for PDs 'Current'

We have released new I-485 case tracker for cases that are 'Current' today. Please use this tracker to enter details of your application and case status. Please fill in as much details as possible and edit the tracker as and when you will get more information on your application status. Use this tracker to see if PDs that has recently became current are getting approved

January 2012 I-485 Pending Inventory - EB Category Visa Use

USCIS released I-485 pending inventory upto 12 January 2012. Please note this inventory is only for Service Centers and Field Offices, and does not contain consular processing cases. Dependents are included. Here is a summary of the I-485 inventory when compared to October 2011 Inventory. This inventory is used to estimate the visa use during Q1 of FY 2012 and Projected Demand for FY 2012.Please note that one fallacy to using inventory to estimate demand is that it will not consider cases approved in less than 90 days.

EB Category Roll-Over and PWMB Demand: I-485 Receipt Data

We analyzed I-485 Approvals and Receipts for FY 2011 to estimate carry-over demand from FY 2011 in EB category. We also used this data in conjunction with USCIS I-485 Performance data and I-485 representative filings from June to September 2011 at trackitt to estimate People Who Missed the Boat (PWMB) demand for EB2-IC upto September 2011 that may start consuming visa numbers from FY 2012 annual allocation and/or spillover.

Prediction for EB2 Category for FY 2012

Here is the Prediction for EB2 Category cutoff date retrogression for Fiscal Year 2012. Basis for this prediction is simple calculations (see below) which is done based on available data i.e. PERM data published by DOL, I-485 Inventory data, latest trend on Trackitt for EB1 & EB2 cases and other published data by USCIS. Demand data for each dependent category is predicted and explained in calculations below. This data is further used to calculate spillover that would be available for EB2 category. Retrogression is estimated based on visa allotment available each year for each country and total spillover that is expected in FY 2012. In each case, Optimistic, Realistic and Worst-Case scenario is estimated.

Green Card Calculator - Employment Based

As per recent demand data released until September 01, 2011 on EB I-485 inventory, here is the 'Green Card' calculator for Employment- Based category that tells an individual how many I-485 applicants are there before them in the queue under their filed preference category. Beyond this, calculations are extended to predict how many years will it take an individual to receive a green card. In addition, you can put an assumption for a spillover that your category and country would receive every year and see how this changes the scenario.

What to do once Priority Date (PD) becomes current?

A very commonly asked question by fellow petitioners is the step by step process that they should follow after an individual’s Priority date will become current. Please read this article to check on next steps and required I-485 documents.

I-485 Primary & Secondary Evidence - Country Specific

Commonly asked question is what to do when primary evidence of birth, marriage, divorce etc is not available. Here is the country specific I-485 Required documents for (AOS) or (CP). Immigration officers or Adjudicators are asked to refer to the list below before making any decision on RFE or NOID in case primary evidence is not submitted or established. Please select your country from the drop-down list to see specific secondary evidence and documents.

EB2-India & China I-140 Demand (Yearly) based on DHS Released Report

DHS on 29th December 2011 released a Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman's recommendation to improve the quality in Extraordinary Ability and Other Employment based petition adjudication document. We used this data to deduce I-140 demand for EB2-India and China.

EB2-IC Movements FY 2012 - Mr. Oppenheim's thinking?

We looked into if there is any analytical correlation between movements that Mr. Oppenheim did last year for Family Based Category (F2A) and current movement that we saw with EB2-India and China for Employment Based Category. Is there any correlation or equation or factor that can determine how Mr. Oppenheim would think in absence of demand or visible demand in case number of filings that he is receiving or available adjudicated case cases are less? That is when we started digging into this.

AC21 Portability - FAQs and Sample Letters to USCIS

Some people suggests that sending letter to USCIS on job change after invoking AC-21 portability is not required. But this is a gray area, and no one knows it better if USCIS should be informed when individual would invoke an AC-21 portability to change job once applicant's I-485 is pending for more than 180 days with USCIS.

Understanding Section 245(k) to use it for Derivative applicants after Primary’s I-485 approval

Common question asked by many primary I-485 applicants who had previously filed I-485 Adjustment of Status (AOS) application, which is still pending with USCIS, is about adding their spouses or children (derivatives) to their pending I-485 application. At this point there is always a concern among the petitioner that their case will be approved before their derivatives application

July 2012 Visa Bulletin Predictions - EB Category

Here is the prediction for July 2012 Visa Bulletin. We should see following movements in each category as long as USCIS/DOL would use visa numbers as per statutory allocations.

EB2 India & China - What to expect in FY 2012?

Cut-Off Dates has reached PD 15th April 2007 for EB2-India and China for FY 2011 in September bulletin, now what can we expect for FY 2012?. We have some analysis to estimate movement in FY 2012. This is very rudimentary as of now and can change as FY 2012 will progress.

EB3 ROW-Mexico-Philippines - What to expect in FY 2012?

For FY 2012, EB3-ROW-M-P is expected to move together similar to the movement that was seen for FY 2011. Based on available I-485 inventory, last released demand data, and hidden demand (or Consular Processing demand) that was observed in FY 2011, total EB3-M-P demand until ....

How to know if old I-140 has been revoked by previous employer?

If an individual filing a green card under employment-based category has changed job and now planning to port priority date from previous filed Labor certification, he/she will at least need an approved I-140 from previous employer to recapture priority dates. This I-140 should not be revoked and still active.

Understanding Visa Bulletin Cut-Off Date Determination

The State Department (DOS) is responsible for the allocation of numerically limited immigrant visa numbers under the authority granted by section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These visa numbers are allocated based on congressionally mandated preferences that assign an overall total, limits for each category and per country limits within each category. Here is a quick Memo on the steps involved.

'Hard' vs 'Soft' LUD - How to use it to track your case status with USCIS?

If you heard people talking about keeping track of 'Soft' and 'Hard' LUDs on forums and other websites, and wondered what it is, now you can understand what is LUDs and how you can use them to track any activity on your petition that is pending with USCIS.

How to Obtain an Emergency Advance Parole (AP) Document?

If your current status is Adjustment of Status (AOS) Pending and you are currently working on EAD, it is very important that you renew your Advance Parole (AP) document in timely manner, well in advance. If an individual leaves a country under AOS pending status with their AP application pending or AP document due expire when they are traveling outside of country, they will abandon their status in United Status. Subsequently their I-485 application will be denied.

People Who Missed the Boat (PWMB) during July 2007

Question was asked in the comment section that how would applications with Priority date before July 2007 who could not file in July 2007 would affect EB2-IC movement for FY 2011. These people are commonly referred as "People Who Missed the Boat (PWMB)" by some people. We earlier thought that these numbers will small percentage of the whole group. But careful analysis of PERM data suggests that these numbers are significant when you will include primary + dependents (assuming a family would consume 2.5 visas) applications.

EB3 to EB2 Porting Calculations - Part III

We have a poll on EB3 to EB2 Porting which is up since last week of February 2011, and till-date we have received '445' votes. Results has been consistent through out the poll for the last two months. It suggests that the general trend or distribution of individuals with different PD that are porting has not changed from day to day regardless of number of votes received.We are convinced that this will be a general trend for rest of the current year regardless of porting numbers. Calculations are further extended to extrapolate real world numbers.

H1B FY 2012 CAP Count & Predictions

As per recent release by USCIS, regular cap has utilized till date 11,200 visas and Masters quota has utilized 7,900 visas as of 13th May 2011. It is interesting to see that H1B visa under Master Cap has utilized more than 35% of the quota. As of now number of petitions increased from last week is 1,600. Based on past months trend, regular cap can reach by 27th January 2012 and Masters Cap by 30 September 2011.

H1B FY 2012 : List of Disqualified Employers

H1B FY 2012 season will be here soon. It is advisable that the prospective aspirants for H1B FY 2012 should be aware of the debarred or disqualified employer for this season. Please make sure you do not become a bait to any of these employers for your H1B filing. These employers are willful violator employer and are black-listed.

PERM Processing Time Starts to Slump

DOL recently released current PERM processing times. It looks like fire-sale is almost over and PERM processing time will again start creeping towards 1-2 months wait or more in coming months. 5 days approval will be a history. Temporary Government shutdown is still not in effect and this will delay the processing time further when some decision about it will be made during April 8, 2011. The Senate votes to fund the federal government through April 8. But the stalemate over 2011 spending remains, and no one wants to pass another short-term stopgap. Is the stage now set for a government shutdown next month is yet to be known.

Document on Tax Exemption for OPT Students and Students on F1B visa

Document or proof stating that OPT students are not required to pay Social Security Taxes and Medicare tax. You can share this with your employer

What is H1B 'CAP Exempt' visa?

Most of the international students after graduation would focus their attention to find a job in corporate world. But it is always difficult to find an employer who will be ready to sponsor your H1B visa. If you are lucky, you may find an employer who is willing to sponsor your work visa, but could not do it because quota is not available at that time or if quota is open, is worried that he may have to wait until start of fiscal year in October before you could begin working for him. What are other options in such case? Well in this case, you can opt for working for organizations that are exempted from H1B visa regular cap quota.

Showing posts with label USCIS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USCIS. Show all posts

Thursday, December 22, 2011

I-485 Primary & Secondary Evidence - Country Specific for USCIS Adjudicators

Posted On Thursday, December 22, 2011 by Rav 14 comments

 Commonly asked question is what to do when primary evidence of birth, marriage, divorce etc is not available. Here is the country specific I-485 Required documents for (AOS) or (CP). Immigration officers or Adjudicators are asked to refer to the list below before making any decision on RFE or NOID in case primary evidence is not submitted or established. Please select your country from the drop-down list to see specific secondary evidence and documents.

Burden of Proof and Standard of Proof

The burden is on the petitioner to establish that he or she is eligible for the benefit sought. This means that if an alien seeking a benefit has not shown eligibility, the application should be denied. The government is not called upon to make any showing of ineligibility until the alien has first shown that he is eligible. You may contrast this in your mind with a criminal case or with a removal hearing in which the government must first prove its case.

Evidential Standards
 
Because the strict rules of evidence used in judicial proceedings do not apply in administrative proceedings, a wide range of oral or documentary evidence may be used in a visa petition proceeding or other immigration benefit application proceeding. A copy of a public record (birth certificate, marriage or divorce certificates, adoption decrees, and similar documents) is admissible if the person having custody over the original records has certified the copy. For example, a copy of a divorce decree is admissible if the clerk of the court has certified the copy. A regulation, provides that a certified copy of a foreign public record (other than a Canadian record) should also be authenticated by a U.S. Foreign Service officer or, if the country is a party to the Hague Convention on abolition of legalization requirements for foreign public records, by a higher-level official of the foreign country.


Best Evidence Rule

In adjudicating a petition or application for a benefit, immigration officer will often deal with evidence and facts which are of a documentary nature, such as marriage dates, dates of birth, death, divorce, criminal records, school records, etc. This often brings into play what is known as the "best evidence rule.” While the best evidence rule is not strictly applicable in an administrative proceeding, IOs should adhere to it as closely as they can. The rule states that where the contents of a document are at issue in a case, the document itself must be introduced rather than secondary evidence as to its content. 


Primary and Secondary Evidence

Closely related to the best evidence rule is the concept of primary and secondary evidence. Primary evidence is evidence which on its face proves a fact. For example, the divorce certificate is primary evidence of a divorce. Secondary evidence is evidence which makes it more likely that the fact sought to be proven by the primary evidence is true, but cannot do so on its own face, without any external reference. In the above example, church records showing that an individual was divorced at a certain time would be secondary evidence of the divorce. 
Adjudicators will often encounter situations in which primary evidence is unavailable. This gives rise to a presumption of ineligibility , which is the applicant or petitioner’s burden to overcome.  A petitioner or applicant cannot simply assert that the primary evidence does not exist. The absence of a primary record, instead, must be proven either:

  • By a written statement from the appropriate issuing authority attesting to the fact that no record exists or can be located, or that the record sought was part of some segment of records which were lost or destroyed; or 
  • By evidence (such as an affidavit) "that repeated good faith attempts were made to obtain the required document or record."

To check country-specific information on availability of various foreign documents see below drop-down menu that is used by Immigration Officers. If this Appendix shows that a particular record is generally not available in a particular country, USCIS may accept secondary evidence without requiring the written statement from the issuing authority.


COUNTRY SPECIFIC REQUIRED DOCUMENTS



General List of Commonly Required Documents

Birth Certificates

You (and any family members immigrating with you to the United States) must obtain an original birth certificate issued by the official custodian of birth records in your country of birth, showing your date of birth, place of birth, and parentage.

The certificate must contain the:
  • Your date of birth
  • Your place of birth
  • Names of both parents
  • Indication by the appropriate authority that it is an extract from the official records
Unobtainable birth certificates

If your birth record is not obtainable for any reason, a certified statement must be obtained from the appropriate government authority explaining why your birth record is unavailable. You must also submit secondary evidence such as:
  • A baptismal certificate that contains the date and place of birth, as well as both parents names (providing the baptism took place shortly after birth)
  • An adoption decree for an adopted child
  • An affidavit from a close relative, preferably your mother, stating the date and place of birth, both parents names, and your mother’s maiden name.
Note: An affidavit executed before an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations must also be provided.


 SAMPLE AFFIDAVIT


AFFIDAVIT BY  Mr. xxxxxx (FATHER NAME) & Mrs.xxxxxxx (MOTHER NAME)

Re: [YOUR FULL NAME]

I, Mr. [FATHER FULL NAME] & Mrs. [MOTHER FULL NAME], here by depose and say:
1.    Our  full and complete address is xxxxxxxxxxx
2.      That I, FATHER'S FULL NAME Age XXX, was born on MM/DD/YYY in the town/city of xxxxxxxx
3. That I, MOTHER'S FULL NAME Age XXX, was born on MM/DD?/YYY in the town/city of xxxxxxxx
4.     We got married on MM/DDYYY in the city of XXXXXX, COUNTRY.
5.     We, FATHER'S & MOTHER'S FULL NAME are parents of the following children:
a. YOUR FULL NAME born on MM/DD/YY; and
b. YOUR SIBLINGS NAME born on MM/DD/YYYY
6. [YOUR FULL NAME] was born in CITY, STATE, COUNTRY
7.      This affidavit is being submitted because official full name of [YOUR FULL NAME] was not [mentioned] OR [registered] OR [OTHER REASON] in the birth certificate at the time of birth. [His/Her] Full Name is [YOUR FULL NAME] /OR/ [YOUR FULL NAME] birth was not registered because [reason].

I declare under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is a true and correct statement.

_________________________
FATHER NAME and signature 



_________________________
MOTHER NAME and signature 

 
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.


Marriage Certificates

Who needs to submit marriage certificates?
If you are married, you must obtain an original marriage certificate, or a certified copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority.

Note: Marriage certificates from certain countries are unavailable. More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.


Court and Prison Records

If you were convicted of a crime, you must obtain a certified copy of each court record and prison record, regardless of the fact that you may have subsequently been granted amnesty, a pardon or other act of clemency.
Court records should include:
  • Complete information about the circumstances of the crime
  • The disposition of the case, including sentence, fines or other penalties imposed


Marriage Termination Documentation

Who needs to submit marriage termination documentation?
If you were previously married, you must obtain evidence of the termination of EACH prior marriage. Evidence must be in the form of original documents issued by an official authority, or certified copies bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority, such as:
  • FINAL divorce decree
  • Death certificate
  • Annulment papers

Deportation Documentation

Who needs to submit deportation documents?
If you have been previously deported or removed from the United States at government expense, you must obtain Form I-212, Permission to Reapply After Deportation, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, or from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and follow the instructions on that form.

 Military Records

Who needs to submit military records?
If you served in the military forces of any country, you must obtain a copy of your military record.
Note: Military records from certain countries are unavailable.
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.
 

Petitioner Documents

Who needs to submit petitioner documents?
If you are applying for an IR5 (Parent of a U.S. Citizen) visa, you are required to provide:
  1. Original or certified copy of your Petitioner’s birth certificate
  2. Original or certified copy of your Petitioner’s marriage certificate from the Petitioner’s current and all previous marriages.
If you are applying for a F4 (Brother or Sister of a U.S. Citizen) visa you are required to provide:
  1. Original or certified copy of your Petitioners birth certificate.
  2.  

Photocopy of Valid Passport Biographic Data Page

Who needs to submit a photocopy of their passport?
The applicant and each family member accompanying the applicant must submit a photocopy of the biographic data page from their respective valid passport.
More specific information for each country can be seen after selecting your country above.

Photographs

You must submit two identical color photographs. Review Photograph Requirements for size specifications and more information.


Saturday, May 28, 2011

June 2011 I-485 Inventory and Notes on EB2 & EB3 Category

Posted On Saturday, May 28, 2011 by Rav 91 comments

Edited - May, 30 - 2011 for additional information and editorial corrections.

Thank you everyone for posting the link to newly released USCIS I-485 Pending Inventory as of June 2011. I have finished analyzing inventory up to some extent. We are glad it was released now since I am continuously working on updating green card calculator. So far until this time some of the highlights of the June 2011 inventory is listed below.

EB2-ROW-M-P
PERM approvals for EB2-ROW-M-P are not converting to I-485 inventory yet. As per released data, demand for EB1 and EB2-ROW-M-P category looks low. EB2-ROW-M-P demand is anywhere from 26,600 to 28,600. EB2-ROW-M-P demand can pick up with more I-140 approvals going forward. Please note AOS demand for concurrently filed I-485/I-140 is not considered in the demand data until approval of I-140. EB2-ROW-M-P will continue to stay current for rest of the year.

EB3-ROW
Significant demand for EB3-ROW is seen due to return of many pre-adjudicated cases from local offices to USCIS processing centers (Please see below a comment made by an astute reader). EB3-ROW demand for PDs beyond August 2005 until December 2005 has increased by 2,500 when compared against January inventory. From January until May 2011, pending inventory until 01 January 2006 has only reduced by 3,500. EB3-ROW will not cross 2005 until December 2011. Total Demand until December 2005 is around 17k.

"You said: "Significant demand for EB3-ROW is coming from Consulates abroad."

I don't think that can be correct, since the USCIS Inventory does not include those cases.

I would conclude that they are pre-adjudicated cases with a not yet Current PD, returned by the Local Offices to TSC following a successful interview.

They seem mainly concentrated at the end of 2005, so that implies there are a lot more cases with later PDs in 2006 and 2007 still at the LO awaiting interviews."

EB3-India
Total inventory for EB3-India until May 2006 has reduced from 47,087 to 44,682, indicating EB3 to EB2 porting of ONLY 2,400 from January until May 2011. Starting 01 June 2011, USCIS will see post PD June 2006 upgrade demand. We expect this demand to be around another 1500 maximum. Total upgrade demand from EB3 to EB2 for FY 2011 should not be more than 4,500.

EB3-China-Mexico-Philippines
These categories are progressing as expected. We expect them to move as per predictions. Please note EB3-P will be moving with EB3-ROW for rest of the year.

Please note - This analysis is solely based on released inventory.

EB2-India & China
  • EB2-ROW-M-P - FY 2011 worst-case (taking into account Jan and June inventory) demand expected is around - 28,600 - On Average Spillover expected is - 6,000
  • EB1- FY 2011 worst case demand expected- 21,506 - On Average Spillover expected is - 19k-12k = 7,000
  • EB5 - FY 2011 worst case demand expected - 1,880 - On Average Spillover expected is - 8,000
  • Porting does not look more than 2,800 until this inventory. Please assume 1,500 maximum spillover for PD post July 2006.
Total Spillover expected for rest of the year
6000 + 7000 + 8000 - 1500 = 19,500 (enough to just reach 15 July 2007)

What to expect?
Anything more than 23,000 spillover means either EB2-IC will get current for small time or at least reach late 2007 as long as NVC has enough pipeline to support the demand . If NVC does not have enough demand then some portion of these visas will be utilized to approve pre-adjudicated cases from EB3-ROW. These numbers have to be used by September 2011 in order to be count these visas for current fiscal year. Again, please note this is solely based on inventory and this can change with how PERM/I-140 approvals will convert into I-485 inventory for EB2-ROW or other EB3 to EB2 Porting demand.

Recommended Action for EB2-IC (Chances are 50%)
Please make sure that the required documents for I-485 filings is upto date for an individual and ready for small window that may open in few months.

Most importantly prepare for long lead items like your birth certificate et al so that they are in place with right name and place of birth.If not then have your notarized affidavits ready from your home country.

Please note though chances are small but if we have more 23,000 unused visa spillover then DOS has to move dates to get unused visa numbers utilized before September 2011. In case large number of unused visa numbers are available, USCIS will not have the capacity to process the entire load, and thus load have to be shared among Consular Posts abroad by advancing dates more than required in August - September 2011 and retrogressing it in October 2011.

If by any chance this demand is not observed by end of this fiscal year, EB2-IC is still expected to move into late 2007 sooner or later in FY 2012.






Thursday, May 19, 2011

USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Visa

Posted On Thursday, May 19, 2011 by Rav 0 comments

USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Visa

released May 19, 2011

Actions Will Streamline Program Designed to Create Jobs

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century.

The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated Regional Center.

“Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to attract investors and entrepreneurs from around the globe to create jobs in America,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We are dedicated to enhancing this program to ensure that it achieves that goal to the fullest extent possible.”

USCIS is proposing three fundamental changes to the way it processes EB-5 Regional Center filings. First, USCIS proposes to accelerate its processing of applications for job-creating projects that are fully developed and ready to be implemented. USCIS will also give these EB-5 applicants and petitioners the option to request Premium Processing Service, which guarantees processing within 15 calendar days for an additional fee.

Second, USCIS proposes the creation of new specialized intake teams with expertise in economic analysis and the EB-5 Program requirements. EB-5 Regional Center applicants will be able to communicate directly with the specialized intake teams via e-mail to streamline the resolution of issues and quickly address questions or needs related to their applications.

Third, USCIS proposes to convene an expert Decision Board to render decisions regarding EB-5 Regional Center applications. The Decision Board will be composed of an economist and adjudicators and will be supported by legal counsel.

This proposal will be online until June 17, 2011, for public comment—providing stakeholders an opportunity to offer feedback on the proposed changes to the administration of the EB-5 Program.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscisExit Disclaimer), YouTube (/uscisExit Disclaimer) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.


Operational Proposals for Comment

USCIS seeks your input on the operational proposal listed below. After review and consideration of the received comments, USCIS will determine what, if any, changes it should make to this operational proposal, or if other agency action is required.

Comment Process: Please e-mail all comments to opefeedback@uscis.dhs.gov. Please include the following to make your comments clear:

  • State the title of the relevant proposal in the subject line of your message;
  • Refer to a specific portion of the proposal;
  • Explain the reason for any recommended change; and
  • Include data, information, or authority that supports the recommendation.

You have 20 days to review and submit comments on the proposal. USCIS may distribute any comments received (including any personal information and contact information) on its public website or to those who request copies. By providing comments, you consent to their use and consideration by USCIS, and you acknowledge that your comments may become public. USCIS cannot guarantee that it will acknowledge or respond to any comments submitted.

See the Feedback Updates for the status of all reviewed memoranda/ proposals and links to published memoranda/ proposals.

Background and Additional Legal Information: USCIS is not required to solicit public comment on operational proposals under the Administrative Procedure Act. This informal comment process does not replace any statutory or other legal requirement for public comment on agency action.


Sunday, April 3, 2011

Texas Service Center Premium Processing Unit Sends Old I-140 Receipt Acceptance Email Notices

Posted On Sunday, April 03, 2011 by Rav 0 comments

On April 1st 2011 many petitioners received case acceptance email, SMS or online change of status from the Texas Service Center for the I-140 cases that were already approved, denied, currently has RFE or are either currently in Initial Review status. This is true for the I-140 cases that were filed under premium processing as far back as March 2010.

Example of I-140 Email Notice

The emails (delivered on April 1, 2011) look something like this:

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: SRCxxxxxxxxxx

Application Type: I140 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER

Your Case Status: Acceptance

On April 1, 2011, we received this I140 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR ALIEN WORKER and we e-mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case. Please follow any instructions on this notice. This case is being processed at our TEXAS SERVICE CENTER location. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.


During the acceptance step USCIS reviews newly received applications and petitions to ensure that they are properly filed (i.e. signed by the applicant, appropriate fees, etc.) USCIS issues a receipt number for the application or petition, and sends a receipt notice to the applicant or petitioner.

Applications and petitions that are not properly filed are rejected with an explanation of why the application is rejected and the corrective action needed. Rejected applications or petitions do not retain their filing date.

The acceptance step is typically completed within 2 business days of when the application is received. With mail time it may take several weeks for you to get the receipt or rejection notice in the mail. If you do not receive your notice within 30 days of mailing your application, please contact our national customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.


If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Check Processing Times.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Reason for this email

This is due to sudden outburst of delayed emails that was caused by software.

“The program that sends the automated emails on premium processing cases has been off-line for some time. A new version of the program was deployed today and it appears to be catching up on emails for older cases that didn’t receive any email notifications. For cases already completed, the email notifications can be disregarded.

We are working with our Information Technology colleagues to research and confirm if emails on recent / current cases are also being queued for generation.

Sorry for any confusion this may have caused."

Current status on the issue
Most of the cases that had changed to acceptance has now changed back to their last updated original status. In case you have not seen any change in yours status please ask your attorney to contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283 from Monday to Friday. This should be taken care of as soon as possible.




Saturday, March 5, 2011

Temporary Government Shutdown and Its Affect on Visa Processing

Posted On Saturday, March 05, 2011 by Rav 3 comments

Here is a nice article that is shared by Murthy.com. Please read through it and be advised that visa processing times could prolong than usual during government shutdown. If you are planning to travel abroad to get your visas stamped, please be cautious and informed about the shutdown. There are good chances that some consulates may be closed during this period of time. Please plan your travel accordingly. Kudos to Murthy Law Firm to keep immigrant and non-immigrant community updated on this issue.

Temporary Government Shutdown: How Immigration Might be Affected

Update: Due to an agreement on government funding for a two-week period, there will not be an immediate government shutdown. The Continuing Resolution provides funding until March 18, 2011. A shutdown remains possible in the future if a longer term agreement is not reached.

-----

If the U.S. Congress cannot reach an agreement on a funding extension by March 4, 2011, there could be what is commonly referred to as a government "shutdown." In such a situation, government services are not completely shut down but they are limited, and some functions cease until the funding issues are resolved. This explanation of what a temporary shutdown would entail from an immigration point of view is for the benefit of MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers.

Background: Disagreement Over Funding Levels

Generally, the U.S. Federal Government sets a budget annually and funds operations through passage of appropriations legislation. However, since they have failed to reach an agreement on budget issues for fiscal year (FY) 2011, funding is currently approved and available only under a temporary measure, which is set to expire on March 4, 2011.

Congress must agree to a continuation of temporary funding to maintain the status quo. On February 19, 2011, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget containing $60 billion in cuts. This is not acceptable to President Obama or many Democrats in the Senate. If no compromise is reached by March 4, 2011, the United States will face the first government shutdown since 1995.

History of Government Shutdowns

As stated, the last time the United States faced a government shutdown was in 1995. The 1995 shutdown was the longest event of its type in U.S. history, with a duration of twenty-one days (from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996). This had been preceded by a five-day shutdown in November 1995. There were nine earlier shutdowns of three days or less between 1981 and 1995. However, between 1977 and 1980, there were six government shutdowns lasting from eight to seventeen days. Thus, a shutdown could be quite brief, but might extend for several weeks.

Not a Complete Shutdown: Services that Must Remain Open

Even in a shutdown the U.S. government does not simply cease all operations. Under existing guidelines, the U.S. government will continue activities that provide for national security and protect life and property. The government will continue to issue benefit payments and perform certain contract obligations. These operations include: medical care of inpatient and emergency outpatient care; continuance of air traffic control; continuance of border protection; law enforcement and care of prisoners; emergency disaster assistance, and similar services and operations. Additionally, and particularly relevant to immigration, some services that are self-funded (through payment of user fees) continue to operate.

Impact on USCIS and Other Immigration Applications / Petitions

CBP: Open for Business
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will remain operational, as they deal with national security and protect life and property. Thus, it will still be possible to travel into the United States as a foreign national.

USCIS Benefits Continue
The USCIS is expected to continue to adjudicate benefits applications and petitions. This is possible because these operations are funded by the filing fees that are submitted with the various applications and petitions. Thus, this portion of the immigration process, commonly utilized by MurthyBulletin and MurthyDotCom readers, will continue.

U.S. Department of Labor: Not Operating
Unlike the USCIS, the Department of Labor (DOL) does not charge user fees for its services. It is thus expected that the DOL will cease processing PERM labor certifications, prevailing wage determinations, and other immigration-related benefits. We have received confirmation that DOL investigations, including those related to I-9 and labor condition application (LCA) violations would cease during any shutdown.

U.S. Department of State: No Visa Applications
While the diplomatic and security aspects of the Department of State (DOS) operations would continue, visa applications would likely not be processed in the event of a shutdown. It is anticipated that the consulates will not be open for visa appointments and processing. Thus, depending upon the duration of such an event, individuals could be stranded abroad with no way of obtaining required travel documents. The same is true for the processing of U.S. passports.

Read More at Murthy.Com


Monday, January 31, 2011

USCIS is Introducing new tool to Adjudicate Certain Employment-Based Petitions

Posted On Monday, January 31, 2011 by Rav 1 comments


New Validation Tool Aids Adjudication of Certain Employment-Based Petitions Questions and Answers

“VIBE” Tool Aims to Enhance Accuracy, Efficiency and Fraud Detection

Introduction

The Web-based Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) is a tool designed to enhance USCIS’s adjudications of certain employment-based immigration petitions. VIBE uses commercially available data to validate basic information about companies or organizations petitioning to employ alien workers. USCIS is beta-testing VIBE, and petitioners may begin seeing VIBE-related Requests For Evidence (RFEs).

Questions & Answers about VIBE

Q1. What is VIBE?
A1. VIBE is a Web-based tool that uses commercially available data to validate basic information about companies or organizations petitioning to employ alien workers. One of the goals of VIBE is to equip adjudicators with information from an independent source that they can use to help determine petitioners’ eligibility.

Q2. Which petitions will be included in VIBE?
A2. VIBE will include most employment-based petitions filed by companies and organizations, including the following types of petitions: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129); Immigration Petition for an Alien Worker (Form I-140); and Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360). See www.uscis.gov/vibe for a complete list of immigrant and nonimmigrant classifications included in VIBE. At this time, VIBE will not include employment-based petitions requesting E11, E21 national interest waiver, EB-5, or O and P classifications due to their unique eligibility requirements.

Q3. What information will VIBE provide to Immigration Services Officers (ISOs)?
A3. VIBE will provide ISOs with information on the petitioning company or organization’s business operations, including information related to:

  • Business activities, such as type of business (North American Industry Classification System code), trade payment information and status (active or inactive)
  • Financial standing, including sales volume and credit standing
  • Number of employees, including onsite and globally
  • Relationships with other entities, including foreign affiliates
  • Status, for example whether it is a single entity, branch, subsidiary or headquarters
  • Ownership and legal status, such as LLC, partnership or corporation
  • Company executives
  • Date of establishment as a business entity
  • Current physical address.

Q4. Will a final decision be based solely on information obtained through VIBE?
A4. No. VIBE is an additional tool for ISOs to use in the overall adjudicative process. USCIS will not deny a petition based upon information from VIBE without first giving the petitioner an opportunity to respond to USCIS’s concerns.

USCIS will issue an RFE or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) if there is derogatory or contradictory information found in VIBE that is material to the benefit requested and not outweighed by evidence submitted with the petition. The ISO will make a final decision based on the totality of the circumstances.

Q5. How will a petitioning organization know if it received an RFE or NOID due to a VIBE-related issue?
A5. The RFE or NOID will clearly state that the petitioner has been checked in VIBE and will describe the relevant derogatory or contradictory information found in VIBE. The RFE or NOID will also include information about how a petitioner may contact Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), the company that serves as the independent information provider for VIBE, to correct information.

Q6. If a petitioner receives an RFE or NOID for a VIBE-related issue, is the petitioner required to update its record with D&B?
A6. No. If a petitioner receives an RFE or NOID for a VIBE-related issue, it is not required to update its information with D&B. The petitioner may choose to contact D&B to update the record in order to prevent any subsequently filed petitions from receiving a similar RFE or NOID for the VIBE-related issue in question.

Q7. Must a petitioner respond to USCIS if it updates its record with D&B after receiving an RFE or NOID?
A7. Yes. A petitioner must respond to USCIS with the requested additional information after receiving an RFE or a NOID. Updating the petitioner’s record with D&B is not a substitute for responding to USCIS’s RFE or NOID. Failure to respond to the RFE or NOID directly to USCIS could result in denial of the petition.

Q8. Are there any additional USCIS fees for filing a petition subject to VIBE?
A8. No. There are no additional fees associated with VIBE. Petitioners must still comply with all other fee requirements for the requested classification. Visit http://www.uscis.gov/fees for information about current fees.

Q9. Does VIBE require any additional documentary filing requirements?
A9. No. VIBE does not require the petitioner to file additional documentation. However, it is critical that a petitioner accurately provide its name and address on the USCIS form. This aids USCIS in matching information from the petition with information received through VIBE. Listing an attorney or representative’s address in the “Petitioner Information” section of the form may result in the issuance of an RFE.

Q10. When filing an I-140 petition for a classification included in VIBE, does a petitioner still need to submit evidence of “ability to pay”?
A10. Yes. The petitioner must continue to submit evidence with an I-140 petition to demonstrate that it has the ability to pay the proffered wage from the time the priority date was established until the beneficiary obtains permanent residence. Although VIBE will assist ISOs by independently validating a petitioner’s business operations, the information provided to USCIS through VIBE is not a substitute for the required evidence of “ability to pay” that is specified in the regulations.

Q11. What effect will VIBE have on processing times for employment-based petitions?
A11. Initially, VIBE will not change USCIS’s overall processing time goals. If there is relevant derogatory or contradictory information identified by VIBE, the petitioning organization may experience prolonged processing due to the time required to complete the RFE, NOID or administrative inquiry. On the other hand, VIBE may allow USCIS to resolve inconsistencies in the record, potentially reducing the need to issue RFEs. USCIS’s goal for VIBE is to gradually reduce processing times for most employment-based petitions.

Questions & Answers about Dun and Bradstreet (D&B)

Q12. How can I view the information in my company or organization’s D&B report?
A12. D&B provides two ways a company or organization may request a copy of its D&B report:

  • By calling D&B’s toll free Customer Support Center at 1-800-234-DUNS (3867)
  • By using D&B's Internet-based service, “e-update,” available at www.dnb.com/eupdateExit Disclaimer.

Q13. Is there a fee for viewing or updating my company or organization’s information or D&B report?
A13. No. There is no fee for a company or organization to view its own D&B report or update its information with D&B.

Q14. I have requested my company or organization’s report from D&B, but I found out that D&B does not yet have any information about my company or organization. What should I do?
A14. If you find that D&B does not yet have any information about your company or organization, you may request a D-U-N-S® Number from D&B. The D-U-N-S® Number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence developed by D&B that provides a unique identifier of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together. For more information about the D-U-N-S® Number, visit www.dnb.comExit Disclaimer.

A company or organization may contact D&B to request a D-U-N-S Number:

  • By calling D&B’s Customer Support Center at 1-800-234-DUNS (3867)
  • By applying online at www.dnb.comExit Disclaimer. Click the “Get a D&B D-U-N-S® Number” link in the “Customer Resources” section

USCIS does not require petitioners to have a D-U-N-S® Number or include a D-U-N-S® Number when filing with USCIS. USCIS will not automatically issue an RFE or NOID if an employer’s information is not included in the D&B database.

Q15. How long does it take for D&B to update information about a company or organization?
A15. D&B advises that their verification process is generally completed within two to seven business days and that upon completion, the updated information is included in the customer’s record. D&B further advises that requests for new D-U-N-S® Numbers are usually fulfilled within 30 days. Contact D&B for more information.

Please send questions and comments about VIBE to VIBE-Feedback@dhs.gov.

Source - http://www.uscis.gov