Department of State releases August 2009 Visa Bulletin
July 10, 2009
The U.S. State Department released the August 2009 Visa Bulletin on July 10, 2009. Visa Dates are announced by the U.S. Department of State every month. India and China’s priority dates for EB-2 have advanced by about three years. All categories in EB-3 and Other Workers remain unavailable. There is also discussion that EB-1 for China and India will also retrogress in August. Not a good sign of things to come. For more information on this and other news be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at GLC Newsletter. Pursuant to INA § 245(a)(3), aliens with priority dates prior to the cut-off dates shown on the Visa Bulletin will be eligible to file adjustment of status applications during the month of August 2009. We at GLC post these dates for your convenience on our website under Visa Bulletin as soon as they become available from U.S. Department of State.
USCIS Updates FY 2010 H-1B Count (Updated 6/24/09)
June 24, 2009
As of June 19, 2009, approximately 44,500 H-1B cap-subject petitions have been received by USCIS and counted towards the H-1B cap. Approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption have been filed. 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.
USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for I-140s
June 23, 2009
USCIS has announced that effective June 29, 2009, it will resume Premium Processing Service for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(f)(2). After an evaluation of its I-140 backlog reduction efforts and increased I-140 adjudicative efficiencies, USCIS has concluded that it is now able to provide Premium Process Service for this benefit. USCIS will accept Premium Processing requests for Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, involving EB-1 Aliens with Extraordinary Ability, EB-1 Outstanding Professors and Researchers, EB-2 Members of Professions with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability not seeking a National Interest Waiver, EB-3 Professionals, EB-3 Skilled Workers, and EB-3 Workers other than Skilled Workers and Professionals. Premium Processing Service is still not available for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, involving EB-1 Multinational Executives and Managers and EB-2 Members of Professions with Advanced Degrees or Exceptional Ability seeking a National Interest Waiver.
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