O'Brien & Associates | Attorneys At Law

Obama moves to simplify visa process

webmaster — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:07 +0000

The White House has announced that President Obama had signed a new executive order aimed at promoting travel to America by easing the visa process and reducing paperwork. See the full Economist article here.

Obama administration announcement on Jan 6

webmaster — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:44:50 +0000

A regulatory tweak in the rules concerning ‘green card’ applications by undocumented persons with immediate US family members will result in allowing family members to remain together during the process rather than being separated for years which is currently the situation in many cases. The move was greeted with unusually broad praise from immigration lawyers and immigrant and Latino groups, which have been critical of the high rate of deportations under President Obama.
See the full New York Times story here.

Schumer bill would allow visas for up to 10,500 Irish professionals

webmaster — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:39:05 +0000

Senator Scott Brown

On December 13, 2011, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced a Senate alternative (S. 1983) to Rep. Chaffitz’s “Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act” (H.R.3012), which passed the House at the end of November. Senator Schumer’s language included a provision that would allow up to 10,500 Irish a year to come to America on an E-3 non-immigrant visa.

On December 15th, Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) introduced a free-standing Irish E-3 bill (S.2005) that does not contain the Schumer bill’s “waiver” provisions for undocumented. See the Irish Echo online for the full story.

H-1B cap count for 2012 is reached

webmaster — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:37:26 +0000

On November 23, 2011, USCIS announced that the H-1B visa quota for Fiscal Year 2012 was reached on November 22, 2011. See their website here. The next quota of 65,000 visas per year becomes available for application on April 1, 2012 for a work start date of October 1, 2012.

H-1B cap count

webmaster — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:36:22 +0000

As of October 25, 2011, approximately 46,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 20,000 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. See their website here.

DV lottery opens

webmaster — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:34:30 +0000

The online registration period for the 2013 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2013) will begin at on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). See the website for more information.

H-1B cap count

webmaster — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:33:36 +0000

As of Sept 9, 2011, approximately 32,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 16,700 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.

H-1B cap count

webmaster — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:32:09 +0000

As of August 3, 2011, approximately 22,700 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 9,300 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.
As of August 15, 2011, approximately 25,300 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 10,200 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. See their website here.

H-1B cap count

webmaster — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:30:59 +0000

As of July 5, 2011, approximately 18,400 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 9,300 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.
As of July 18, 2011, approximately 20,500 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 10,200 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. See their website here.

H-1B cap count

webmaster — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:29:41 +0000

As of June 1, 2011, approximately 13,600 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 9,300 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.
As of June 13, 2011, approximately 15,200 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. USCIS has receipted 10,200 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees. See their website here.