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USCIS updates FY2013 H-1B Cap- Petitions still being accepted

April 17, 2012
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced it continues to accept H-1B nonimmigrant petitions subject to the Fiscal Year 2013. USCIS will monitor the number of petitions received for both the 65,000 general cap and the 20,000 U.S. master�s degree or higher educational exemption. USCIS has received approximately 17,400 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap. The agency has received approximately 8,200 petitions for individuals with advanced degrees. Should USCIS receive the necessary number of petitions to meet the cap, it will issue an update to advise the public, that the FY 2013 H-1B cap has been met as of a certain date (the �final receipt date�). The final receipt date will be based on the date USCIS physically receives the petition, not the date that the petition has been postmarked.

Department of State Releases May 2012 Visa Bulletin

April 16, 2012
The U.S. State Department released the May 2012 Visa Bulletin on April 9, 2012. Visa Dates are announced by the U.S. Department of State every month. Movement in the EB-2 Category is at a standstill until October 2012, while EB-3 continues to move very little. It appears that across the board we see about a week of movement in priority dates for EB-3. We can only hope that next month reflects greater advancement. 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 May 2012. 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.

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announces TPS (Temporary Protected Status) to Syria

April 13, 2012
Due to the violent upheaval and deteriorating situation in the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that eligible Syrian nationals (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) in the United States may apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). To be eligible for TPS, Syrians must meet all individual requirements for TPS, including demonstrating that they have continually resided and been continually physically present in the United States since March 29, 2012. All individuals who apply for TPS will undergo a thorough security check. Individuals with criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS and their applications will be denied.