2007

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) neue Webseite

On November 1, 2006, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the launch of a new Web Portal that has replaced its old website. The Web Portal is available at the same address, www.uscis.gov. The announcement was accompanied by a USCIS Fact Sheet about the new website.

DOS Issues Notice of Effective Date for Implementation of Five-Year Professor and Researcher Exchange Program

The Department of State (DOS) issued a notice that beginning November 4, 2006, current and future professor and researcher Exchange Visitor program participants will be eligible for five years of program participation, as provided for in the final rule adopted May 19, 2005, 70 FR 28815. (71 FR 64330, 11/1/06).

H-1B Master's Numbers Exhausted: Count Hits 20,000

On May 4, 2007, USCIS announced that it had received enough H-1B petitions for foreign workers with a master's degree or higher from a U.S. institution of higher education, requesting exemption from the FY 2008 H-1B cap, to meet the congressionally mandated exemption limit of 20,000. USCIS determined that the "final receipt date" for these exempt H-1B petitions is April 30, 2007.

A fee increase is expected to be announced by the USCIS in the very near future.

Visitors No Longer Required to Biometrically "Check Out" When Departing

The Department of Homeland Security announced the completion of the three-year pilot program that required international visitors to biometrically check out at select airports and seaports. Effective May 6, 2007, international visitors will no longer be required to use the US-VISIT exit kiosks when they leave the United States.

Neue Processing Times HIER