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Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C. - 
U.S. and Canadian Immigration and Nationality Newsletter and Update.
In This Issue:
YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, MICHAEL PHULWANI, ESQ. AND DAVID NACHMAN, ESQ. AND LUDKA ZIMOVCAK, ESQ. PROVIDE U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATES ON TV ASIA & ITV: VLOG & USCIS NEWS UPDATES ON THE WEB.
NPZ LAW GROUP PRESS RELEASE: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MOVEMENT ON POTENTIAL IMMIGRATION REFORM.
2014 STARTED WITH NPZ LAW GROUP MANAGING ATTORNEYS CONDUCTING PRESS CONFERENCES AND INFORMATIVE SEMINARS ABOUT U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS IN INDIA.
THE NUMBERS SAY IT ALL: COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM GETS STRONG THINK-TANK SUPPORT.
FOR IMMIGRATION ADVANCEMENTS, THE STATES DO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT.
H-1B VISA LOTTERY AGAIN? ARE YOU READY FOR THE H-1B SEASON 2014?
IS DETROIT GOING TO BE A GOVERNMENT REGIONAL CENTER? MICHIGAN GOVERNOR TO ATTRACT SKILLED IMMIGRANTS TO BUILD DETROIT.
E-VERIFY CONTINUES TO BE A CORNERSTONE FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM: USCIS SHARES THE SUCCESS OF E-VERIFY PROGRAM.
BACKLOG OR ADVANCEMENT: THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS RELEASED THE FEBRUARY 2014 VISA BULLETIN.
TRAINING OF CONSULAR OFFICERS WHO HANDLE THE VISA PROCESSING AT THE U.S. CONSULATE OFFICES ABROAD.
MISSION INDIA / TEAM INDIA STRIVES FOR TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY IN THE VISA ADJUDICATIONS PROCESS ABROAD.
YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYERS, MICHAEL PHULWANI, ESQ.  AND DAVID NACHMAN, ESQ. AND LUDKA ZIMOVCAK, ESQ., PROVIDE U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATES ON TV ASIA & ITV: VLOG & USCIS NEWS UPDATES ON THE WEB & ON TV.

David Nachman, Esq., Ludka Zimovcak, 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.
 
TRIP TO INDIA WITH AILA DELEGATION AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT  (F-1) VISAS 
  
 
doing change of status;
doing consular processing;
preconceived intent 

  

STUDENT VISA APPLICATIONS  FROM THE CONSULATE (F-1 Visa) 

  

 

  

 
 
Form I-20;
STEM, H-1B Visa Petitions, When to apply; SEVIS for F, M, J visaholders;
Financial Support;
School Selections;
Size of School;
Bona fide accreditation of schools; 

plan of studies and future goals;
214 (b) non-immigrant intent; ties to your home country; family responsibilities / family ties; Articulate your answers 
 
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UPCOMING IMMIGRATION LAW EVENTS:

  

BERGEN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SEMINAR: IMMIGRATION UPDATES 
 
Where:
Bergen County Bar Association, The George W. Newman Law Buidling, 15 Bergen Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 
 
When:
Thursday, February 6th, 2014 
 
Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
 
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Tri-Boro Community Transformation Presents: Community Immigration Clinic
 
When: Saturday, February 8, 2014
 
Time: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
 
Where: Unity Christian Reformed Church
399 North 11th St
Prospect Park, NJ
 

* * * * * * * * 

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:: 201-670-0006 (X100)

Dear Readers:
 
Immigrant businesses large and small help to revitalize neighborhoods, add a boost to the local economy, and create more jobs for the local population. Yet, while many cities recognize the need to attract and grow their human capital, their efforts are often at odds with an inefficient federal immigration system. City and regional leaders recognize their recruitment and development efforts cannot fully succeed if the federal immigration system is outmoded and ineffective. In the absence of immigration reform, their efforts, no matter how visionary, may be impeded.

At the national level, policymakers need to enact comprehensive immigration reform to modernize the U.S. immigration system and to create the necessary legal pathways that work for entrepreneurs, innovators, students, families, businesses, employers, and all types of workers. Immigration reform, in addition to recognizing that immigrant entrepreneurs and innovators come through all immigration pathways - family, employment, refugee, and others - should also ensure better recognition of foreign-earned credentials in licensed professions so that skilled immigrants' talent isn't wasted in the places in which they already reside.

Local leaders must help national leaders understand that positive impacts of immigrants in cities are linked with the need for effective immigration policy at the national level. And national leaders in Washington must listen.To make the most of local immigration development and welcoming initiatives, there needs to be a thoughtful, comprehensive effort to modernize the U.S. immigration system. In the meantime, local places will continue to compete for human capital. Those cities that welcome the initiative and drive of immigrants will not only experience economic and social dividends, but will be poised to prosper even more under a new era of immigration reform.

This past week, the House of Representatives sent a clear message that it is ready to "play ball" on the immigration law issues. We are very pleased to see these advancements. We only pray that it is not a political ploy for the GOP to obtain votes for the upcoming elections. The voters are tired of lip-service. They want action. The time has come. Let's work together to make immigration reform a reality. 

For more information about the ways that Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) may help you or your business begin or to grow in the U.S. through use of the H-1B, the New Company L-1A, the O-1 artist visa, the E-1 or E-2 investor visa, PERM or another family or employment visa category, please contact the immigration lawyers and immigration attorneys at NPZ Law Group by calling e-mailing us at [email protected] or by calling us at 201-670-0006 (x107). 
NACHMAN PHULWANI ZIMOVCAK (NPZ) LAW GROUP, P.C. PRESS RELEASE: THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHOWS POSITIVE MOVEMENT ON POTENTIAL IMMIGRATION REFORM.  

The House of Representatives' Republican leadership released a set of standards related to immigration reform. The release of these standards is a sign of movement on the issue of immigration. The Attorneys at the NPZ Law Group, P.C. are pleased to see this movement as it signals the real possibility that immigration reform may come to fruition this Spring.

 

The principles articulated so far are quite vague, and amenable to any number of meanings, but they show promise of a willingness to look at our existing system and work across the aisle to find ways to fix it. We are encouraged that House Republicans see a need to bring those living undocumented in the U.S. out of the shadows, and that they wish to reform the legal immigration system, the dysfunction of which has been the primary factor in illegal immigration.

 

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

THE 2014 NEW YEAR STARTED WITH NPZ LAW GROUP MANAGING ATTORNEYS CONDUCTING A PRESS CONFERENCE AND INFORMATIVE SEMINARS IN INDIA ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAWS  
For several weeks during the month of January, NPZ Law Group, P.C. Managing Attorneys, Michael Phulwani, Esq. and David Nachman, Esq., conducted seminars and visited Consulate Offices in major cities in India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad).

They provided updates on U.S immigration laws and provided valuable insights concerning prospects for a Bilateral Treaty of Trade and Investment with India and the ability to use the L-1A visa to create subsidiary or affiliate businesses in the U.S. They also discussed recent improvements in consular processing of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas at the U.S. Consulates throughout India.
 

NPZ is pleased to announce additional access to our U.S. immigration law services in major cities like New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Hyderabad. For more information about meeting with a representative of our staff in one of those cities, please e-mail us at [email protected]
 
TO VIEW NPZ RECENT SEMINAR PHOTOS FROM INDIA, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 
 
NPZ's Mumbai / Delhi Speaking Events: 
 


NPZ's Ahmedabad Speaking Events:
 

CIR STRENGTH IS BORNE OUT BY THE NUMBERS: COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM GETS STRONG THINK-TANK SUPPORT.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform seems to be back on the front- burner, at least for now. While a potential House approach on legalization would allow fewer unauthorized immigrants to gain lawful permanent residence than Senate Bill S. 744, it could form the basis for an agreement on immigration reform, according to a new analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), an Arlington, Virgina-based policy research group.

 

The report, "A Path to an Agreement?: Analyzing House and Senate Plans for Legalizing the Unauthorized Immigrant Population," is available for access at www.nfap.com.

 

TO READ MORE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

FOR IMMIGRATION ADVANCEMENTS, THE STATES DO WHAT THE FEDS CANNOT.    

States took the lead on immigration reform in 2013, and compared to previous years, the majority were positive measures to help integrate and improve the day-to-day lives of immigrants in their respective states.

 
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) 2013 Immigration Report, 45 states passed 184 immigration-related laws in 2013 and adopted 253 resolutions.

The number of immigration measures in 2013 is a 64 percent increase over 2012, a year when many states were waiting to see the Supreme Court's decision on Arizona's SB 1070.
 

 

TO READ MORE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

H-1B VISAS IN THE LIMELIGHT AGAIN: 
ARE YOU READY FOR THE H-1B SEASON 2014? 

It is that time of year again! We always hear the accountants moan and groan about the approaching April 15th deadline each year but, you have to listen a bit more closely and you will hear (and see) the U.S. business immigration lawyers and attorneys manifesting their distaste for the April 1st filing date for "cap" subject H-1B professional and specialty occupation workers. 

 

Well, here we go again . . . 

 

On April 1st, 2014 marks the first day when prospective H-1B petitioning employers and prospective H-1B employees will be able to apply to the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") for and Labor Condition Application ("LCA") and Petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("CIS") for H-1B visa petitions for employment in the fiscal 2014 - 2015 year ("FY 2014").

Our advice to our H-1B employer clients continues to be that they need to think about filing H-1B petitions on (or very close to) April 1st for new and existing employees who will be eligible for a first-time H-1B visa to begin their employment on or after October 1st, 2014.


Stay tuned for the NPZ Law Groups upcoming series entitled: "The ABCs of H-1Bs". VISASERVE will be providing weekly articles about H-1B issues and an accompanying YOUTUBE presentation and discussion about those issues for our HR clients and for H-1B nonimmigrant visa hopefuls.

 

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A REGIONAL CENTER FOR AN INVESTOR VISA: MICHIGAN GOVERNOR ATTEMPTS TO ATTRACT SKILLED IMMIGRANTS TO HELP RE-BUILD THE CITY OF DETROIT.      

Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder's, agenda is to build Detroit as a strong city again. This announcement came recently on ABC News  which states: "Rick Snyder asked the federal government Thursday to set aside thousands of work visas for highly skilled immigrants willing to live and work in the bankrupt city of Detroit for five years".   

 

He stated at a recent news conference: "Let's send a message to the entire world: Detroit, Michigan, is open to the world." The Detroit Governor is seeking 50,000 visas over next five years to help the City of Detroit out of bankruptcy. It is Snyder's goal to make Detroit a strong and leading city of the nation.

 

TO READ MORE, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

A CORNERSTONE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM? USCIS SHARES THE SUCCESS OF ITS LONGSTANDING E-VERIFY PROGRAM.  

According to a recent report released by the USCIS, more than 500,000 companies have now enrolled in the E-verify program, a free online service that allows U.S employers to confirm employment eligibility for their new employees. USCIS has always been promoting the E-verify program to all companies through various seminars.

 

Please feel free to contact THE BUSINESS IMMIGRATION LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS AT THE NPZ Law Group, P.C for any I-9 / E-verify related queries or training by e-mailing us at [email protected] or by calling at 201-670-0006 (x107).
 
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS RELEASED THE FEBRUARY 2014 VISA BULLETIN.   

This is the fifth Visa Bulletin of the 2014 U.S. Fiscal Year, which began on October 1st, 2013. The "All Other Countries" EB-3 date jumped yet again. It has now moved almost two years in the last few Visa Bulletins.  

 

The Chinese EB-2 and EB-3 continued to be flipped: the Chinese EB-2 is worse than the Chinese EB-3, which means that Chinese EB-3s are processing faster than Chinese EB-2s. Chinese nationals who are EB-2 may be able to file an EB-3. Chinese EB-3s should check with their attorneys to effectuate this change.  

 

Unfortunately India EB-2 and India EB-3 remained stuck. India EB-2 and EB-3 have not moved in several months. Given this respite, be sure to file for PERM or to secure your I-140 approvals so that H-1Bs can be extended beyond six years further to the provisions of AC-21.

 

The Philippine EB-3 advanced another 8 weeks. This is the second notable movement for Philippine EB-3 in the last two Visa Bulletins.

 

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK HERE . . . 

"IMMIGRATION NEWS AND VIEWS" - NPZ'S NEW PRACTICAL SERIES ON YOUTUBE ABOUT VARIOUS U.S. AND CANADIAN IMMIGRATION LAW ISSUES.
TRAINING OF CONSULAR OFFICERS.  WELL TRAINED OFFICERS CAN ENSURE AN EFFICIENT VISA PROCESS AT THE U.S. CONSULATE ABROAD. 


Consular officers are highly skilled and highly motivated professionals who have been entrusted with the great responsibility of ensuring that the border security of the United States is enforced. In order to meet the high demand for nonimmigrant visas, consular officers process several hundred applicants a day in as courteous and efficient a manner as possible. This process can be stressful for both officers and applicants alike.Applicants, especially those to whom nonimmigrant visas are not issued, may sometimes feel that they were treated unfairly. The U.S. State Department greatly values customer service and trains its consular officers to uphold the highest level of service for each applicant. Applicants can and should expect to be treated courteously no matter the outcome of the visa interview. Likewise, consular officers wish to be treated respectfully, no matter the outcome of the visa interview. The consular adjudication process is rooted in US immigration law, and is not a capricious decision. The US State Department invests a considerable amount of its resources into the training of its consular officers. Every consular officer receives mandatory seven-week training in the application of US immigration law. The training consists of consular courses taught by senior consular officers, group projects and case studies, and observation sessions at airports to learn how visa holders are processed at the port of US entry. Weekly examinations measure the consular officers' progress and document their mastery of US immigration law. Once the consular trainees have completed their exams, they graduate and are officially commissioned by the US president with approval of the US Congress, to represent the United States as consular officers.

MISSION INDIA / TEAM INDIA. INDIA CONSULATE OFFICE STAFF WORK TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY AND CONSISTENCY IN THE VISA PROCESS.

For decades, the various American posts in India had processes as diverse as the Indian cities they inhabited, with unique procedures, local rules, and ways of doing business that at times caused confusion and wasted time.  But in September of 2009, U.S. Embassy New Delhi and the U.S. Consulates across India adopted an innovative approach to providing consular services.  Instead of working independently, consular units formed a larger team.  As part of Consular Team India, each consular operation functions as part of an India-wide system, not just a local outpost.  The success of CTI in unifying five geographically, culturally and linguistically diverse posts across an area one third the size of the United States with a population four times larger is a remarkable achievement.  But this is no top-down bureaucracy: each post in CTI has ownership of a specific consular function that covers all of India, giving each post a stake in CTI's overall success.  With a common base of information and shared responsibilities, the five offices continually share best practices, lessons learned, metrics, and find solutions to challenges collectively, a functioning example of the wisdom of the motto inscribed on the Seal of the United States: e pluribus unum - Out of many, one!  Today, each and every consular customer can expect to receive the same quality of consular services at every post in India - and as part of the CTI approach, for most services they can visit whichever post they find convenient, regardless of where in India they reside.  Through better coordination and communication, CTI ensures that U.S. and Indian clients can expect the same excellent service and familiar processes at Kolkata or Chennai, Hyderabad or Mumbai, or in the capital New Delhi.  This innovative approach is now being replicated in other large multi-post consular countries to better serve consular clients.  As members of CTI we are proud that the excellence we have created to India is now helping consular customers around the globe.