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Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C. - U.S. and Canadian Immigration and Nationality Newsletter and Update.

04/01/2013
In This Issue:
YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, MICHAEL PHULWANI, ESQ. AND DAVID NACHMAN, ESQ., PROVIDE U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATES ON TV ASIA & ITV: VLOG & USCIS NEWS UPDATES ON THE WEB & ON TV.
SPRINGING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON: CBP REMINDER FOR SPRING HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.
WAITING FOR THE H-1B DOOR BELL TO RING.....APRIL 1ST 2013
CBP ANNOUNCES AUTOMATION OF FORM I-94 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE RECORD AND MOVES TO ELIMINATE PAPER FORMS.
USCIS NOTICE TO USE CURRENT N-400 FORM
WHAT TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE BECAME THE PART OF U.S IN FY 2012
COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM: WHAT, WHEN & HOW IT WILL HAPPEN?
THIS WEEK'S MOST POPULAR Q&A: H-1B Cap-Gap Regulation for OPT and F-1 Students.
WHAT IS UP WITH THOSE PRIORITY DATES: VISA BULLETIN FOR APRIL 2013.
NOTICE TO ALL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGERS AND STAFF: The New I-9 Form Has Been Announced By USCIS!
YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, MICHAEL PHULWANI, ESQ.  AND DAVID NACHMAN, ESQ., PROVIDE U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATES ON TV ASIA & ITV: VLOG & USCIS NEWS UPDATES ON THE WEB & ON TV.
 
 

David Nachman, Esq. and Michael Phulwani, Esq., your Immigration and Nationality Lawyers, continue to bring employment and family-based immigration and nationality news and updates to your TV screen each week on TV Asia and iTV. Watch "YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS" each week on iTV and TV Asia. Please contact us at  [email protected] for additional U.S. immigration law information or about how to subscribe to iTV or TV Asia. 

Cut-off dates for month of April 2013 (Visa Bulletin April 2013), timely filing of LCAs, H-1B site visits, cap-gap, H-1B visas for F.Y. 2014
 
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New I-9 Form for Employers, Automation of I-94 Form, Electronic I-94 Forms, how to get an I-94 Form, Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)
 
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H-1B Visa F.Y. 2014, New I-9 Form for Employers, Automation of I-94 Form, Electronic I-94 Forms, how to get an I-94 Form, Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR)
 

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UPCOMING EVENT
 
EANJ - IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATE:  Comprehensive Immigration Reform, I-9 Audits, The New I-9 Form, ICE Enforcement Against U.S. Employers and IMAGE. 

 

When: April 17th, 2013

 

Where: Hilton Parsippany,

1 Hilton Ct, Parsippany, NJ  07054

 

Time: 9:00 am to 12:0o pm

 


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:: 201-670-0006

Dear Readers:

 

As the H-1Bs from our office are being counted by the USCIS, we pause for a moment to consider the fact that the U.S. is a "Nation of Immigrants" and it is only with the hard work of immigrants that the foundation for growth has been formulated.

President Barak Obama said it best when he said: "Immigration makes us stronger. It 
keeps us vibrant. It keeps us hungry. It keeps us prosperous. It is part of what makes this such a dynamic country. And if we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest that the world has to offer, then we need to a better job of welcoming them."

It is so exciting think that we are on the verge of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) in the U.S. Many of our clients and prospective clients have heard immigration lawyers say "wait until the law changes". Well, it seems like that time is really coming.

The President has said that it is our 
Nation's immigration policy that defines our country and it helps to determine how we will grow our economy in the coming years. Immigrants have been a foundation of  U.S. economic strength for decades - failure to fix our immigration system would represent a loss of that advantage in a global economy.

We have said it before . . . immigrants help drive American innovation. In 2011, immigrants started 28 percent of all new businesses while accounting for only 13 percent of the population. Immigrants are substantially more likely to secure patents for new innovations and represent more than $1 trillion in consumer spending power.

A
study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded that immigration reform could add as much as 1.3 percent to GDP by 2016. But we need to do more to ensure that immigrants, who are educated in America, stay to create jobs in America. That's why the President has proposed "stapling" a green card to those who receive advanced degrees in STEM fields - science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

During the coming weeks, the discussion of comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) will continue, as various proposals are made to Congress. The Obama Administration will continue to press for reform that takes into account our Nation's values, making the case about all the ways that immigration enriches American life.

Immigration endows our Nation with economic, civic 
and cultural vitality. It keeps us on the cutting-edge. It continues to be a unique source of national pride and dignity. While fixing our immigration system is a matter of urgency, it needs to be tempered with that which is morally right (family unity) and the smart thing to do economically.

On April 11th, 2013, David Nachman, Esq., one of the Managing Attorneys at NPZ Law Group, will be meeting with Congresspersons and Senators on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to help Lobby for Comprehensive Immigration Reform as part of the AILA delegation. For more information about CIR or the NDA, please feel free to contact your immigration attorneys at NPZ Law Group by e-mail at
[email protected] or by phone at 201-670-0006 (x100).
SPRINGING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON: CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION REMINDER FOR SPRING HOLIDAY TRAVEL.
 
With the start of spring and summer, travelers around the world start implementing their travel plans. CBP recently released guidance reminding travelers about the things they should know before they travel.

That guidance involves the travel requirement for a U.S citizen and visitors coming to the  U.S. It also provides a checklist for the U.S port-of-entry. CBP released guidance
reminding travelers to be prepared by educating themselves about the rules and regulations relating to international travel.

 

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CBP TRAVELER GUIDANCE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

H-1B PREDICTIONS PERSIST: WAITING FOR THE H-1B DOOR BELL TO RING . . . APRIL 1ST 2013.
 
USCIS has stated that "based on feedback from a number of stakeholders" that "USCIS anticipates that it may receive more than 65,000 cap-subject H-1B petitions and more than 20,000 petitions filed . . . between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013".

This announcement has caused a minor panic among the employer community necessitating many law firms to work throughout the just-past weekend, and late into the night besides, in order to ensure that the petitions are delivered to USCIS by this Friday, the 5th of April. To some extent, USCIS has created a self-fulfilling prophecy. 
 
The NPZ Law Group is in full-swing preparing H-1B nonimmigrant professional and specialty occupation worker visas for highly-skilled workers to come to the U.S. If you or a member of your prospective H-1B employer staff may be interested in securing an H-1B work visa for an October 1st start date, please e-mail us at [email protected] or call our offices at 201-670-0006 (x100). 
 
CBP ANNOUNCES ELECTRONIC I-94 FORM:  CBP ANNOUNCES AUTOMATION OF FORM I-94 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE RECORDS AND MOVES TO ELIMINATE PAPER FORMS.
 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announced that it will automate Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records to streamline the admissions process for individuals lawfully visiting the United States.


Form I-94 provides international visitors with evidence they have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. which is necessary to verify alien registration, immigration status, and employment authorization.  

 

The automation means that affected visitors will no longer need to fill-out a paper form when arriving to the U.S. by air or sea, improving procedures and reducing costs. The change will go into effect 30 days after the rule was published in the Federal Register.

  

"Automation of the I-94 will increase efficiency and streamline the admission process," said CBP Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar. "Once fully implemented, the process will facilitate security and travel while saving CBP an estimated $15.5 million a year."

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

BEING CURRENT: USCIS NOTICE TO USE CURRENT N-400 FORM.
 
The N-400 application form used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for an application for Naturalization. The form is used by foreign nationals to apply for citizenship in the United States.

On March 29th 2013, USCIS released a notice to the public that until further notice all the N-400 applicants should continue to use March 22, 2012 edition of N-400 Form.

The Form should be used even after the OMB control number expiration date of March 31, 2013 has passed.  

 

TO READ THE USCIS NOTICE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

DEMOGRAPHICS OF INTEREST? WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME TO THE U.S IN FY 2012? Read on . . .
 
In FY 2012, there was a steady flow of immigrants in the U.S This data was reported from DHS Annual statistics. As per the Report, the annual flow of LPRs [Lawful Permanent Residents] for FY 2012 showed that a total of 1,031,631 persons became LPRs in the U.S.

Nearly 66% of the new LPRs were granted Permanent Residence based on a family relationships with either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM - WHAT, WHEN & HOW IT WILL HAPPEN?
 

As we all know, many new changes are being discussed in the world of immigration. Everyone's focus is on the prospects for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). The Obama Administration is aiming to fix America's broken immigration system.  

 

We are given to understand that an understanding has been reached between the Republicans and Democrats to bring about the long overdue CIR to benefit millions of undocumented or illegal migrants in the US. Recently a report released by CAP [Center for American Progress] reveals that granting undocumented immigrants immediate citizenship will be beneficial to U.S economic as it will create 203,000 jobs in the next decade with increased tax revenue by $184 billion.


For the Obama Administration, fixing our immigration system is a matter of urgency, it needs to be tempered with that which is morally right (family unity) and the smart thing to do economically. 


On April 11th, 2013, David Nachman, Esq., one of the Managing Attorneys at NPZ Law Group, will be meeting with Congresspersons and Senators on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to help Lobby for Comprehensive Immigration Reform as part of the AILA delegation.  

 

For more information about CIR, please feel free to contact your immigration attorneys at NPZ Law Group by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 201-670-0006 (x100).

THIS MONTH'S MOST POPULAR Q&A: H-1B Cap-Gap Regulation for OPT and F-1 Students.
 
The period of time when an F-1 student's status and work authorization expire before the start date of their approved H-1B employment period is known as the "Cap-Gap."

For some students, STEM OPT can be used. An OPT STEM Extension is for F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List who work with employers enrolled in E-Verify, and who have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization related to their degree. They are entitled to apply for a 17-month extension of their OPT work authorization.

Many F-1 students have questions regarding Cap-Gap regulations like eligibility for Cap-Gap, travel during the Cap-Gap period, STEM OPT extensions, change in employment, Pending Requests to Change OPT End Dates . . . 
 

TO READ THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY F-1 STUDENTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THOSE PRIORITY DATES? VISA BULLETIN FOR APRIL 2013.

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during April, 2013. Consular officers are required to report to the Department of State documentarily qualified applicants for numerically limited visas; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security reports applicants for adjustment of status.

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VISA PREFERENCE NUMBERS FOR APRIL 2013 . . . 

NOTICE TO ALL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGERS AND STAFF: The New I-9 Form Has Been Announced By USCIS!

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 for use by all U.S. employers. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States.

 

Improvements to Form I-9 include new fields, reformatting to reduce errors, and clearer instructions to both employees and employers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a Notice in the Federal Register informing employers about the new Form I-9 and the dates when use of the new Form is mandated.

 

TO READ MORE ABOUT THE NEW I-9 AND ITS EFFECTIVE DATE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . .