Tuesday, December 13, 2011

MU LAW MEDIA


Musillo Unkenholt LLC has a variety of ways that you can read our content and interact with MU Law staff. We have a vibrant Facebook page and Twitter following. Our blogs are featured on ILW.com and on musillo.com. We also send out MU Visa Advisors to our clients, which we archive.

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Friday, December 9, 2011

JANUARY 2012 VISA BULLETIN


The Department of State has just released the January 2012 Visa Bulletin. The January Visa Bulletin is the fourth Visa Bulletin of US Fiscal Year 2012.

This Visa Bulletin showed much improvement in the EB-2 categories. The China and India EB-2 numbers jumped 10 months to January 2009. The EB-3 categories had much more modest gains -- a few weeks in all instances.


Jan 2012 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 01JAN0901JAN09Current
EB-301FEB0615OCT0408AUG0201FEB06



Wednesday, December 7, 2011

LATEST ON HR 3012

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has temporarily blocked the Senate from passing HR 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The companion Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). It is labeled S. 1857.

HR 3012/S 1857 seeks to eliminate per-country caps on employment-sponsored green cards. Sen. Grassley has held the bill because "it does nothing to better protect Americans."

Sen. Grassley has long sought major changes in the H-1B rules. He has not specified what changes he is seeking in HR 3012/S 1857. It does not seem likely that the Senator would allow any amendment to increase visa numbers or provide for a faster-track Schedule A visa process.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

HOUSE PASSES HR 3012

On Tuesday, November 29, the House of Representatives passed HR. 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act by a vote of 389-15. The Senate must now consider the bill. If the Senate passes HR 3012, President Obama is expected to sign the HR 3012 into law.

The measure, if passed into law, would eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act generally provides that the total number of employment-based immigrant visas made available to natives of any foreign country in a year cannot exceed 7% of the total number of such visas made available in that year. The bill eliminates this per country percentage cap in a phased in process between 2012 and 2015.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

SEATING OPTIONS FOR THE NPTE

The next National Physical Therapy Exam is scheduled for December 5, 2011. The NPTE’s website regularly publishes the lists of test sites and the number of seats that are available for each site. The list breaks down by individual Prometric facility. Prometric is the independent test administrator for the NPTE. The NPTE is written and graded by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

Friday, November 25, 2011

H-1B CAP REACHED

The USCIS announced that the Fiscal Year 2012 H-1B cap was reached on November 22, 2011. USCIS will reject cap-subject petitions for new H-1B specialty occupation workers seeking an employment start date in FY 2012 that arrive after November 22, 2011.

International workers who are working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa with another cap-subject employer are not subject to H-1B cap. These cases are commonly referred to as “H-1B transfer” cases and may be filed at any time throughout the year.

Employees that need a "cap-subject" H-1B must wait to file their Petition until April 1, 2012, for an employment start date of October 1, 2012. "Cap-subject" H-1B petitions include:

* International students working on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S. school

* International employees working on a TN may need an H-1B filed for them in order for them to pursue a permanent residency (green card) case

* Prospective international employees in another visa status e.g. H-4, L-2, J-1, F-1

* H-1B workers with a cap exempt organization

* Prospective international employees currently living abroad

Friday, November 18, 2011

H-1 CAP TO BE REACHED BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER


MU clients are urged to initiate and file any regular cap-subject H-1B cases as soon as possible.  MU now believes that the H-1B cap may be reached before the end of November.

The latest USCIS update is that 56,300 of the 65,000 regular H-1B numbers have been used as of November 14, 2011, leaving about 8,000 H-1B visas.  The demand for H-1B numbers has surged in the last few weeks.

Employees that may need an H-1B visa include:

  •  International students working on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S. school
  • International employees working on a TN may need an H-1B filed for them in order for them to pursue a permanent residency (green card) case
  • Prospective international employees in another visa status e.g. H-4, L-2, J-1, F-1
  • H-1B workers with a cap exempt organization
  • Prospective international employees currently living abroad


International workers who are working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa with another cap-subject employer are not subject to H-1B cap.  These cases are commonly referred to as “H-1B transfer” cases and may be filed at any time throughout the year.

The USCIS sets aside an additional 20,000 H-1B numbers for graduates of US Masters degree (or higher) programs through a program referred to as the “H-1B Masters Cap”.  The H-1B Masters Cap has been reached.  H-1B Masters Cap petitions are now also counted against the regular H-1B cap.

Monday, November 14, 2011

DECEMBER 2011 VISA BULLETIN


The Department of State has just released the December 2011 Visa Bulletin. The December Visa Bulletin is the third Visa Bulletin of US Fiscal Year 2012.

As recently has been the case, the EB-3 dates moved up slowly but steadily, averaging a few weeks improvement; India and China EB-2 did move ahead about three months.



Dec 2011 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 15MAR0815MAR08Current
EB-315JAN0608SEPT0401AUG0215JAN06



Thursday, November 10, 2011

EB2 FOR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

For many non-Indian and non-Chinese natives, the EB-2 Permanent Residency visa (green card) provides a fast and cost-effective alternative to the H-1B process. The EB-2 also allows for a much faster green card process when compared to the EB-3 Permanent Residency process.

The EB-2 is available when the employer requires a Masters Degree for entry into the position and the Physical Therapist holds a Masters Degree. USCIS regulation says that a Masters Degree is equivalent to a Bachelors Degree and five years of progressive experience.

MU Law has successfully applied for the EB-2 for many Physical Therapists who have five years of progressive experience in occupation after the attainment of their Bachelors degree.

The USCIS has been inconsistent in their adjudication of Physical Therapist EB-2 Petitions when the Therapist holds an FCCPT “first professional degree” evaluation. The inconsistency largely is due to some degree being titled, Bachelor Degree, when in fact, these degrees are equivalent ot a US Masters Degree.

Legally speaking, the USCIS ought to be approving these Petitions since the independent FCCPT evaluations equate the Physical Therapists foreign degrees to a US Masters Degree. FCCPT is a premier credentialing evaluator for Physical Therapists. In May 2010, its FCCPT Type I Certification was re-certified by the USCIS until 2015. CGFNS offers a similar certification called the Visa Screen. CGFNS is also a premier credentialing evaluator for Physical Therapists.

MU Law successfully has filed many EB-2 Petitions for many Employers and Therapists. These Petitions are not simple filings, but require a substantive legal analysis of the employer’s hiring practices and the Therapists’ educational background. If you are interested in having an MU attorney review your matter for applicability as an EB-2 Permanent Residency green card, please contact Chris Musillo or Cindy Unkenholt.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

H-1B CAP TO BE REACHED IN DECEMBER

MU clients are urged to initiate and file any regular cap-subject H-1B cases as soon as possible. The H-1B cap likely will be reached in December 2011.

The latest USCIS update is that 49,200 of the 65,000 regular H-1B numbers have been used as of October 28, 2011, leaving 15,800 H-1B visas. Based on prior year’s usage, MU expects that the demand will rise again in November. The demand for H-1B numbers historically has spiked as the H-1B number grows closer to 65,000.

Employees that may need an H-1B visa include:

  • International students working on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S. school
  • International employees working on a TN may need an H-1B filed for them in order for them to pursue a permanent residency (green card) case
  • Prospective international employees in another visa status e.g. H-4, L-2, J-1, F-1;- H-1B workers with a cap exempt organization
  • Prospective international employees currently living abroad

International workers who are working in the U.S. on an H-1B visa with another cap-subject employer are not subject to H-1B cap. These cases are commonly referred to as “H-1B transfer” cases and may be filed at any time throughout the year.

Additionally, the USCIS sets aside an additional 20,000 H-1B numbers for graduates of US Masters degree (or higher) programs through a program referred to as the “H-1B Masters Cap”. The H-1B Masters Cap has been reached. H-1B Masters Cap petitions are now also counted against the regular H-1B cap.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

UPDATE! USCIS I-797 APPROVAL NOTICES

Last week, MU Law notified its clients of a USCIS policy change, in which the USCIS was sending I-797 Approval Notices to Petitioners and Beneficiaries, instead of sending these documents to the Petitioners and Beneficiaries' designated representatives and lawyers.

In a quick break from this policy, USCIS Director Mayorkas announced that the USCIS will revert back to the long-standing policy of sending I-797 Approval Notices to the Petitioners and Beneficiaries' representatives and lawyers. MU Law applauds this reversion of policy. The USCIS is often lambasted for ill-thought out policy. It is therefore only right to highlight when they make the right decision.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

NEW H-1B WHEN A CHANGE IN GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION?

Staffing companies provide value in industries where there is a shortage of qualified labor because the ability for flexible labor is great. Similarly, high rates of immigration are common in occupations where there are shortages of labor.

It is therefore understandable that many companies that employ large numbers of immigrants are staffing companies. The H-1B visa is the most common visa vehicle for these workers. Healthcare staffing companies often employ Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists via the H-1B visa.

These companies often then have to move these workers to new geographical locations as dictated by client’s needs. While a new or amended H-1B visa is required when there is a material change in an employee’s job duties, a new or amended H-1B visa traditionally is unnecessary when an H-1B worker moves to a new geographical location.

As Musillo Unkenholt explained in an April 2010 letter to a public inquiry request by the USCIS,

In at least five prior correspondences (all referenced in the MU letter), USCIS and Legacy INS officials have determined that a simple geographic change is an immaterial change, and therefore the H-1B amendment rule is not triggered.

Practically and legally there is good reason for the existing USICS policy; a simple geographical change does not change the H-1B worker’s underlying job duties.

In AILA’s notes from an October 5 meeting with the USCIS, the USCIS implied that it may soon require a new or amended H-1B to be filed when there is a change in the worker's geographical location. The USCIS full comments were:

USCIS RESPONSE: This issue is currently under examination within the H-1B policy review working group as part of the comprehensive USCIS policy review. We will take AILA’s views into consideration when finalizing the policy on what circumstances would require an amended petition to be filed with USCIS.

There is no rationale for a change in policy on this issue other than to create additional administrative burdens on H-1B Petitioners. Musillo Unkenholt hopes that the USCIS instead focuses its efforts on those who abuse the immigration system.

Friday, October 14, 2011

H-1B CAP COUNT: 41,000

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012) H-1B cap season began on April 1, 2011. Since April 1, a mere 41,000 H-1B cap-subject Petitions have been receipted by USCIS as of October 7, 2011. This is much lower than in recent years and likely reflects the fact that US employers are not hiring workers, including foreign-national workers.

Many healthcare professions ordinarily qualify for H-1B status, including Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists, and some Registered Nursing positions.



Thursday, October 6, 2011

NOVEMBER 2011 VISA BULLETIN


The Department of State has just released the November 2011 Visa Bulletin. The November Visa Bulletin is the second Visa Bulletin of US Fiscal Year 2012.

As recently has been the case, the EB-3 dates moved up slowly but steadily, averaging a few weeks improvement; India and China EB-2 did move ahead about four months.

The Visa Bulletin contained a discussion about future EB-2 movement:

The November Employment-based Second preference cut-off date for applicants from China and India is the most favorable since August 2007. This advancement is expected to generate significant levels of demand based on new filings for adjustment of status at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices. While significant future cut-off date movements are anticipated, they may not be made on a monthly basis. Readers should not expect such movements to be the norm throughout the fiscal year, and an eventual retrogression of the cut-off at some point during the year is a distinct possibility.


Nov 2011 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 01NOV0701NOV07Current
EB-322DEC0522AUG0422JUL0222DEC05



Tuesday, October 4, 2011

GENERATIONS HEALTHCARE SUED BY DOJ

The US Department of Justice filed suit against Generations Healthcare, a Skilled Nursing Facility, on Friday September 30, 2011. The lawsuit alleges that Generations Healthcare engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination by imposing unnecessary documentary requirements on job applicants.

The DOJ’s press release says that its investigation uncovered evidence that Generations Healthcare required all newly hired non-U.S. citizens and naturalized U.S. citizens at its St. Francis Pavilion facility to present specific and extra work authorization documents beyond those required by federal law to prove their status. These documents were not required of native-born US citizens.

MU Law clients and friends are reminded that US employers have to comply with the Form I-9 when hiring new employees. The Form I-9 identifies a variety of documents that may be used by job applications to prove valid work authorization and identity; it does not mandate that any specific document must be used.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

FAIRNESS FOR HIGH SKILLED IMMIGRANTS ACT

Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has just introduced HR 3012, The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act. The bill, if passed into law, would eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act generally provides that the total number of employment-based immigrant visas made available to natives of any foreign country in a year cannot exceed 7% of the total number of such visas made available in that year. The bill eliminates this per country percentage cap.

If passed, the Act greatly improves the processing times for Indian and Chinese green card applicants. An unintended consequence of the Act likely would be the slowing of processing for natives of all countries.

The Act is supported by the US Chamber of Commerce, Compete America (a coalition of high tech companies (Microsoft, Google, Oracle, etc.) and various trade groups. The Act has been the primary motivation behind Immigration Voice.

The Act is co-sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The bill also adjusts family based visa limits from 7% per country to 15% per country.

Before the Act can become law, it will have to attract more co-sponsors and be recommended for a vote in the US House of Representatives. Once it passes the House, the Act will have to be passed by the US Senate. President Obama almost certainly would sign the Act into law.

Monday, September 26, 2011

THE LEARNING

The US public television network, PBS, has been airing the documentary, The Learning, on local PBS stations around the country. The Learning tells the tale of four Philippine elementary school teachers as they migrate from their Philippine homeland and into inner-city Baltimore. The teachers laugh, cry, dance, and sing their way through their adventure, all the while balancing their love of their homeland with classrooms of unruly children in one of America’s gravest inner cities.

The compelling nature of the quest would make for a tight 90 minutes of viewing regardless of the subject-immigrants, but the radiance of these women raises the documentary to compelling viewing.

Their desire to help family and friends through remittance payments underscores the entire film. The most gripping scene occurs when one of the teachers, Angel, returns to her homeland and has to explain to her family that the American money “does not grow on trees,” as only a beloved schoolteacher can explain. Angel, like her three colleagues, never stops teaching – the children, her family, and we the viewers.

The film is streaming for free through October 20 on PBS’ website – unfortunately the streaming is only available in America. MU Law highly recommends The Learning for any reader of this Blog and anyone interested in first-person accounts of the modern immigrant experience.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

NPTE TEST DATES



The NPTE announces these test dates for the next several dates. In order to schedule for one of the two upcoming exams, please click:

October 26, 2011 (Updated 9/19/2011)
December 5, 2011 (Updated 9/19/2011)

NPTE Test Dates
Test DateRegistration DeadlineJurisdiction DeadlineScores Reported

Oct 26, 2011Sept 26, 2011Oct 10, 2011Nov 2, 2011

Dec 5, 2011Nov 5, 2011Nov 21, 2011Dec 12, 2011

Future dates in 2012 are available at the FSBPT webpage.

Monday, September 19, 2011

H-1B CAP COUNT: 32,200

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012) H-1B cap season began on April 1, 2011. Since April 1, a mere 32,200 H-1B cap-subject Petitions have been receipted by USCIS as of September 9, 2011. This is much lower than in recent years and likely reflects the fact that US employers are not hiring workers, including foreign-national workers.

To put this in perspective, in FY 2011, which began April 1, 2010, the USCIS has receipted about 38,000 H-1Bs through September 17, 2010. Many healthcare professions ordinarily qualify for H-1B status, including Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists, and some Registered Nursing positions.

For three years the H-1B demand has decreased. This is compelling evidence that H-1B workers are not used to drive down US worker’s wages. If H-1B workers were used to drive down wages, H-1B demand would remain consistent in a decreasing economy, since US employers would still want to save money on salary expenses.

Monday, September 12, 2011

OCTOBER 2011 VISA BULLETIN


The Department of State has just released the October 2011 Visa Bulletin. The October Visa Bulletin is the first Visa Bulletin of US Fiscal Year 2012.

As recently has been the case, the dates moved up slowly but steadily, averaging a one month improvement.


Oct 2011 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 15JUL0715JUL07Current
EB-308DEC0508AUG0415JUL0208DEC05


The Visa Bulletin included this prediction on future movement of dates:

Employment Second:

Worldwide: Current

China and India: The current cut-off date is approaching the most favorable date previously reached for applicants from China and India. The rapid forward movement is intended to generate demand based on new filings for adjustment of status at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offices, which currently accounts for over 85% of all Employment-based number use. Once the level of demand increases sufficiently, it may be necessary to slow or stop the cut-off movement, and a retrogression of the cut-offs at some point during the year is a distinct possibility.

Mexico: Current
Philippines: Current

Employment Third:

Worldwide: up to one month
China: one to three weeks
India: up to two weeks
Mexico: up to one month
Philippines: up to one month

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

MU AS AILA FACULTY

MU’s Chris Musillo is one of the three presenting faculty members for the American Immigration Lawyers Association's September 13, 2011 teleconference on Consular Issues impacting Immigration: India, Philippines, and China. Chris will be speaking on hot issues effecting processing at the US Embassy in Manila.

From the AILA new release:

Which are the consular posts that process the highest volume of visa applications? What are the most common issues visa applicants and their attorneys face when dealing with these posts? Are there ways to minimize the stress involved in processing H-1Bs and Blanket L and individual L-1 applications?

The seminar wraps up with a Q&A session and will cover the following topics:

  • Common Issues with H-1B, Blanket L and Individual L Applications at Post India
  • Common Issues Faced by Applicants In Consular Posts In China
  • Overcoming 214(b) at American Embassy in Manila When Seeking a Visa to Take a Licensing Exam
  • How to Deal with Delays Caused by Administrative Processing

To register for this teleconference, please visit the AILA website. The teleconference is approved for CLE credits in most states.

Monday, August 29, 2011

PWD UPDATE

The Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) usually is the first step in the processing of an employment-based green card. This is a necessary beginning step for most occupations, including IT and healthcare occupations. The PWD is filed with the US Department of Labor (DOL).

In July, the DOL ceased processing PWDs as the direct result of a lawsuit affecting their H-2B applications. As a result of that lawsuit the entire PERM and Schedule A green card system has been disrupted.

Until the DOL re-commences the processing of PWDs, PERM and Schedule A green card cases may be delayed. It does appear that the resolution is forthcoming. There are reports that the first PWDs in several weeks have been received by the immigration community. If you have any questions on this, please do not hesitate to contact Musillo Unkenholt.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

H-1B CAP UPDATE: 25,300

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012) H-1B cap season began on April 1, 2011. Since April 1, a mere 25,300 H-1B cap-subject Petitions have been receipted by USCIS as of August 12, 2011. This is much lower than in recent years and likely reflects the fact that US employers are not hiring workers, including foreign-national workers.

To put this in perspective, in FY 2011, which began April 1, 2010, the USCIS has receipted about 30,000 H-1Bs through August 1, 2010. In FY 2009, there was about 47,000 H-1Bs receipted in by USCIS through September 1, 2009. For the prior three fiscal years (FY 2006-08), the H-1B cap was reached on the very first day of filing.

Many healthcare professions ordinarily qualify for H-1B status, including Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists, and some Registered Nursing positions.

For three years the H-1B demand has decreased. This is compelling evidence that H-1B workers are not used to drive down US worker’s wages. If H-1B workers were used to drive down wages, H-1B demand would remain consistent in a decreasing economy, since US employers would still want to save money on salary expenses.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

OTR CERTIFICATION EXAM CHANGES IN 2013

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) has announced that starting July 1, 2013, internationally educated occupational therapists will have new minimum educational standards to be eligible for the OTR Certification Exam. Internationally educated occupational therapists must either:

  • Completion of an Entry-Level Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from a government authorized and/or WFOT approved college or university occupational therapy educational program AND a Post Professional Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy OR
  • Completion of an Entry-Level Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from a government authorized and/or WFOT approved college or university occupational therapy educational program

NBCOT’s Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED) will be used to determine comparability to US accreditation occupational therapy educational standards and competencies. All internationally-educated occupational therapists approved for exam eligibility under current OTED eligibility standards must take and pass the OTR certification examination prior to July 1, 2013 if they do not hold an occupational therapy master’s degree deemed comparable to a U.S. entry-level accredited master’s degree in occupational therapy. After July 2013, internationally-educated occupational therapists will not be eligible for the OTR if they do not hold a US equivalent occupational therapy master’s degree.

NBCOT is the not-for-profit credentialing agency that provides certification for the occupational therapy profession.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

SEPTEMBER 2011 VISA BULLETIN

The Department of State has just released the September 2011 Visa Bulletin. There was very little progress in the dates, which is what usually happens as the US fiscal year nears the end. The US fiscal year's end date is September 30; This is the last Visa Bulletin of the fiscal year.



Sept 2011 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 15APR0715APR07Current
EB-322NOV0515JUL0408JUL0222NOV05



Thursday, August 4, 2011

H-1C FAQ

MU Law has had a few follow-up questions about the H-1C visa that was passed by the House of Representatives. We've put together this FAQ to answer a few common questions:


Q1. When does the new H-1C come into effect?

A1. The Senate must still pass the H-1C reauthorization into law and then the President must sign it. There is no set timetable for this to happen. In fact, the H-1C reauthorization may never come into law.


Q2. Will individuals who hold current H-1C visas be able to extend their H-1C status?

A2. They will provided that they have not used up their allotment of H-1C time. Approved nurses will be eligible for to be in H-1C status for 6 years.


Q3. Why are only 14 hospitals eligible?

A3. The H-1C law was crafted in a way to limit sponsorship to certain hospitals that meet a strict set of criteria established in the 1990s. The hospital must be located in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” as of March 31, 1997, have “at least 190 acute care beds,” at “least 35 [percent] of [the facility’s] acute care inpatient days reimbursed by Medicare,” and “at least 28 [percent] of [the facility’s] acute care inpatient days reimbursed by Medicaid.” Other hospitals may be eligible; however, the list of the 14 hospitals that qualify has not been updated in recent years. In a meeting with USCIS and CIS Ombudsman (Oct. 28, 2008), USCIS indicated that, to date, only one hospital that is not on identified on the list of 14 HPSA hospitals has applied for an H-1C nurse and that case is currently pendingadditional review.


Q4. Is there any H-1C cap, like the H-1B visa?

A4. Yes. The H-1C is limited to 300 nurses. However the cap has never been reached. According to USCIS, no H-1C visas were approved in FY 2006, 49 were approved in FY 2007, and, approximately 110 were approved in FY 2008.


Q5. Which 14 hospitals qualify for sponsorship?

A5. Here are the 14 hospitals:

1. Beaumont Regional Medical Center, Beaumont, TX

2. Beverly Hospital, Montebello, CA

3. Doctors Medical Center, Modesto, CA

4. Elizabeth General Medical Center, Elizabeth, NJ

5. Fairview Park Hospital, Dublin, GA

6. Lutheran Medical Center, St. Louis, MO

7. McAllen Medical Center, McAllen, TX

8. Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

9. Mercy Regional Medical Center, Laredo, TX

10. Peninsula Hospital Center, Far Rockaway, NY

11. Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, NC

12. Southwest General Hospital, San Antonio, TX

13. St. Bernard Hospital, Chicago, IL

14. Valley Baptist Medical Center, Harlingen, TX

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

HOUSE PASSES H-1C REAUTHORIZATION


The House of Representatives just has passed a reauthorization of the H-1C visa program. HR 1933 was first introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) this past spring. Rep. Smith quietly has been securing votes since the bill's introduction. The H-1C expired in December 2009.

HR 1933 looks similar to past iterations of the H-1C visa. Notably it appears to only apply to 14 hospitals in the U.S., many of which are in Rep. Smith's home state of Texas. Only 300 RN positions per year are authorized under the H-1C. The H-1C also includes wage protections for U.S. workers.

Because the H-1C is applicable to only 14 hospitals, the visa has never been used widely and is not expected to materially impact the processing of any immigrant (EB-3) visas. That having been said this is good news for those nurses whose visas expired under the previous H-1C.

Next, the bill must be introduced in the Senate. Once introduced the Senate must pass the bill. Pres. Obama is expected to sign the bill if it can garner enough votes in the Senate.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

MANILA VISA REISSUANCE PROGRAM

The US Embassy at Manila just has announced the establishment of a Non-Immigrant Visa Re-issuance program. The purpose of the program is to allow some applicants an expedited visa issuance process if they have previously held the visa that they are seeking to extend.

If one qualifies for the program, an applicant needs only to schedule an appointment, appear at the Embassy at the appointed time, and then have the application screened and give 10-print finger scans. The applicant will not have to participate in an interview.

At this time it does not appear that the VRP will be available to H-1B holders because of a condition that one did not stay in the US for more than 6 months. Here is the full list of conditions:

1. I am a Philippines passport holder.

2. I have previously been issued, in Manila, a full-validity visa (a visa good for five or ten years).

3. My visa is still valid... or it has expired within the last twelve months.

4. I have in my possession all of my passports covering the entire period of time since I received that full-validity visa.

5. I have not been refused a U.S. visa in the last twelve months.

6. My visa is not annotated "clearance received".

7. I have not ever stayed in the U.S. longer than 6 months (even if the Department of Homeland Security approved the extension of stay).

8. I have not ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, even if subject of a pardon.

9. I can provide the visa control number from my visa (located in the upper right hand corner of the visa).

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

MU LAW AND THE PNAA - 2011



For the last two years, MU Law has sponsored the Philipine Nurses Association of America's 5K fun run at their Annual Convention. This year's Convention and fun run was in San Francisco.

MU Law is honored to be associated with such a great organization. Visit the MU Law Facebook page for more photos of this event.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

AUG 2011 VISA BULLETIN

The Department of State has just released the August 2011 Visa Bulletin. Each category was promoted about one month.



Aug 2011 Visa Bulletin
All Other CountriesChina IndiaMexico
EB-2Current 15APR0715APR07Current
EB-301NOV0508JUL0401JUN0201NOV05



Monday, July 11, 2011

MU ATTORNEYS TO SPEAK AT IACC

Chris Musillo and Cindy Unkenholt are the featured speakers at the Indian American Chamber of Commerce's July meeting. Chris and Cindy will be speaking on employment-based immigration. If you are in Cincinnati and interested in attending, please visit the IACC webpage.


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

USCIS OMBUDSMAN REPORT

The USCIS Ombudsman is tasked with monitoring USCIS practices and recommending improvements to USCIS practices. Annually the USCIS Ombudsman produces a report. In early 2009, the Ombudsman made specific recommendations to the USCIS in order to enhance the processing of Schedule A green card applications. Schedule A, which provides an expedited green card application process, is limited to registered nurses and physical therapists.

The Ombudsman’s latest report has just been released. The Report contains many suggestions for improvement of USCIS processes and procedures. While MU has not fully read and considered all of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, one item did catch our eye.

In addition to other outreach initiatives, the Ombudsman’s Office will host its first annual conference on October 20, 2011. This conference is expected to provide an opportunity for government and private sector leaders to come together to discuss immigration issues that impact individuals and employers. MU commends Director Mayorkas, Ombudsman January Contreras, and their team for their continued dedication to outreach with US employers and other immigrant stakeholders.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

H-1B CAP ONLY AT 17,400

The Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012) H-1B cap season began on April 1, 2011. Since April 1, a mere 17,400 H-1B cap-subject Petitions have been receipted by USCIS as of June 24, 2011. This is much lower than in recent years and likely reflects the fact that while the US economy has improved in the recent months, it is not nearly as robust as it was in the middle part of the last decade.

To put this in perspective, in FY 2011, which began April 1, 2010, the USCIS has receipted about 30,000 H-1Bs through July 1, 2010. In FY 2009, there was about 45,000 H-1Bs receipted in by USCIS through July 1, 2009. For the prior three fiscal years (FY 2006-08), the H-1B cap was reached on the very first day of filing.

Many healthcare professions ordinarily qualify for H-1B status, including Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Therapists, and some Registered Nursing positions.

For three years the H-1B demand has decreased. This should put paid to the idea that H-1B workers are used to drive down US worker’s wages. If H-1B workers were used to drive down wages, H-1B demand would remain consistent in a decreasing economy.


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

POEA AND MANILA EMBASSY MEET TO DISCUSS FRAUD

The Fraud Prevention Unit of the US Embassy along with representatives from the POEA recently held a Conference on Fraud Prevention and Protection of foreign workers. The June 10, 2011 meeting was held at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila.

The POEA sought and continues to seek to educate Philippine workers about their rights and to combat illegal recruiting.

The US Embassy in Manila has announced the William Wilberforce Act Tagalog version. The act requires that people are made aware of their immigration rights.

Importantly the US officials also discussed their review standard before visa issuance. They reminded attendees that USCIS approval of the I-129 does not guarantee H-1B workers a visa. Before the H-1B visa is issued the Embassy reviews each case to insure that there is a bona fide job opportunity.