VISA RETROGRESSION
The Department of State released the visa numbers, with Indian, Filipino, and Chinese nationals in the third preference category (including Schedule A cases) retrogressed until January 2002. The visa retrogression, which became effective January 1, 2005, essentially adds three years processing to any case which was not filed before January 2002.
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_bulletincurrent.html

RETROGRESSION: THE END OF FOREIGN NURSE RECRUITING?
In response to retrogression’s very real threats to foreign nurse recruiting, Hammond Law Group and a team of leading immigration lawyers who represent some of the largest health organizations in the country have put together a lobbying effort-the foreign nurse taskforce (FNT). We are actively seeking contributions to fund this initiative. Please talk to your attorney about how you can help.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/12.03.2004alert.htm

NEW LEGISLATION REGARDING H-1B AND L VISAS
Two weeks ago President Bush signed legislation that greatly impacts business immigration, specifically H-1(b) and L-1 visas.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/12.09.2004alert.htm

CSC LIAISON MEETING
USCIS’s Service Center Operations section has advised AILA that the service centers have been instructed to issue Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) if a Schedule A application is missing evidence of compliance with the posting/union notification requirement contained in DOL regulations. However, the petitioner need only provide evidence of compliance with the posting/notification requirement as of the date of the response to the NOID, not the filing date of the I-140. This reverses the practice of some service centers, notably the California Service Center, which had been to deny the application if the posting/notification was not completed as of the date the I-140 was filed.
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/california/aboutus.htm

PERM AND “SCHEDULE A” CASES
The Department of Labor released the long-awaited regulations for the PERM labor certification program. Although Schedule A cases (registered nurses and physical therapists) still bypass the labor certification process, PERM makes prevailing wage applicable to Schedule A cases and requires a nurse to have a CGFNS certificate (not just passing score on the CGFNS exam) in order to file the I-140 Immigrant Petition.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-27653.pdf

PERM: GOOD NEWS FOR ALLIED HEALTHCARE OCCUPATIONS
Under the new PERM labor certification program which takes effect on March 28, 2005, the standard processing time for labor certification cases will be less than 60 days. This processing time effectively gives allied healthcare occupations comparable processing time to Schedule A cases.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-27653.pdf

CGFNS GAINS EXTENDED APPROVAL
The Department of Homeland Security approved CGFNS to continue certifying foreign-born healthcare workers. The approval extends for an additional five years. CGFNS is the only organization approved to certify all seven healthcare occupations under the Department of Homeland Security Regulations.
http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/newsandevents/newsreleases/pr_2004_VS_approval.html

HLG ATTORNEY TO MENTOR
The national office of the American Immigration Lawyers Association asked HLG attorney Sherry Neal to serve as a mentor to newer attorneys in the healthcare area of immigration law. For the next year, she will mentor AILA members across the U.S.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/bios/sln_bio.htm

HLG ATTORNEYS TO SPEAK AT MARSKELL CANADIAN JOB FAIR
Mike Hammond and Sherry Neal to be featured speakers at the Marskell Canadian Job fair in Toronto on Feb 4th, 2005. They will speak on the topic of recruiting Canadian health care workers in light of EB3 retrogression and PERM.
http://marskell.jobscience.com/main.htm

WEB SEMINAR: JANUARY 17, 2005
Judy Pendergast of CGFNS and HLG attorney Sherry Neal will co-speak at a web/audio seminar sponsored by The Strategic Business Consortium. The live web and audio conference titled, “Nurse Recruiting Solutions: Optimizing Population, Customizing Recruiting and Enhancing Your Draw” will be held on January 17, 2004 from 1PM to 5PM EST.
http://www.thesbc.org/NR.htm

ARIZONA NURSING SCHOOLS HIT ROADBLOCKS AS DEMAND BOOMS
As more students respond to the growing demand for nurses, 14 new schools are looking to capture a piece of the action. But limited hospital resources and a dearth of nursing faculty may hinder growth plans as Arizona’s nursing shortage looms.
http://www.bizjournals.com/industries/health_care/hospitals/2004/12/13/phoenix_story6.html?f=et163

NEW YORK NEWSDAY OPINION: NURSING SYSTEM IS HEMORRHAGING
A recent New York Newsday opinion piece concludes that current immigration law is depriving the United States of top quality workers in science, medicine, nursing and pharmaceutical research, who find their U.S. immigration options increasingly limited.
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpadl104077442dec10,0,7858476.story?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines