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GetVisas® Immigration UpdateA Newsletter for Clients CONTENTS
NEWS LETTER ARCHIVE
Important Issues and New Developments in Immigration Law Froman Law Firm Moves into New San Diego Office On 1 April 2004, Froman Law Firm moved into a new and larger office in San Diego. Please note our new address and phone numbers listed at the end of this Newsletter. However, for the next three months, we will continue to receive mail and phone calls at our old San Diego address and phone number. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Implementing Individual Case Status Checking The USCIS has further enhanced its customer service by preparing to offer more “on-line” applications and by expanding its case tracking options. Its April 19, 2004, memorandum says, “This simple and customer friendly initiative now offers customers the ability to build a portfolio of up to 100 cases (application receipt numbers) and check those cases online at all times. This expansion will not only help individuals, it will also allow employers, immigration attorneys, and community based organizations to better monitor the status of cases for their employees or clients. Additionally, customers may also choose to have USCIS automatically send an e-mail informing them of any status change for a pending case. These services are offered in English and Spanish.” To learn more about these new features, go to our website, “www.getvisas.com” and click on the “Resources” page to find a direct link to the USCIS electronic case status report page. Both H-1B (specialty workers) and H-2B (non-agricultural temporary workers) are capped until the beginning of the next fiscal year, October 1, 2004. The USCIS is now receiving applications for 1 October start dates, and legislation has been introduced to increase H-2B quotas. This legislation may be tracked through the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) or Thomas, the legislative website of the government. Employers harmed by these caps may desire to contact their local Congressman or Senator to support legislation to expand the availability of workers under these visas. Immigration Filing Fee Increase On April 30th the fees we pay the USCIS for processing nearly every type of immigration application or petition will increase $55.00 each. Fingerprint fees will also rise, from $50 to $70. Filing fees were last raised in February 2002. This fee increase will help the USCIS implement the President’s backlog reduction goal to reduce the processing times of all types of applications to 6 months or less by October 1, 2005. Consolidated Processing for Employment Immigration Will Likely Speed Processing The USCIS has decided to consolidate the processing of the I-140 Immigrant Petition and the I-485 Adjustment of Status Application in employment-based cases. For the last year or so, the two applications could be sent in at the same time, but processing was separate. The Immigrant Petitions were approved in a few months, but the Adjustment Application might take a year and-a-half. This change should mean quicker processing times for Employment-based Adjustment applications, rather than the nearly two years currently in effect in many areas. If you are an alien, even though you may have your “green card,” you are required by law to keep the USCIS informed of your residence. Federal Regulations require that you inform the USCIS within 10 days after you have moved to a new address. Before 9/11/2001, this rule was not heavily enforced. However, the USCIS is now enforcing this rule in an effort to identify and locate all aliens within our country. Therefore, it is important to keep the USCIS informed of any changes of address you have. The Form AR-11, used to report address changes, can be downloaded from the USCIS website. Or you can call the National Benefits Center phone number, 800 375-5283. If you have questions about the forms or procedures, contact me. The DREAM and Student Adjustment Acts Have Bipartisan Support On April 20th, elected officials and hundreds of students and advocates from around the country held a rally at the U.S. Capitol in support of the DREAM Act, S. 1545, and the Student Adjustment Act, H.R. 1684. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reports that it “strongly supports the passage of this bipartisan legislation that provides deserving students with an opportunity to apply for legal status and continue their education, and urges Congress and the Administration to support a measure worthy of these deserving children. The dreams of these children should not end at high school graduation. By providing the opportunity for these children to go to college and gain legal status, America will both strengthen its economic foundation by creating a more educated work force and introduce justice and fairness to our immigration system.” (From AILA news release.) This Newsletter is prepared as a service to our clients. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice in a given case. We welcome feedback concerning the Newsletter or suggestions for future topics to discuss. Please contact us with your specific questions. If you would like to receive this Newsletter by email when it is published, send a message to “visas@getvisas.com” requesting to be added to the Newsletter list. DAVID FROMAN Please address your correspondence to: Froman Law Firm Our Missouri office is located at: 3610 Buttonwood Drive Email: Website: GetVisas® is a registered service mark of Froman Law Firm representing our Business and Immigration services.
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