Med Law Blog

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it has received enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap for fiscal year 2009. USCIS has also received more than 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf ...Read More 

Lisa Ventresca
412-594-6507
lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

U.S. nationals are required to hold a U.S. passport for entry (by air) into the U.S. Effective 6-1-09, all U.S. nationals traveling by sea or land must also hold a U.S. passport.

Click the link to read the DOS press release as well as a FAQ sheet on the topic.

 www.medlawblog.com/DOS release on Passport Rule(1).pdf

 www.medlawblog.com/Passport Rule.pdf

Lisa Ventresca
412-594-5607
lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

Multiple H1B filings prohibited

Lisa M. Ventresca
412-594-5607
lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

Ken M. Ventresca
412-594-5607
kventresca@tuckerlaw.com

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

The USCIS issued an update regarding revised instructions for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The revised instructions include changes for re-entry permit and refugee travel document applicants. The text of the changes is attached.

www.medlawblog.com/Biometric changes.pdf

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

BY: Kenneth M. Ventresca, Esq., Lisa M. Ventresca, Esq. and Michael Cassidy, Esq.

Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who reside and are employed in the United States on a J-1 Visa generally are required to return to their home country for a period of two (2) years as a prerequisite for applying for permanent residency or an H1B Visa. This requirement is known as the foreign residency requirement and constrains the immigration options for FMGs on J-1 Visas. The only way to get around the foreign residency requirement is to obtain a waiver.

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

www.medlawblog.com/H-1B_Filing_30jan08.pdf

For questions regarding this article, contact Lisa or Ken Ventresca at
Lisa: lventresca@tuckerlaw.com Ken: kventresca@tuckerlaw.com
or by phone at 412-594-5607

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

For the first time in 16 years, the Federal Government has changed

the I-9 Immigration Form.

It has now been released and ALL employers, regardless of size are

required to fill one out for each new employee. Only this amended

version of the Form I-9 will be accepted as valid after December 26,

2007. Order this form now to ensure that your business remains in

compliance.

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

As of February 1, 2008, U.S. citizens may begin to apply for the New Passport Card. The passport card will facilitate travel between the U.S. and land border as well as sea ports-of-entry countries such as Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. The new passport card will carry the same rights and privileges as a U.S. passport and is being issued in response to a need for a more efficient and cost effective means of travel for border communities.

www.medlawblog.com/US citizen passport cards(1).pdf

Lisa Ventresca
lventresca@tuckerlaw.com
412-594-5607

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

(Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection) U.S., Canadian and Bermudian citizens entering the United States at land or sea ports-of-entry must establish their identity and citizenship to the satisfaction of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Under current CBP procedures, such individuals may provide any proof of identity and citizenship.

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

Posted By: Lisa Ventresca lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

Foreign nationals traveling abroad will need reentry visas. The attached memo from Lisa Ventresca highlights the documents requirements for H1Bs.

www.medlawblog.com/2008 visa issuance memo(1).pdf

Lisa Ventresca
412.594.5607
lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

Posted by: Lisa Ventresca lventresca@tuckerlaw.com

As posted previously, Tucker Arensberg is now offering immigration law services. As such, our firm strongly believes that the 2008 H1B Temporary Worker Visa Cap will be closing in early April 2008, shortly after the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) begins accepting petitions on April 1, 2008. If your organization desires to hire a foreign national in a specialty occupation (those occupations requiring a Bachelor’s degree or higher) for 2008, you will need

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 2 Comments | Permalink

Tucker Arensberg is proud to announce that immigration attorneys, Kenneth M. Ventresca and Lisa M. Ventresca have joined the firm as Of Counsel Attorneys to assist our health care, corporate, technology and higher education clients with a full range of immigration issues.

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink

As published on the U.S. Department of State web site, Applications for the 2009 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will be accepted between noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) Sunday, December 2, 2007.

Click on U.S. Department of State to learn more about the program.

| Posted By Michael Cassidy In Immigration | 0 Comments | Permalink