Greetings!
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H-1B Cap Reached on 11/22/2011
The H-1B cap has been reached for the 2012 Fiscal Year. As of November 22, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap. The agency will accept no further standard or advanced degree cap-subject cases for employment in FY 2012.
H-1B cap-subject petitions that were received on November 22, 2011, the final receipt date, may be entered into a computerized lottery if USCIS determines that more than enough petitions were received that day. Cases not selected in the random lottery will be rejected and returned. Any cap-subject case received on or after November 23 will be rejected and returned.
There will be no further opportunities to file cap-subject cases until at least until April 1, 2012, when the filing season for H-1B cap employment in FY 2013 will commence.
To discuss more about your firm's strategy for next year, please call our offices at 8043608482 in Richmond, 9193804044 in North Carolina and 800-913-4122 in Virginia Beach area or send an email to info@challalaw.com. You can also reach your attending paralegal/attorney who can provide you more information.
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INDIA- VISA Update for USA - Mumbai Consulate
With immediate effect the USA VFS - WESTERN REGION will provide a Barcode on one set of DS 160 & Interview letter with USA consulate Mumbai which the applicant has to carry at time of Interview along with the MRV slips (Both copies in original)
At time of submission of documents at VFS the applicant or Travel agent has to carry two set of DS 160 confirmation & Interview letter with USA consulate (This is in addition to the regular documentation we submit to VFS) in return the VFS counter staff will provide the Bar code pasted on one set of documents back to the concern person which needs to handover to applicant & has to be carried at time of Interview
In case the applicant fail to carry the acknowledge documents of VFS along with Original MRV slips & passport he/she will not be able to perform his/her Interview & will not be entertained at the Consulate
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Chennai, India's sole US blanket L visa center from Dec 1, 2011
From December 1, the U.S Consulate General here will be the only center in the country to receive and process blanket L category visas meant for managers, executives or specialized knowledge professionals transferring within their company, a US diplomat said today.
"The Consulate General in Chennai will be the US Mission to India's sole blanket L category visa acceptance and processing center. Companies throughout India will be requested to send blanket L applicants exclusively to Chennai for visa interviews," Chief of Consular services at the US Consulate General here Nicolas Manring told reporters.
L1B and L1A categories include specialized knowledge professionals, executives and managers transferring to U.S.
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and U.S. Consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad will no longer accept or process applications for this visa category. The blanket L category includes specialized knowledge professionals, executives and managers.
All other visa processing procedures remain unchanged.
Please note that spouse and children visas (L2) and individual L visas (L1B and L1A individuals) may be processed at all posts in India-Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Please note that this is strictly an administrative change. It is not a change in the law or policy of visas for Indian companies.
Explaining the reason behind the move, Manring said the centralization was only to "increase efficiency," and will not affect the spouses and children of L1 visa holders. Individual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US consular section in India.
A US Consulate General release said 10 per cent of all US non-immigrant visa applications come from India. The country also accounted for 37 per cent of all L1 visas worldwide from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 |
Change in contact information for the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai
From November 1, 2011, the Consular Section will no longer respond to emails sent to chennainiv@state.gov or chennaiiv@state.gov by nonimmigrant / immigrant visa applicants and general public. All applicants can now send their email inquiries about nonimmigrant/ immigrant visas and any case specific inquiries about their visa cases to VFS at infouschennai@vfshelpline.com
Applicants seeking expedited appointments (only for life and death, medical emergencies and urgent U.S. business interest), may send thier request to chennaiexp@state.gov. Please check their website first for the available interview appointments. Often interview appointments are available within two to three days.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai has a new helpline for all phone inquiries regarding nonimmigrant visas to the U.S. The change will provide improved customer service to nonimmigrant / immigrant visa applicants as they will greatly benefit from a multi-lingual helpline and increased working hours.
For all your nonimmigrant / immigrant visa inquiries, please call the VFS Helpline at 0120 - 6611411 (+91-120-6611411 if you are calling internationally). VFS Helpline will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Consulate General holidays. |
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USCIS Introduces Bundled Filing for L-1B Petitions
USCIS is giving employers the option to have multiple L-1B petitions adjudicated together if beneficiaries have the same overseas employer, will work in the same U.S. location and will perform the same specialized knowledge duties on the same project, the agency announced.
Petitions for L-1A managers can be included in a bundle, provided the L-1A beneficiary will manage the L-1B workers whose cases are batched together. Form I-539 applications to change or extend the status of dependents can also be included.
Each individual filing in a bundle must contain its own supporting evidence, filing fees and necessary forms. A separate Form G-28 attorney notice of appearance and a Form I-907 premium processing request (if desired) must be submitted for each case.
Employers may submit more than one bundle of petitions if there are multiple specialized knowledge occupations involved in a particular project. The option to bundle L-1B filings is among several L-1 initiatives recently announced by USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. The agency is also in the midst of focusing on its L-1B adjudication policies.
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India/China EB-2 Priority Dates, While EB-3 Shows Continued Modest Advancement
EB-2 priority dates for India and China will make a significant advancement of four and one-half months, to March 15, 2008, according to the Department of State's December Visa Bulletin.
EB-3 priority dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by 10 days for India, to August 1, 2002, and by 17 days for China, to September 8, 2004. EB-3 priority dates for professionals and skilled workers will advance by 24 days for all other countries to January 15, 2006.
EB-3 priority dates for other workers will remain at April 22, 2003 for China, and advance by one month and seven days, to July 22, 2002, for India. All other countries will advance one month and 17 days, to January 1, 2006.
The December 2011 EB immigrant priority date cut-offs will be:
EB-1
Current for all countries.
EB-2
India: March 15, 2008
China: March 15, 2008
Current for all other countries.
EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers
India: August 1, 2002
China: September 8, 2004
All other countries: January 15, 2006
EB-3 Other Workers
India: July 22, 2002
China: April 22, 2003
All other countries: January 1, 2006
EB-5
Current for all countries and subcategories. |
USCIS Redesigns Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Certificate of Citizenship to Enhance Security and Combat Fraud
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of an enhanced Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a redesigned Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560) with new features to strengthen security and deter fraud.
As part of USCIS's ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity of the immigration system, the state-of-the-art technology incorporated into the new documents will deter counterfeiting, obstruct tampering, and facilitate quick and accurate authentication. USCIS began issuing the new EADs today and will begin using the redesigned certificates on Oct. 30. The agency anticipates that more than 1 million people will receive the new documents over the next year.
"These enhanced documents are more secure than ever," said Director Mayorkas. "They advance our efforts to safeguard against fraud and protect the integrity of the immigration system."
The new features of the EAD will better equip workers, employers and law enforcement officials to recognize the card as definitive proof of authorization to work in the United States.
USCIS worked closely with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Forensic Document Laboratory to incorporate technology and tactile features in order to deter fraud and facilitate card authentication.
Additionally, USCIS employs a new and more secure printing process for its redesigned Certificate of Citizenship that renders the certificate more tamper-proof.
Although the look and feel of the documents is new, the manner in which an applicant applies for and receives them will not change. USCIS will replace EADs already in circulation as individuals apply for their renewal or replacement. All previously issued EADs remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card. Previously issued Certificates of Citizenship remain valid indefinitely
These improvements demonstrate USCIS's ongoing efforts to produce more secure documentation. In 2010, USCIS issued the new Permanent Resident Card, which added security features to the physical card and integrated technology improvements in the card production process. Additionally, USCIS launched the redesigned Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550) featuring the naturalization candidate's digitized photo and signature embedded into the document. USCIS will continue to enhance document security features as technology improves. |
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Disclaimer
This newsletter has been prepared for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No information included herein shall create an attorney/client relationship or constitute an invitation for such a relationship. This newsletter is not intended to be an advertisement. You should always seek professional, independent legal consultation before taking or refraining from any action. |
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Sincerely,
Lakshmi Challa
Challa Law Offices
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Lakshmi Challa's Upcoming Events:
Attending Morrisville Chamber Holiday Event Dec 8, 2011.
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Challa Law Offices After Hours Drop Box
For you convenience we now have this facility at our Richmond office.
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Our Office Locations:
RICHMOND, VA:
5040 Sadler Place
Suite 200
Glen Allen, VA 23060
804-360-8482
VA BEACH, VA:
4445 Corporation Ln. Suite 291
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
800-913-4122
MORRISVILLE, NC:
5105 Grace Park Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-380-4044
HYDERABAD INDIA:
Challa Legal Services Pvt. Ltd
401 Flora Apartments
Road Number 3
Banjara Hills
Hyderabad, AP. India
91 40 23352295/6 |
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