As of February 3, 2012, the New Mexico Department of Health had received 7 J-1 Waiver Applications. They will continue to accept applications  until all 30 waiver slots have been filled.  Please be aware that the NM Conrad 30 program is a first come first serve program that does not reserve slots.  Click here to view the New Mexico J-1 Waiver program requirements.

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The Department of State has introduced new initiatives to promote the U.S. as a premier destination for international travelers by making processes for moving people and goods more secure and more efficient.  Proposed steps include increasing visa processing capacity in key growth markets and increasing efforts to expand the visa waiver program.  Read more here.

The Department of Homeland Security recently released a series of administrative reforms the Obama administration would like to see implemented.   These measures would help attract new business investment to the U.S. and ensure that the U.S. has the most skilled workforce in the world, including the commitment to attracting and retaining highly-skilled immigrants.

Some of these reforms include:

  • Allowing for additional part-time study for spouses of F-1 students.
  • Providing work authorization for spouses of certain H-1B holders.
  • Allowing outstanding professors and researchers to present a broader scope of evidence of academic achievement.

A link to the press release can be found here.

On 1/19/12, the Department of State issued a press release unveiling a new pilot program between the DOS and DHS (Department of Homeland Security).  They are working together to improve and speed up the visa process for certain categories of travelers.   Under this new initiative, in select circumstances, qualified foreign visitors who were interviewed and thoroughly screened in conjunction with a prior visa application may be able to renew their visas without undergoing another interview.

The White House has issued a press release on The Startup America Legislative Agenda which will expand tax relief, unlock capital for small businesses, and take steps to attract and retain foreign-born entrepreneurs and highly-skilled immigrants.

 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently released two videos about the E-Verify process aimed at employers and employees.  “Know Your Rights: Employee Rights and Responsibilities,” and “Understanding E-Verify: Employer Responsibilities and Worker Rights.”

North Carolina law requires all state agencies, counties, and municipalities use E-Verify. Other employers must start using E-Verify according to the following schedule: October 1, 2012 for employers with 500 or more employees; January 1, 2013 for employers with 100 to 499 employees; and July 1, 2013 for employers with 25 to 99 employees.

For more information about these videos, visit E-Verify’s web site. To view both videos, click here.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Service Verification Division and the Office of Public Engagement has invited the public to participate in a national stakeholder teleconference on Thursday, February 13, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Eastern Time) to discuss a potential Final Nonconfirmation Review (FNC) process for E-Verify. Currently, E-Verify has no formal process that allows employees or employers to request that a case be reexamined if they believe that an FNC was received in error.

 

 

AILA Doc. No. 12012336.

On January 24th, the Department of State issued a press release announcing a 90-day pilot program allowing adult U.S. citizens living in the United States and Canada to apply for a passport card online.

To apply for the passport card using the online application, visit the State Department’s website.

 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has updated it’s list of Student and Exchange Visitor Program approved schools effective 1/12/12.

 

The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has released statistics for first quarter of FY2012, including total number of applications received, total number of applications processed, PERM processing priority dates, and breakdown of active PERM cases at the DOL.