Immigration News

May 17, 2013

Impact of New Americans: Alabama, Arizona, California & Connecticut

Immigration Policy Center Releases Updated State-by-State Fact Sheets!

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) has released the first twenty updated state-by-state fact sheets with accompanying info graphics. These fact sheets highlight the demographic and economic impact of Immigrants, Asians and Latinos in each state. The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy division of the American Immigration Council (AIC).

As Washington D.C. debates Comprehensive Immigration Reform, we thought that it would be an appropriate time to provide some statistics on the Immigrant population in the United States as provided by this IPC research. Once a week we will be posting a blog with information on four states at a time. This week we will highlight; Alabama, Arizona, California and Connecticut.

May 10, 2013

MVP LAW GROUP – Immigration Q&A Forum, Friday, May 10, 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

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. Therefore, your communication with us through this forum will not be considered as privileged or confidential.

Question #1

If I am working in the US with an H-1B Visa, can I obtain a driver’s license right away? What do I need to show them at the Motor Vehicle place?

May 6, 2013

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, May 10, 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

We wanted to find a new way to engage our reader base. Every other Friday, we will post the ten (10) best/most frequently asked questions received during the week from our h1bvisalawyerblog, Facebook, and Twitter readers. We will answer those questions and provide the Q&A on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

If you have a burning question, are seeking assistance with a difficult immigration related case, wish to discuss your views on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, DREAMers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, priority dates, the monthly visa bulletin, adjustment applications, etc., please contact us by submitting your question/comment/viewpoint in our comment box provided on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

Our next “Q & A Forum” will take place this Friday, May 10, 2013. Act now and submit your questions!

May 1, 2013

DOS’s Updated Factsheets, Visa Statistics FY2012

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs has released updated factsheets containing FY2012 selected immigrant and nonimmigrant visa statistics. These factsheets contain vision representations of the data by using graphs and tables, which makes them much easier to read and understand. I have provided the links to the six updated factsheets below for your review.

Immigrant Visas Issued at Foreign Service Posts by Country of Birth/Chargeability (FY 2012)

Immigrant Visa Issuances at Top Posts (FY 2012)

April 30, 2013

DACA Statistics – USCIS Update through 3/31/13

by Kellie N. Lego

These USCIS statistics on DACA cases from 8/15/12 to 3/31/13 show a total of 472,004 DACA requests accepted for processing, 456,843 biometric services appointments scheduled, and 268,361 requests approved.

The data also shows the number of accepted and approved requests from the top countries of origin and the top states of residence. Mexico was the top county of origin with 354,002 received to date and 209,978 approved. California was the top state of residence with 134,167 received to date and 73,104 approved.

View the (.PDF) USCIS Report, “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Process (April, 2013)”

April 22, 2013

MVP “Immigration Q & A Forum” – This Friday, April 26, 2013

by Kellie N. Lego

We wanted to find a new way to engage our reader base. Every other Friday, we will post the ten (10) best/most frequently asked questions received during the week from our h1bvisalawyerblog, Facebook, and Twitter readers. We will answer those questions and provide the Q&A on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

If you have a burning question, are seeking assistance with a difficult immigration related case, wish to discuss your views on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, DREAMers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, priority dates, the monthly visa bulletin, adjustment applications, etc., please contact us by submitting your question/comment/viewpoint in our comment box provided on our H-1B Visa Lawyer Blog.

Our next “Q & A Forum” will take place this Friday, April 26, 2013. Act now and submit your questions!

April 19, 2013

Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times

by Kellie N. Lego

Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) Processing Times were released with processing dates as of April 2, 2013.

If you filed an appeal, please review the link below to determine the applicable processing time associated with your particular case.

Administrative Appeals Office

April 17, 2013

OFLC’s Updated Factsheets, Second Quarter FY2013

by Kellie N. Lego

The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has released updated factsheets containing Second Quarter FY2013 selected program statistics. These factsheets contain vision representations of the data by using graphs and tables, which makes them much easier to read and understand. I have provided the links to the five updated factsheets below for your review.

Permanent Labor Certification Program

Prevailing Wage Determination Program

April 16, 2013

Hearing on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation – April 17

by Kellie N. Lego

**The hearing date has been re-scheduled for April 19th at 10:00am (EST).

Senator Leahy, the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman has announced that a full committee hearing on comprehensive immigration reform has been scheduled for April 17th. The Senate hearing will be held at Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. This hearing is a result of the proposed legislation being worked on by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight”. The only witness listed to testify at this initial hearing is Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security.

MVP Law Group would like our blog readers to email us with your own questions or comments about Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We may include them in future blog posts on the subject! Remember, MVP Law Group always invites Immigration related questions for our bimonthly Immigration Q&A Forum!

April 10, 2013

Alternatives to the H-1B Visa for Individuals who did not make the FY2014 H-1B Quota

by Kellie N. Lego

Now that all of the new H-1B visas for the 2014 Fiscal Year have been allocated, What options do Employers who are looking to hire Foreign National Professionals have?

Here are some creative solutions to this problem:

OPT – STEM Extension