Immigration News
News and Updates - Green Card and U.S. Citizenship
H.R.3012 -- Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act - Good news for Millions of New Immigrants
December 16, 2011 - House Resolution (H.R.) 3012, the High Skilled Immigrants Act, if enacted, this change will eliminate the per country quotas on the employment-based categories. As an immigrant, you may benefit from such quota elimination, especially if you are from China and India as natives of these two countries experience longer processing periods.
H.R.3012 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 initiative was intended to change Immigration and Nationality Act: per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants will be eliminated and also the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants will be raised.
Immigrant Investor Visa (EB-5) Expected to Become Easier
November 30, 2011 - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced policy changes to prompt start-up enterprises. On October 11, 2011, USCIS announced "Entrepreneurs in Residence" program to cooperate with business leaders to get advice on job creation potential of current immigration law. These changes will allow foreign immigrants to bring jobs, wealth and innovation.
U.S. Immigration forms are changing
September 2, 2011 - In order for you to file your immigration petitions electronically, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is changing the forms. You will use new form to get your Green Card (permanent alien resident visa) and U.S. citizenship.
New citizenship and naturalization forms, permanent resident document, employment authorization and asylum forms are among those that will change. New forms will not have the numbers (however, USCIS website will still have such numbers as reference) and the instructions will be simpler.
Immigration bill is on the agenda again
June 2, 2011 - President Obama plans to introduce long-waited immigration bill to continue the Administration's efforts that started with the Dream Act that passed by the House of Representatives but failed to pass the Senate. That bill would allow some children of illegal immigrants to become legal residents.
Currently, there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States waiting for legalization of their legal status. Large number of Hispanic population makes this immigration issue critical for 2012 election.
H1-B Petitions start for Fiscal Year 2012
March 30, 2011 – On April 1, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will start accepting H-1B petitions for Fiscal Year 2012.
U.S. companies use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Such workers include scientists, engineers, and computer programmers, among others.
The limit on H-1B petitions is 65,000 for Fiscal Year 2012. This figure does not include the first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals with U.S. master’s degrees or higher.
Historically, USCIS informs the public of the date when this numerical limit of the H-1B is reached.
Number of immigrants in United States
November 11, 2010 - Most recent statistics of the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 36.7 million of the U.S. population were born in other countries. Another 33 million people have at least one foreign-born parent. This means that 23 percent of American population, that is first-generation immigrants. Almost one in four individuals in the United States is an immigrant. Compare this figure with only two percent immigrants in Japan. That’s why they keep saying the United States is a land of immigrants.
While more and more immigrants are coming to the United States and get their Green Cards to stay and work, this flow of immigration slowed in recent years due to recession in the economy. In spite of this slowdown, the United States has much higher rates of immigration as compared to European countries.
Green Card lottery program started
The online registration for DV-2012 DV Lottery began noon, Tuesday, October 5, 2010. Applicants must fill out the forms and submit to the U.S. embassies in their native countries November 3, 2010. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program will provide 50,000 diversity visas (DV) this coming year as it has been the case in previous years.
Selection will be made randomly in countries from the eligible countries. As policy, green cards are awarded to citizens of countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States.
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