Allott Immigration Law Blog

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For more information about Notario Fraud visit the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) consumer protection website at stopnotariofraud.org.  You will find state and federal resources and more information about where to get help.

The filing period for “new” H-1B petitions for Fiscal Year 2013 starts on Friday, March 30, 2012. USCIS will accept cap-subject H-1B petitions for FY 2013 on Monday, April 2, 2012 for jobs with a start date of October 1, 2012 or later.

The H-1B Regular Cap for FY 2013 is 65,000. The H-1B Master’s Exemption is 20,000 for petitions filed on behalf of individuals with U.S. master’s degrees or higher.

An H-1B visa is a temporary work visa.  It is appropriate for U.S. companies to use the H-1B visa program for foreign workers in a specialty occupation that requires theoretical or technical expertise. Examples include scientists, engineers, computer programmers, and others.

Employers should strive to promptly identify current and future employees who will need H-1B status for legal employment. Currently employed F-1 students or J-1 trainees, those seeking to change to H-1B from another work status (such as L-1, TN or E-3), and individuals outside of the U.S. typically need new, cap-subject H-1B visas.

In previous years, the annual cap for new H-1Bs was reached quickly – within the first few filing days.  This resulted in a random lottery for available visa numbers. Since FY 2010, the cap has not been reached until later in the year. Due to the difficulty of predicting H-1B demand for FY 2013, it is prudent for businesses to act quickly.

On January 24, 2012, The Department of State’s Office of Passport Services announced they will launch a 90 day pilot program for adult US citizens living in the United States and Canada to apply online for a US passport card.

The online passport card application requires:

• Applicants must currently possess a valid 10-year passport book;
• Applicants upload an acceptable digital photograph;
• Applicants make an online payment in US dollars via Pay.gov

All online applications go through the same strict adjudication standards as those who apply in-person or those who mail their passport applications.

General Passport Card Information and Resources

The US passport card is valid when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda at land border crossings or sea ports-of-entry.

A passport card is not valid for international travel by air.

 Click here to see the difference between a Passport Book and a Passport Card

 All U.S. citizens may apply for a passport card. Click here to learn more about the passport card.

 For a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding passport books and passport cards, go to Travel.State.Gov

Colorado Heights University, a private school located in Denver, is offering in-state tuition for undocumented students. Scholarships may also be available for undocumented college students through merit-based private funds.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fights slavery and human trafficking by providing immigration assistance to protect victims. T visas and U visas safeguard victims by allowing them to remain in the U.S., permit certain family members to join them and may afford victims of qualifying crimes temporary legal status and work eligibility in the U.S.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.