http://www.h1cap.com Hammond Law Group, LLC Thu, 08 May 2008 22:16:47 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The USCIS followed up on plans announced last fall to increase the vailidity period of TN visas from 1 year to 3 years. this would apply to both new admissions as well as extensions. The proposed rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register shortly. Many IT cos. ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/05/08/uscis-announces-proposed-rule-to-increase-validity-of-tn-visas/ HLG produces a monthly ezine directed at employers who employ foreign national workers. It is free of charge and can be subscribed to using a link to the right. The April edition was released last week. http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/monthly/business-immigration-monthly-april-FY2009-h-1-cap-reached.htm http://www.h1cap.com/2008/05/05/hlg-releases-april-business-immigration-monthly/ The Chennai Consulate has recently sent out a memo to all Business Executive Program companies interpreting how time spent in the US on an H1B counts in determining the one year continuous employment abroad requirement for L-1 status. According to this memo, the Consulate states that time spent in the ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/05/05/consulate-interprets-l-1-regs/ The USCIS announced that it has completed the H-1b lottery and that receipts on those cases that were chosen should be received no later than June 2, 2008. We should also expect that cases not chosen will begin to be returned and that process could take 6-8 weeks.  If your case was filed ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/15/uscis-conducts-h-1b-lottery/ Today, the USCIS announced that it received 163,000 H-1b cases for the FY 2009 cap of which 31,200 were for the advanced degree cap.  The lottery will begin shortly so keep your fingers crossed. There has been no indication as to when receipts will be issued for accepted cases or when ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/10/uscis-announces-h-1b-cap-case-total/ Here is a March 31, 2008 Federal District Court (New Jersey) decision where the Federal Court found that Pegasus Consulting Group failed to pay 'benched' workers.  Employers are reminded that 'benched' H-1 workers must be paid the greater of actual or prevailing wage, or the worker's employment must be terminated. http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/09/federal-court-finds-pegasus-failed-to-pay-benched-workers/ Today, the USCIS officially announced that it had enough petitions as of April 7th, to reach both the advanced degree and regular cap. The announcement can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c5b6628090e29110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD  The USCIS is expected to begin the random lottery selection process shortly however, no date has been set. It is expected ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/08/fy-2009-h-1b-cap-reached/ The DHS has announced new rules impacting certains persons on OPT.  http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1207334008610.shtm  HLG will be providing a detailed summary of these rules on Monday.  The USCIS has also issed an FAQ regarding the new rules http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/OPT_FAQ_4apr08.pdf http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/06/new-opt-rules-announced/ HLG produces a monthly ezine directed at employers who employ foreign national workers. It is free of charge and can be subscribed to using a link to the right. The March edition was released last week. http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/monthly/business-immigration-monthly-March-2008-h-1-cap.htm http://www.h1cap.com/2008/04/01/hlg-releases-march-business-immigration-monthly/ Today, the USCIS issued an Interim Rule which changes certain policies for H-1b cap filings for FY 2008. The full memo can be found at USCIS link.    The new rule makes 2 major changes: 1. Duplicate filings by the same employer for the same beneficiary will be denied or revoked and filing ... http://www.h1cap.com/2008/03/19/uscis-issues-interim-rule-for-fy-2008-h-1b-cap-filings/