H-1B E-Guidance from the USDOL:

The U.S. Department of Labor has promulgated a helpful guide for employers about the H-1B nonimmigrant visa process.

Check it out at:

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/h1b.htm

The right way to mend immigration

By Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham

Friday, March 19, 2010

Our immigration system is badly broken. Although our borders have become far more secure in recent years, too many people seeking illegal entry get through. We have no way to track whether the millions who enter the United States on valid visas each year leave when they are supposed to. And employers are burdened by a complicated system for verifying workers’ immigration status.
Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America’s security and economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.

The answer is simple: Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration and support legal immigration. Throughout our history, immigrants have contributed to making this country more vibrant and economically dynamic. Once it is clear that in 20 years our nation will not again confront the specter of another 11 million people coming here illegally, Americans will embrace more welcoming immigration policies.
Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization for those already here.

Besides border security, ending illegal immigration will also require an effective employment verification system that holds employers accountable for hiring illegal workers. A tamper-proof ID system would dramatically decrease illegal immigration, experts have said, and would reduce the government revenue lost when employers and workers here illegally fail to pay taxes.

We would require all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs to obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card’s unique biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government database would house everyone’s information. The cards would not contain any private information, medical information, nor tracking devices. The card will be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already have.

Prospective employers would be responsible for swiping the cards through a machine to confirm a person’s identity and immigration status. Employers who refused to swipe the card or who otherwise knowingly hired unauthorized workers would face stiff fines and, for repeat offenses, prison sentences.

We propose a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally. We would bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border Patrol’s staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in apprehension capabilities.

Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases.

Ending illegal immigration, however, cannot be the sole objective of reform. Developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring America’s future economic prosperity.

Ensuring economic prosperity requires attracting the world’s best and brightest. Our legislation would award green cards to immigrants who receive a PhD or master’s degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a U.S. university. It makes no sense to educate the world’s future inventors and entrepreneurs and then force them to leave when they are able to contribute to our economy.

Our blueprint also creates a rational system for admitting lower-skilled workers. Our current system prohibits lower-skilled immigrants from coming here to earn money and then returning home. Our framework would facilitate this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities over many years, the chance to earn a green card.

For the 11 million immigrants already in this country illegally, we would provide a tough but fair path forward. They would be required to admit they broke the law and to pay their debt to society by performing community service and paying fines and back taxes. These people would be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward lawful permanent residence.

The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls for mass deportation. We urge the public and our colleagues to join our bipartisan efforts in enacting these reforms.

Charles E. Schumer is a Democratic senator from New York. Lindsey O. Graham is a Republican senator from South Carolina.

DHS Unveils Initiatives to Enhance E-Verify.

Release Date: March 17, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

Agreement with Department of Justice and Outreach Initiatives Will Strengthen E-Verify for Employers and Employees

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas to announce a trio of initiatives to strengthen the efficiency and accuracy of the EVerify
system.

These initiatives include a new agreement with the Department of Justice that will streamline the adjudication process in cases of E-Verify misuse and discrimination; an informational telephone hotline for employees to provide a more timely, effective and seamless customer experience for workers seeking E-Verify information; and new training videos focusing on E-Verify procedures and policies, employee rights and employer responsibilities in English and Spanish.

“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that helps employers across the country maintain a legal workforce,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The initiatives announced today will provide essential information to workers about their rights and ensure that E-Verify is used fairly while bolstering the Department’s efforts to protect critical employment opportunities.”
“USCIS continues to partner with our federal colleagues, as well as industry and employee representatives, to build a verification program that is accurate, efficient and fair for employers and workers alike,” said Director Mayorkas. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Department of Justice to ensure the continued integrity and improvement of EVerify.”

“This agreement will better enable us to protect individuals who are authorized to work in this country from national origin or citizenship-status discrimination,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Thomas Perez. “We will not hesitate to take action against employers who violate our nation’s civil rights laws.” The Memorandum of Agreement signed between USCIS and the Department of Justice’s Office of Special Counsel for Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices establishes a streamlined process for addressing potential cases of discrimination and employer misuse of E-Verify and establishes protocol between USCIS and the Department of Justice for referring matters that fall within the agencies’ respective jurisdictions.

The two new, educational training videos, explaining E-Verify procedures and policies, employee rights and employer responsibilities in English and Spanish were created by the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and are viewable at www.dhs.gov/e-verify and www.youtube.com/ushomelandsecurity.
Additionally, the USCIS E-Verify help line will now offer employees information about the E-Verify process, as well as assistance in completing the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification). Callers can also use the help line to file complaints about possible discrimination or employer misuse of the E-Verify program. The hotline number is (888) 897-7781 and will be active beginning April 5, 2010.

E-Verify is a free, easy-to-use Web-based system—operated in partnership by USCIS and the Social Security Administration
—that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees. More than
192,000 participating employers at more than 705,000 worksites nationwide currently use E-Verify to electronically verify their
workers’ employment eligibility. Since Oct. 1, 2009, E-Verify has processed more than six million queries.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/e-verify.

THE NEUFELD MEMO CAN CHANGE THE WHOLE H-1B PROFESSIONAL AND SPECIALTY OCCUPATION VISA
LANDSCAPE IN THE UNITED STATES.

By David H. Nachman, Esq., Managing Attorney – Nachman & Associates, P.C.
(Ridgewood, New Jersey, New York City and Canada), Business and family Immigration Lawyers and Attorneys.

As we have recently reported, H-1B “season” for the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year will begin on April 1st 2010. This means that H-1B employers will be able to submit H-1B nonimmigrant professional and specialty occupation worker visa petitions requesting an October 1st 2010 start date. Our offices continue to remain poised to assist U.S.
employers to prepare and submit these petitions.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Service (”CIS”) implemented several important changes to the H-1B “professional and
specialty occupation” work visa program in the U.S. The changes have alarmed many H-1B employers. Some of the changes included redefining the employer-employee relationship for third-party worksite placements.

The new guidelines were set forth a January Memorandum from the Associate Director of Service Center Operations, Donald Neufeld (the “Neufeld Memo”). While it may be
the case that the Neufeld Memo targets consulting companies that place H-1B visaholders at third-party sites, it appears that the document may have a significant impact on U.S.
employers who use H-1B nonimmigrant contract consultants to supplement their full-time workforce. The use of contract consultants (such as H-1B nonimmigrants), especially in an economic downturn or recession, continues to be critical to many organizations.

For example, information technologies projects are of a limited nature and duration. Organizations find it to be economically feasible to engage the services of temporary consultants as opposed to creating a full-time position.

If inappropriately applied, the guidelines set forth in the Neufeld Memo can result in (1) denials of H-1B amendments and extensions; and (2) denials of entry to the U.S. of H-1B
nonimmigrants who have traveled internationally; and (3) increased propensity by CIS for H-1B site visits and H-1B enforcement actions.
The issues raised in the Neufeld Memo are of great concern for H-1B employers as well as H-1B nonimmigrants.

The ripple effects of the Neufeld Memo are still spreading. We will continue to monitor any new developments as they surface. For more information
about the H-1B nonimmigrant visa or the Neufeld Memo, please feel free to contact our offices at 201-670-0006 (X100) or e-mail to us at info@visaserve.com.

Notes from New Jersey AILA Chapter Meeting 1/26/2010

Speakers for US Customs and Border Protection:

Paula Heacock, Branch Chief, Enforcement Operations
Louis Mejia, Supervisor for Admissibility Issues
Kevin Donohue, Deputy Chief, Criminal Enforcement

Arriving Aliens with Convictions

Kevin Donohue spoke about deferred inspection and expedited removal of arriving aliens. He explained that CBP receives a list of individuals on a flight when it leaves an airport abroad. In the time that it takes for the flight to get to the US, using technology, CBP can get a record of conviction from the courthouse. Accordingly, arriving aliens with criminal convictions can be immediately placed in expedited removal proceedings. This is an improvement from the past when the alien would be placed into deferred inspection and told to return with a copy of the conviction. Under that system, many aliens were simply failing to show up at the deferred inspection. The expedited removal option that CBP is exercising with greater frequency has alleviated the burden placed on the deferred inspection system.

Mandatory Detention for Post-1998 Convictions

Officer Donohue pointed out that the law provides for mandatory detention with post-1998 convictions (Section 236(c)). Individuals with these convictions get detained in all cases. Thereafter, NTAs are sent to the General Counsel for legal sufficiency. The General Counsel for CBP is located at 1 Penn Plaza in Manhattan. Consideration will be given to humanitarian needs such as whether the individual is a sole provider for children, and whether he/she has health issues. This procedure is based on a program that was piloted in Atlanta and Miami.

A member asked about whether attorneys would be permitted at secondary interviews. Officer Donohue responded that such a right is not given under the law, but that reasonable requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis (this goes through Judith Altmann, Associate Chief Counsel). The general phone number for the airport is 973-565-8000 (press #1 for the duty supervisor). If the attorney is not permitted to attend, he or she will still be told about what is happening with the case and will be shown a copy of the NTA and be provided with a sworn statement. He pointed out that in cases where the attorney is retained later in the process, and the client does not have a copy of the sworn statement, it can be obtained through a FOIA request. A FOIA request can be made through the General Counsel at the following contact information:

Craig Stahl
FOIA Officer
CBP Office
1 Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY
646-733-3200

An attorney can call and ask for the “attorney-of-the-day” and that person will log-in the information.

H-1B Admissions

Officer Donohue maintained that there has been fraud in the H-1B program, and that H-1Bs have been subjected to increased scrutiny at the port of entry. He indicated that officers may call the employer in order to make a determination about admissibility. He stated that while CBP will not permit the alien to call his/her attorney, CBP may call the attorney themselves.

Officer Donohue stated that CBP now has the technology to verify that the person who was interviewed at the embassy is the same person presenting at the port of entry. CBP is also able to access DOL information.

Officer Mejia indicated that he has “read the blogs” and knows that there is a perception that the H-1B denials are being experienced disproportionately by Indian Nationals. He categorically denied this claim. He also denied allegations that “rovers” are removing foreign national from the initial line and sending them directly to secondary inspection. He further noted that there are 4 flights arriving from India per day, and those flights have the most H-1Bs onboard.

Members expressed frustration with the fact that they are preparing their clients for interviews, and arming them with the necessary documentation, but the clients are still being denied visas and/or entry. This is particularly common where there is “seconding” occurring; these are complex, but legitimate, employment relationships that are even difficult for attorneys to understand. Officer Mejia indicated that members were doing exactly what they should be doing,( i.e., sending the foreign national to the port of entry well-armed with documentary evidence). Members also asked whether CBP was re-adjudicating cases based on a recent CIS memo. Officer Mejia indicated that the memo was not controlling on CBP, that they did not read it as calling for a re-adjudication, and that they were not re-adjudicating cases.

Members asked whether H-1Bs might be given a choice to withdraw their application for admission instead of being removed. Officer Mejia said that it would depend upon the circumstances; the Chief Counsel would have to be consulted. Another member suggested that, rather than removing an individual, CBP could issue an NTA. This procedure would permit an attorney to assist the foreign national. It was agreed that this would be the subject of further discussion between CBP and AILA NJ.

Closing of Varick Street Facility

Members inquired as to whether the closing of the Varick Street Facility would place extra pressure on NJ sites. The officers indicated that this would not occur because New York and New Jersey are entirely separate entities.

I-751 pending

Officer Donohue stated that when an alien presents an I-551 stamp, the alien will always be placed in secondary inspection. He also pointed out that this was true of anyone traveling with any document that did not have a biometrics identifier (e.g. I-551 stamp, I-797 extending the Conditional Residence for one year pending I-751 adjudication. In response to a member question, he indicated that there is no way for an officer to access any system that will tell him/her whether the alien has filed for divorce.

Expired Green Cards

Aliens who have been out of the U.S. for more than 6 months, or who have expired green cards, will be placed in secondary. Officer Donohue indicated that they have information about how long each LPR has spent outside the US.

Courtesy of Victoria Donoghue, Esq. and David H. Nachman, Esq.
NACHMAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Immigration and Nationality Attorneys
VISASERVE PLAZA
487 Goffle Road
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450
Phone (201) 670-0006
Facsimile (201) 670-0009
WE ALSO HAVE NEW YORK OFFICES LOCATED AT 7 WEST 36TH STREET, 14TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10018 (NEAR FIFTH AVENUE).
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OFFICES IN MONTREAL AND TORONTO, CANADA AND OUTBOUND IMMIGRATION OPTIONS TO CANADA PLEASE E-MAIL US AT INFO@VISASERVE.COM.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT US ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB AT WWW.VISASERVE.COM.