For more information about ELIS, visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/uscis-elis.
As of April 20, USCIS had received a total of 35,900 H-1B cap filings for FY 2013, including 25,000 cases against the standard cap of 65,000 and 10,900 filings against the cap exemption of 20,000 for foreign nationals holding U.S. advanced degrees. Click here for the USCIS announcement.
The State Department has confirmed that the annual limit in the EB-2 preference category for China-mainland born and India has been reached for the current fiscal year.
Department of State press release - http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/03/187114.htm
ICE Fact Sheet - http://www.ice.gov/news/library/factsheets/syrian.htm
U.S. Embassy London, U.K. website - http://london.usembassy.gov/visanews014.html
U.S. Embassy Beijing, China website - http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/20120209amb-visa.html
The Department of State recently discovered difficulties with its database communicating with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program's SEVIS database. As a result, on November 18, 2011 the Department of State confirmed it was temporarily halting the issuance of F, M and J visas. On November 21, 2011 the agency announced that the technical problems have been resolved and that it has instructed embassies and consulates to resume issuing F, M and J visas immediately.
The Department of Homeland Security launches its StudyInTheStates website - http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/
Immigration & Customs Enforcement issues new Fact Sheet on Applying for a Driver's License or State ID Card - http://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/dmv_factsheet.pdf
The State Department has issued revised results for the Fiscal Year 2012 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery. Foreign nationals who entered the FY 2012 lottery during the filing period from October 5, 2010 to November 2, 2010 may now return to the official lottery website to check their results. In May 2011 the State Department voided the original results due to an internal computer error.
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html
The Department of Homeland Security has ended its NSEERS registration program by removing all countries from its designated list. The announcement can be found on the Customs & Border Protection agency's website at:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1214/~/special-registration-(nseers)
Certain applicants for employment and family-based green cards will now be able to apply for a single card that combines the employment authorization document and the advance parole travel document. You can read the announcement from USCIS here:
New USCIS filing fees will take effect November 23, 2010. USCIS announced increases in fees for many immigration filings, including I-765 applications for EADs, H-1B petitions and premium processing cases. Filings postmarked on or after November 23 must include the new fees.
Click here for the USCIS Fact Sheet
Citizens and eligible nationals of participating Visa Waiver Program countries may apply for admission to the United States at U.S. ports of entry as nonimmigrant aliens for a period of ninety days or less for business or pleasure without first obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, provided that they are otherwise eligible for admission under applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. On March 4, 2010, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, designated Greece as a country that is eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Accordingly, this rule updates the list of countries authorized to participate in the Visa Waiver Program by adding Greece.
