MVP LAW GROUP – Immigration Q&A Forum, Friday, September 2nd, 2011

MVP Law Group, P.A. makes available the information and materials in this forum for informational purposes only. The information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice or any contractual obligations. Further, the use of this site, and the sending or receipt of this information, does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. And, therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.

Question #1 – Employment Based Immigration – Prevailing Wage
Has the suspension been lifted for the issuance of Prevailing wage determinations? I am hearing conflicting information on the internet – forums.

Answer #1
As of August 25, 2011 – The Department of Labor (DOL) Liaison received reports from members that PERM prevailing wage determinations are beginning to be received for requests submitted in early June 2011. Additionally, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has been in discussions with other stakeholders on possible courses of action, including individual mandamus actions, if DOL does not resume issuing prevailing wage determinations promptly.
Original Update: The OFLC National Prevailing Wage Center is experiencing delays in processing prevailing wage determinations as it is currently working to reissue certain determinations to comply with a court order issued June 15, 2011 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2011, and a Final Rule was published on August 1. All Center resources are currently being utilized to comply with this court order. The processing of Prevailing Wage Determinations, redeterminations, and Center Director Reviews has been temporarily suspended. Processing will resume as soon as full compliance with the court order has been completed by OFLC. They hope to comply with the court order before October 1, 2011.
We have not received any information that the suspension has been lifted as of yet. Stay tuned to MVP Law Group, as we will continue to post new information as soon as it becomes available.

Question #2 – Employment Based Immigration – Green Card
My spouse and daughter have received their Green Cards but I have not. I filed for our GCs through my employer – employment based. What do I need to do to fix this? Is there a problem with my case? Could my GC be denied? Please advise.

Answer #2
Based on the small amount of information you have provided, it seems like there may be an issue with the issuance/mailing of your Green Card. Your spouse and daughter would not have received their Green Cards if there was a pending issue with your case. From the information you provided, you are the primary applicant and your spouse and daughter are your derivatives. Therefore, the USCIS would not approve the I-485 Application to Adjust status for the derivatives without first approving it for the primary applicant. Follow up with the USCIS after 30 days from the date your spouse and daughter received their Green Cards by calling 1-800-375-5283.

Question #3 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
How many H-1B nonimmigrant visas remain for the CAP for FY2012 beginning October 1, 2011?

Answer #3
As of August 26, 2011, there were approximately 36,000 H-1B Regular CAP subject nonimmigrant visas remaining and 4,200 H-1B Masters Exemption nonimmigrant visas remaining. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn. For continuous FY2012 H-1B Cap updates, please refer to our https://www.h1bvisalawyerblog.com.

Question #4 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
My current H-1B visa expires on 9/14/2011 and I’ve filed for an extension in late July and received a receipt for it. Can I continue working without the new approval?

Answer #4
Yes, under regulation 8 C.F.R. §274a.12(b)(20), a person lawfully employed under A-3, E-1,E-2,E-3,G-5, H-1B, H-2A/B, H-3, I, J-1, L-1, O-1/O-2, P-1/P-2/P-3, R or TN status who timely files an application for extension consistent with 8 C.F.R. §214.1, is automatically given 240 days from the date of expiration. During 240 days, there is no INA 245(c) bar to adjustment of status.

Question #5 – General
Is a new I-9 form required when an applicant applies for an extension to their employment authorization and are then granted the extension?

Answer #5
A new I-9 form is not required, but Section 3 of the original form should be completed by the authorized representative of the Company prior to the expiration of the applicant’s employment authorization.

Question #6 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa: Traveling
I am planning on traveling out of US for short trip. I heard from friends that I may not be able to obtain a new visa stamp for my recently approved I-129 and come back. Please advise.

Answer #6
If you MUST travel on H-1B status, we recommend that you have the following: at least two months’ worth of pay stubs, a copy of the approved H-1B petition, an original employment verification letter, the original approval notice, and any other documentation that would demonstrate compliance with the laws governing the H-1B program and the establishment of a bona fide job opportunity.

Question #7 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
I have an H-1B application pending since early June 2011, no RFE issued yet. Can I contact USCIS and make a service request for them to look further into the case and why it is taking so long?

Answer #7
Please review the processing times prior to calling for the Service Center where your case is being adjudicated. If your case is in fact outside of the normal processing time, the Petitioner/Authorized Representative or an Attorney for the Petitioner/Applicant should contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center, which can be reached at 1-800-375-5283, to initiate the service request for a petition that is outside of the normal processing time.

If making a service request to the Customer Service Center, please have the following information available so the Representative will be better able to assist you: your full name, the applicant’s full name, your complete company mailing address, the applicant’s complete mailing address, the applicant’s date of birth, the applicant’s receipt number for the pending application/petition, and the filing date of the applicant’s pending application/petition. If your case is outside of the normal processing time, the Officer should initiate a service request and will provide you with a timeframe for a response and a referral number in case you have to call back because no correspondence was issued within the timeframe suggested.

Question #8 – Temporary Work Visa – H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
My brother needs to file H-1B. If he needs to apply for his new H1B under the quota, is the quote full or is it still open for this year or would he need to wait till April for new quota to open and wait till October 2012 to start work.

Answer #8
The FY2012 quota, with employment beginning October 1, 2011 remains open. As of August 26, 2011, there were approximately 36,000 H-1B Regular CAP subject nonimmigrant visas remaining and 4,200 H-1B Masters Exemption nonimmigrant visas remaining. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be denied, revoked, or withdrawn.

Question #9 – Employment Based Immigration – Green Card – EAD Renewal
I filed for my EAD renewal back in May 2010 and it is still pending. My current EAD expires next week. What are my options moving forward – can I expedite the EAD renewal process since my card is expiring next week, can I continue to work with the receipt notice?

Answer #9
To my knowledge you normally cannot expedite an EAD renewal request; however, after an EAD renewal has been pending for 75+ days, you may initiate an ‘outside the processing times’ Service Request with the USCIS. If you do not receive your EAD approval by the time your current EAD expires, you MUST WAIT and NOT WORK until your EAD is approved. You MAY NOT continue to work using the EAD receipt notice as the receipt is not evidence of an approval.

You may file an EAD renewal request up to 120 days in advance of the expiration of your current EAD and should be aware of the Service Center processing times well in advance of filing so that you can obtain an approval of the EAD to continue working.

Question #10 – Temporary Work Visa – H2B Nonimmigrant Visa
How many H-2B nonimmigrant visas remain under the 2nd half of FY2011, if any? Under the 1st half of FY2012?

Answer #10
As of 8/26/11, USCIS receipted 30,999 petitions toward the 33,000 H-2B cap amount for the second half of the fiscal year (FY) 2011 (April 1 – September 30). This count includes 29,921 approved and 1,078 pending petitions.

As of 08/26/11, USCIS receipted 4,326 petitions toward the 33,000 H-2B cap amount for the first half of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, (October 1 – March 31). This count includes 3,173 approved petitions and 1,153 pending petitions.

MVP Law Group would like to thank everyone who contributed a question or comment.

Our next “Immigration Q & A Forum” is scheduled for Friday, September 16th, 2011!

Please remember to submit your questions/comments on our h1bvisalawyer blog.

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