The Information you need - for the decisions that determine your future.
The Law Offices of Stuart J. Reich is dedicated to providing sound, accurate, and timely advice and information so that you can make the right call for your family, your career or your business. This site is designed to get you the most information in the most efficient manner, but every situation is unique - contact us today so we can help you find the best solution!
1/4/2008 - Moratorium on Premium Processing for Religious Workers Extended an Additional Six Months
USCIS has extended an existing hold on Premium Processing (15-day turnaround upon payment of an additional fee) for an additional six months, until July 8.
Religious institutions will need to plan far in advance if a foreign national religious worker will be needed, and will need to wait for several months while petitions are processed in the regular processing tracks.
Religious institutions and those served by them. Foreign nationals seeking entry as religious workers under the R-1 program.
1/2/2008 - Reminder: As of January 12, 2008, Any Labor Certification Approved Pre-July 16, 2007 No Longer Valid for I-140 Filing
Under the labor certification substitution rule which became effective July 16, 2007, all approved labor certifications must be used as the basis for an I-140 filing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within 180 days of approval (or 180 days from the regulation's July 16, 2007 effective date, whichever is later). Otherwise, the labor certification expires and may no longer be used.
Any approved labor certification not already used as the basis of an I-140 filing on July 12, 2008 is for all practical purposes useless as a basis for an immigrant visa filing in its own right (arguably, it may still be used to establish eligibility for 245(i))
Any employer or foreign national with an approved labor certification (or even a labor certification case in process) who has not yet filed an immigrant visa petition.
12/11/2007 - Upcoming Speaking Engagement: Stuart Reich to Speak at AILA New York Chapter Winter Symposium Thursday, December 13
Mr. Reich will appear as part of a panel discussion for the AILA 10th Annual New York Chapter Immigration Law Symposium on December 13, 2007. Mr. Reich's portion of the discussion will focus on steps that can be taken with individual foreign national clients and with employers to avoid immigration difficulties before they happen. Special attention will be given to fact gathering in the individual context, and I-9 compliance training as well as paperwork compliance verification in the employer/business context.
12/7/2007 - Diversity Visa Lottery Results Announced
The U.S. Department of State has announced the results of the Fiscal Year 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery, including a statistical breakdown of winners by the foreign country to which they are chargeable for visa allotment purposes. According toi the Department of State, all winners have by now been notified.
For those who won, it is important to begin preparations for final stage processing (Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing). For those who have not received notification, it can be assumed that you didn't win this year - better luck next year!
All Fiscal Year 2008 Diversity Visa Lottery entrants.
12/6/2007 - Write Your Representatives and Senators to Urge Them Not To Co-Sponsor or Support the "SAVE Act"
The Secure America with Immigration and Enforcement bill was introduced in November 2007 in both the House and Senate, and is yet another enforcement-only bill without any provision for assisting the millions here and abroad without any pathway in existing law to obtain valid immigration status, or to assist American businesses which desperately need qualified and willing workers in order to remain competitive.
Enforcement-only measures such as the SAVE Act are the lowest form of political pandering, and do nothing to solve the real problems facing the U.S.
Enforcement-only measures such as the SAVE Act are the lowest form of political pandering, and do nothing to solve the real problems facing the U.S.