USCIS has announced that it will be holding a stakeholder meeting for persons interested in its “EIR” – Entrepreneurs in Residence initiative. USCIS has been attempting to improve immigration review services provided in business visa cases including the popular L1 and E2 visa categories. Officers are being better trained with...
US Immigration
USCIS Revises TN Visa Filing Options for Canadians
The following is a press release from US CIS regarding the options Canadian citizens have for filing TN visas under NAFTA. Prior to this rule change, all initial TN applications had to be made at a border by the Canadian applicant. In my view, border processing is still preferable to...
Congress Extends Four U.S. Immigration Programs
The United States Congress has extended four immigration programs for three years, to September 30, 2015. The extended programs include the EB-5 regional center program (Green Card based on investment), the E-Verify program, the special immigrant religious worker program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 visa waiver program for certain foreign...
U.S. Immigration Reform Needed Urgently
As both a licensed U.S. and Canadian business immigration lawyer, clients routinely ask me which country is a better choice for them. In the past, I used to tell my corporate clients from overseas that America offered a better economy, lower taxes, more stable political landscape, and a predictable immigration...
U.S. Employers Should Continue Using Current Form I-9
USCIS has announced that until further notice, employers should continue using the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form, that is currently available on the forms section of its website. This form should continue to be used even after the OMB control number expiration date of August 31, 2012 has passed....
Canada-U.S. Border Deal to Cost $1 Billion
The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, Jul. 11, 2012 8:24AM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, Jul. 11, 2012 9:26AM EDT OTTAWA — A new perimeter security deal between Canada and the United States will come with a billion-dollar price tag. The Canadian Press has learned that the Conservative government will...
IRS Announcement Regarding U.S. Citizens / Dual Citizens Overseas
IRS Announces Efforts to Help U. S. Citizens Overseas Including Dual Citizens and Those with Foreign Retirement Plans IR-2012-65, June 26, 2012 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a plan to help U.S. citizens residing overseas, including dual citizens, catch up with tax filing obligations and provide...
USCIS Reaches H1B Visa Cap
FY 2013 H-1B Cap On June 11, 2012, USCIS received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the statutory cap for FY 2013. On June 7, 2012, USCIS also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions on behalf of persons exempt from the cap under the advanced degree exemption. USCIS will...
Beyond the Border Agreement to Improve Amtrak Service
Plattsburgh Press Republican – May 14, 2012 Canadian and U.S. officials have reached several key agreements aimed at ending delays on trains between Montreal and New York City. For years, Amtrak trains traveling from Montreal south into the United States have at times been held up for as long...
U.S. Visa Bulletin Update – EB2 Category
India, China EB-2 Category Unavailable for Remainder of FY 2012 In May, as predicted, the India and China priority dates in the employment based second (EB-2) green card category retrogressed dramatically, from May 1, 2010, to August 15, 2007. The EB-2 category is for people with advanced degrees or...
