Latest News
USCIS Launches Agency-Wide Policy Review
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a new, comprehensive effort to review all Agency policies with the engaged participation of both its workforce and the public. To get underway, USCIS is inviting outside stakeholders to identify their highest priorities for the Policy Review through a two-week survey launched today.
USCIS Reminds Haitians to Register for Temporary Protected Status
|
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds Haitian nationals that the registration deadline for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is fast approaching. Haitian nationals, who have continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 12, 2010 and who meet other TPS eligibility requirements, must file their applications for TPS no later than July 20, 2010. The TPS designation for Haiti will remain in effect through July 22, 2011. |
DHS Issues Yearbook of Immigration Statistics for FY 2009
Access data on persons who became American citizens in fiscal year 2009 by country of birth, state of residence, and other characteristics.
Special Humanitarian Parole Program for Haitian Orphans Draws to a Close at Request of Haitian Government
The Haiti government has requested that the United States provide them with a final list of orphans being considered under the Special Humanitarian Parole Program for Haitian Orphans. As a result, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will stop accepting new requests for consideration under the special program as of April 14, 2010, and will resume regular processing of intercountry adoptions.
Visa Bulletin - May 2010
Click here for the visa bulletin.
USCIS Continues to Accept FY 2011 H-1B Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it continues to accept H-1B nonimmigrant petitions subject to the Fiscal Year 2011 (FY 2011) cap. USCIS will monitor the number of petitions received for both the 65,000 general cap and the 20,000 U.S. master’s degree or higher educational exemption.
USCIS has received approximately 13,500 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap. The agency has received approximately 5,600 petitions for individuals with advanced degrees.
H-1B Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Cap Season
The H-1B Program
U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialized fields, such as scientists, engineers, or computer programmers.
For more information about the H-1B program, see the link to the left under temporary workers for H-1B Specialty Occupations, DOD Cooperative Research and Development Project Workers, and Fashion Models.
Extension of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the H-1B Cap-Gap Regulations
Introduction
These Questions & Answers address the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of Oct. 1, 2010 under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 H-1B cap.
Questions & Answers
Q: What is the H-1B cap?
A: The cap is the congressionally-mandated limit on the number of individuals who may be granted initial H-1B status or visas during each fiscal year. For FY 2011, the cap is 65,000.