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The Business Immigration Monthly
is Hammond Law Group’s latest news eZine, directed at
international workers and employers seeking the most up-to-date news
on U.S. immigration issues, specifically those that impact workers
on H, L, E, and O visas and workers seeking permanent residency.
HLG OFFERS
FREE MARCH TELECONFERENCE
On March 8, 2006 (6-7pm EST), HLG will offer a free teleconference
to address Employment Immigration topics including the latest
updates on PERM, Visa Retrogression, and the H-1B cap. Speakers will
be attorneys Sherry L. Neal, Amy Dalal, and Peter Le. Space is
limited to the first 50 registrants, so make sure to register soon.
For more details and registration, see:
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/march_2006_SLN_teleconference.htm
DOS ADVISES ON RETROGRESSION OF IV NUMBERS
The Department of State (DOS) recently gazed into its crystal ball
and made some predictions about retrogression. These predictions are
helpful, but also give the reader a sense of the lack of precision
inherent in such an unwieldy system. The overwhelming conclusion
that can be drawn from their gazing is that the demand for immigrant
visa numbers has decreased in recent months.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/1.27.2006_alert.htm
MARCH VISA BULLETIN SHOWS SIGNIFICANT
MOVEMENT
The March Visa Bulletin was released today by the Department of
State and shows significant movement particularly for the country of
India. Specifically, EB-1 moved from Feb 1, 2004 to July 1, 2004;
EB-2 moved from August 1, 2001 to January 1, 2002; and most
significantly, EB-3 moved from Jan 1, 2000 to Jan 1, 2001. HLG is
hopeful that these significant movements will continue in the
coming months.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_2805.html
H-1(b) STRATEGIES FOR SPRING 2006
In a recent Immigration Alert, HLG offers guidance to employers for
the filing of H-1B petitions. As April 1st is fast approaching, HLG
recommends that employers who seek H-1(b) workers for FY2007 should
prepare to file these cases in April 2005 as HLG predicts the FY2007
cap will be reached very quickly. Companies may petition for
H-1(b) workers as soon as six months prior to the employee’s
anticipated start date. Therefore, if an employer wishes to have an
employee start on October 1, 2006, the earliest date that the
employer may file the petition with the USCIS is April 1, 2006.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/2.06.2006_alert.htm
DOL PROPOSING RULE THAT WILL IMPACT
SUBSTITUTIONS AND TIMING OF FILINGS
The Department of Labor is once again proposing a rule that would
eliminate substitutions on labor certification applications and
impose a 45-day deadline for filing an I-140 petition. So far, the
rule has passed the Office of Management and Budget on February 2,
2006. Now the rule has been released to the public for comment.
After the comment period, the regulation will become law, unless the DOL's review of the public's comments warrants further consideration
and deliberation. HLG will keep an eye on the situation and keep our
clients updated.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/2.13.2.2006_alert.htm
PRESIDENT BUSH VISITS 3M AND CALLS ON
CONGRESS TO RAISE H-1B CAP
President Bush visited 3M Corporate Headquarters on February 2 where
he commented on the need to increase the H-1B cap. He stated “[n]ow,
in the meantime, there’s another issue that I want to discuss right
quick….There are more high-tech jobs in America today than people
available to fill them. And if that’s—so what do we do about that?
And the reason it’s important, and the American citizen has got to
understand it’s important, is if we don’t do something about how to
fill those high-tech jobs here, they’ll go somewhere else where
somebody can do the job…And so one way to deal with this problem,
and probably the most effective way, is to recognize that there’s a
lot of bright engineers and chemists and physicists from other lands
that are either educated here, or received an education elsewhere
but want to work here. And they come here under a program called H1B
visas. And the problem is, is that Congress has limited the number
of H1B visas that can come and apply for a job—a H1B visa holder can
apply for a job at 3M. I think it’s a mistake not to encourage more
really bright folks who can fill the jobs that are having trouble
being filled here in America – to limit their number. And so I call
upon Congress to be realistic and reasonable and raise the cap…”
For full text of speech see:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/02/20060202-1.html
ANNOUNCING HAMMOND LAW GROUP+TORONTO
Better Exchange through Partnership
Hammond Law Group, LLC has opened a branch office downtown Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. The new office was opened in conjunction with an
expanded service offering through Hammond Law Group+Toronto which is
focused on partnering with healthcare recruiters, facilities and
staffing companies, and healthcare professionals.
View Announcement:
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/e_announcement_toronto.htm
Download Adobe PDF Brochure:
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/toronto_summary.pdf
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