March 5, 2008 by Bradley Maged.

According to a USCIS Update:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued revised instructions for USCIS Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.  The instructions include changes, which will become effective March 5, 2008, that require applicants for re-entry permits and refugee travel documents to provide biometrics (e.g., fingerprints and photographs) at a USCIS Application Support Centers (ASC) for background and security checks and requirements for secure travel and entry documents containing biometric identifiers.   As indicated in the instructions, when the biometrics requirement becomes effective, USCIS will notify applicants of their appointment at the designated ASC after submission of the I-131 application.”

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March 5, 2008 by Bradley Maged.

I am reading and hearing various predictions on how many cap-subject H-1Bs will be filed this year.  Some say that many US companies were discouraged by last year’s lack of available H-1B slots and were unwilling to invest the time and resources in pursuing H-1B visas this year.  However, many immigration lawyers are as busy or even busier than they were last year processing H-1B petitions.  Even if the number of petitions received is half of what it was last year, the allotted quota will be exhausted in a single day.

What can a company do?  US companies should  explore other immigration options that may be available to them such as TN, L, E or O visas.  Unfortunately each of these visas have their limitations and some foreign nationals may not be eligible for any of them.

Beneficiaries who have earned Master or higher degrees from US Colleges or Universities have additional visa slots available to them.

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