|
|
|
IMMIGRATION BILL CLEARS KEY SENATE VOTE
NEW FEES
TOP TEN VISA WAIT TIMES
EMPLOYMENT BASED
IMMIGRANT VISAS CURRENT!
DOL ISSUES NEW REGULATIONS REQUIRING EMPLOYER
TO PAY ALL FEES (in most cases)
VISA BULLETIN LINK
|
|
|
|
KAZMI &
SAKATA is a Business & Family Immigration Nationality Law Firm
in San Diego, California.
Our firm can help you obtain your Green Card
through Marriage or through Employment.
|
|
|
|
www.ksvisalaw.com
|
The AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
Annual Conference was held June 13-16 in Orlando, Florida.
Clifford Sakata attended the entire event and met several
of our colleagues and other immigration professionals.
Kazmi & Sakata
attend different conferences all year long to stay abreast of all changes
in U.S.
Immigration Law.
|
|
|
Kazmi & Sakata are proud to provide this free
monthly newsletter. This newsletter includes a few brief U.S.
immigration updates relating to Employment & Family Visas
and Green Cards. It is important for Employers and Family members to
stay abreast of any new changes in U.S. immigration policy and
procedures.
This month's issue covers a variety of
immigrant and non-immigrant issues.
|
IMMIGRATION BILL CLEARS KEY SENATE VOTE
Kazmi & Sakata has been waiting to send out our
latest newsletter in hopes to provide any news on the pending
legislation in the Senate. The Senate voted Tuesday, the 26th of June,
to jump-start the stalled immigration measure to legalize millions of
unlawful immigrants. President Bush said the bill offered a
"historic opportunity for Congress to act," and appeared
optimistic about its passage by week's end.
The pivotal test-vote was 64-35 to revive the divisive legislation. It
still faces formidable obstacles in the Senate, including bitter
opposition by GOP conservatives and attempts by some waverers in both parties to revise its key
elements.
Supporters needed 60 votes to scale procedural hurdles and return to
the bill. A similar test-vote earlier this month found just 45
supporters, only seven of them Republicans. This time, 24 Republicans
joined 39 Democrats and independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, to
back moving ahead with the bill. Opposing the move were 25 Republicans,
nine Democrats and independent Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
|
|
NEW FEES
|
Fees for most CIS filing forms and applications will all
be increased on July 30, 2007.
Most filing fees will double in price.
Please feel free to email us for a complete list of the
prices and comparisons to previous rates (info@ksvisalaw.com).
|
|
|
|
|
TOP TEN VISA WAIT TIMES
|
|
Here is the list of the Top Ten Visa Wait Times at different U.S. Consular Posts.
1. 780 days US
Interests Section Havana Cuba
2. 130 days Caracas
Venezuela
3. 125 days Port au Prince Haiti
4. 93 days Rio de
Janeiro Brazil
5. 73 days Santo
Domingo Dominican
Republic
6. 72 days Tel Aviv Israel
7. 67 days Brasilia
Brazil
8. 65 days Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
9. 62 days Nairobi
Kenya
10. 59 days Sao Paulo
& Monterrey Brazil & Mexico
|
|
|
|
|
EMPLOYMENT BASED
IMMIGRANT VISAS CURRENT!
|
|
The Employment Based Immigrant Visa
categories are all current (with the exception of the "other
worker" category). This is welcoming news for applicants who have
been waiting up to five years for the ability to file an Adjustment of
Status.
Kazmi & Sakata suggest all clients and
aliens to file in the month of July. We do not anticipate the
categories will remain current for long. In addition, with the increase
in filing fees occurring on July 30th (see above), one
should not wait much longer. Once the Adjustment of Status is filed,
the alien will have the right to wait in the U.S. even if the backlogs
reoccur.
|
|
|
|
|
DOL ISSUES NEW REGULATIONS REQUIRING EMPLOYER TO PAY ALL
FEES (in most cases)
|
|
The Department of
Labor (DOL) is amending its regulations to enhance program integrity
and reduce the incentives and opportunities for fraud and abuse related
to the permanent employment of aliens in the United States. This Final
Rule includes several major provisions and is Effective July 16, 2007:
(A) Prohibit an employer from substituting a new beneficiary in an
approved labor certification (PERM
application);
(B) Mandate that the validity period of an approved labor certificate
is 180 days. If the employer fails to file an immigrant visa petition
with the CIS within 180 days after the labor certificate (PERM application)
is approved, it is void;
(C) Prohibit the beneficiary from paying attorneys fees for a labor
certification or a PERM
application.
In addition, this rule requires employers to pay the costs of
preparing, filing and obtaining certification. An employer's transfer
to the alien beneficiary of the employer's costs incurred in the labor
certification or application process is strictly prohibited. The rule
makes clear an alien may pay his or her own legitimate costs in the
permanent labor certification process, including attorneys' fees for
representation of the alien. The rule also reinforces existing law
pertaining to the submission of fraudulent or false information and
clarifies current DOL procedures for responding to incidents of
possible fraud. Finally, the rule establishes procedures for debarment
from the permanent labor certification program.
|
|
|
|
The Visa Bulletin
provides updates on Immigrant Visas (green cards), which are
numerically limited by category and by country of chargeability.
Please see the
following link to the July Visa Bulletin issued by the Department
of State:
|
|
|
|
|
|
We ask our readers to participate and be
active in the U.S.
immigration practice. Please send us your feedback on this
newsletter and feel free to ask any U.S. Immigration question you
may have by sending an email to info@ksvisalaw.com.
|
