Retrogression Solved...Temporarily

The Department of State (DOS) has released its July Visa Bulletin, making all categories current in the employment based system. The visa bulletin takes effect on July 1st.

What does this mean?

For applicants waiting for interviews at the consulate: the foreign national may proceed with the consulate interview after the National Visa Center or the consulate schedules an interview. It is expected that it will take the NVC some time to begin issuing appointment dates, as there are thousands of cases that have stacked up during the period of retrogression.
For applicants with labor certification approvals: the foreign national may proceed with concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485 applications.
For applicants with approved I-140 petitions: the foreign national may proceed with the I-485 Adjustment of Status or consular interview, depending upon which option the foreign national is choosing.
For applicants in the U.S. on temporary status who are eligible to bypass labor certification (e.g. registered nurses, physical therapists, National Interest Waivers, Exceptional Ability Aliens, etc.): the foreign national may proceed with concurrent filing of the I-140 and I-485 applications.

Hammond Law Group clients who are proceeding with I-485 Adjustment of Status should click here: http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/485step_by_step.htm and begin working through the four step process to gather the documents that we need to prepare the I-485 application. Once you have gathered the items listed at Step One and have completed the G-325A at Step Two, please mail all of the items to your HLG attorney and they will immediately begin working on the I-485. You should also indicate if you would like to have Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Advance Paroles (APs) filed on your behalf and your families’ behalf. You may want to schedule a time to speak with your HLG attorney to discuss these issues. However, please send the documents immediately.

These dates will remain current until at least August 1, 2007. However, USCIS fee increases go into effect on July 30 2007. Therefore, your Hammond Law Group attorney will be working expeditiously to get the cases filed before the fee increases go into effect, subject to cooperation from the foreign national in sending the documents to us timely.

Keep up with the latest Immigration News by signing up for all of Hammond Law Group LLC's free publications:

Immigration Alerts, Medical Monthly Monitor and Business Immigration Quarterly.

http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/mailing_list.htm