Immigration Lawyers Blog

USCIS will increase its immigration fees effective November 23, 2010. See chart below for a sample list of fees. To view the new fee schedule in full, see http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5be73dc5cb93b210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=5b33aca797e63110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD.

As of October 15, 2010, the USCIS has received approximately 42,800 Bachelor's degree petitions and 15,700 U.S. Master's degree petitions. The USCIS will continue to accept H-1B petitions for FY2011 until the quota of 65,000 Bachelor’s degree petitions and 20,000 U.S. Master’s degree petitions is met.

The new visa bulletin is out at this link: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5172.html. Employment-based categories are as follows: EB-1 remains current for all countries; EB-2 remains current, except for India (May 2006) and China (June 2006); EB-3 is at Jan. 2005 for all countries, except for India (Jan. 2002), China (Nov. 2003), and Mexico (May 2001); EB-3 other workers is at April 2003 for all countries, except India (Jan. 2002)and Mexico (May 2001); EB-4, religious workers, EB-5, and targeted employment areas and regional centers are all current. Family based petitions are backlogged, with the most recent date at June 2010.

Charina Garcia with Cornerstone Law Group will be speaking at LawReviewCle's Immigration Law Fundamentals course on November 9, 2010 in Oakland, CA. The course will introduce the basic concepts of U.S. immigration law and procedure, including family and employment based immigrant visas. For more information call: (866) 342-9264 or go to: www.lawreviewcle.com

During the 2010 fiscal year, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) removed the largest number of illegal aliens in U.S. history. ICE removed a record breaking 392,000 illegal aliens, more than 195,000 on criminal grounds. The increase in removals is largely due to the implementation of an ICE program, Secure Communities, whereby ICE works with state and local law enforcement agencies to use biometric technology to identify criminal aliens for removal. Currently more than 660 state and local partners participate in Secure Communities, and ICE has plans to increase its presence in more jurisdictions nationwide.

USCIS offers a U.S. citizenship on-line resource guide, including citizenship preparation materials and classes for immigrants, teachers, and community-based organizations. For more information on the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center, see http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.2182d258012d5eb62b6859c7526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=37decf2351488210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=37decf2351488210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD

As of October 1, 2010, the USCIS has received approximately 40,600 Bachelor's degree petitions and 14,900 U.S. Master's degree petitions. The USCIS will continue to accept H-1B petitions for FY2011 until the quota of 65,000 Bachelor’s degree petitions and 20,000 U.S. Master’s degree petitions is met.

USCIS has indicated that it will prioritize the adjudication of H-1B petitions that are subject to the H-1B cap and attempt to reduce the processing time to 60 days. It also seeks to make efforts in prioritizing the adjudication of H-1B change of status cases for F-1 students who no longer have valid work authorization after September 30. As of September 24, 2010, approximately 39,600 H-1B cap petitions were received and 14,400 for aliens with advanced degrees.