HEADLINES

H-1B Cap: 45,000 Accepted
The H-1B count is at 45,000 cases accepted, and so USCIS is still accepting cap-
subject H-1B cases.  The Masters cap has received the full subscription of 20,000
petitions. USCIS continues to accept Masters cases since their experience is that not
all accepted cases will be approvable.
http://www.uscis.gov/h-1b_count

 

What the Lack of H-1B Filings Really Means
In prior years we have seen more than twice as many H-1B cases accepted as slots
were available. These numbers provide compelling evidence against the argument
that internationally-trained workers are being used to displace American workers and
lower US workers’ salaries. If H-1B visa labor was being used primarily to lower US
workers’ salaries, the H-1B filing numbers wouldn’t be impacted to any meaningful
degree.
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/2009/04/h-1-cap-healthcare-and-economy.html

 

CIR in 2009?
The nation’s two major labor federations have agreed for the first time to join forces
to support an overhaul of the immigration system. The accord could give President
Obama significant support among unions as he revisits the stormy issue in the midst
of the recession.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/us/14immig.html?fta=y

 

Demand for Nurses is Less During Downturn
The economic downturn has put a Band-Aid on one of the most vexing problems in
health care, a shortage of nurses that has slowed care at some hospitals and forced
others to turn away the ill.  With some nurses postponing retirement and others
resuming their careers for financial reasons, many hospitals say they have few, if
any, openings. After more than a decade when hospitals struggled to maintain
sufficient staffing and when nurses could have their pick of jobs, the want ads have
virtually disappeared, and only acute-care and emergency-room nurses remain in
great demand.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/04/AR2009040402871.html

 

Nursing Shortage is a Long-Term Problem in RI
Jane Williams, dean of Rhode Island College's school of nursing, said the current lack
of jobs for new graduates represents an anomaly that will change once the economy
turns around.  Then, commission members said, the need for keeping existing
nursing faculty and expanding the number of men and women graduating from the
state's schools will be clear.
http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/04/looming-nursing.html

 

ICD Call Center hours change
Starting April 13, 2009, call center hours for International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
applicants will be 12:30pm to 3:30pm, U.S. Eastern Time.
http://www.cgfns.org

 

Obama Concerned Over MD Shortage
Obama administration officials, alarmed at doctor shortages, are looking for ways to
increase the supply of physicians to meet the needs of an aging population and
millions of uninsured people who would gain coverage under legislation championed
by the president.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/health/policy/27care.html?_r=1&hp

 

HLG EVENTS

May 7, 2009
Chris Musillo is a featured speaker for ILW.com's telephone seminar Options For Healthcare Professionals. 
Register
 

Available Now
Inside the Minds: Working with Government Agencies in Immigration Law
Sherry Neal has contributed a chapter to Aspatore Books' latest Inside the Minds
series.
Aspatore Books

 

PROCESSING DATES

SERVICE CENTER	PROCESSING DATES
California Service Center ( CSC )	Not Processing
AZ, CA, GU, HI, NV
Nebraska Service Center ( NSC )	“4 Months”
AK, CO, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY
Texas Service Center ( TSC )	September 2, 2007
AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NM, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX
Vermont Service Center (VSC)	Not Processing
CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, VT, VA, VI, WV

 

 

 VISA BULLETIN

 

	All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
Employment-Based
1st	C	C	C	C	C
2nd	C	15FEB05	15FEB04	C	C
3rd	U	U	U	U	U
Other Workers	U	U	U	U	U
4th	C	C	C	C	C
Certain Religious Workers	C	C	C	C	C
5th	C	C	C	C	C