October 6, 2011

The House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary approved a bill on September 21, 2011, that would mandate E-Verify use by U.S. employers for all new employees. ... [read more]

The October Visa Bulletin from the Department of State's Visa Office notes that employment-based visa availability in the coming months is expected to be "Current" for the employment first preference (EB-1) category; the employment second preference (EB-2) Worldwide, Mexico, and Philippines categories; and the employment fourth and fifth categories. ... [read more]

On September 14, 2011, the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement held a hearing on the EB-5 investor visa program. ... [read more]

The online registration period for the 2013 diversity visa program (DV-2013) started on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at noon (EDT) and ends on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon (EDT). Entries must be submitted electronically with photographs.  There are no fees to enter. The Department of State strongly encourages applicants not to wait until the last week to enter, because heavy demand may result in website delays and no applications will be accepted on paper or after the deadline. For fiscal year 2013, the program will make available 50,000 visas to eligible persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. ... [read more]

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration has postponed for 60 days the effective date for the final rule on wage methodology for the H-2B temporary nonagricultural employment program. ... [read more]

The Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report in September on H-1B workers' use of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) that could result in closer monitoring of status violations by H-1B workers and potential liability for H-1B employers. ... [read more]

The Department of State announced on September 23, 2011, that it plans to conduct on-site reviews of Summer Work Travel Program sponsors to evaluate regulatory compliance. The program provides foreign college and university students the opportunity to work and travel in the U.S. during their extended academic break (summer vacation) for up to four months. ... [read more]

On September 16, 2011, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton announced an initiative to streamline the international student visa process for foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. ... [read more]

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a notice to SEVIS users on September 14, 2011, on special relief for Libyan F-1 students enrolled in English as a Second Language programs, as outlined in a Federal Register notice published on June 10, 2011. ... [read more]