The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of May 31, 2010. They are as follows: Regular processing: August 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in August of 2009. This suggests that there is certain forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular PERM [...]
In a recent announcement, USCIS, as part of their annual budget review and due to lower-than-estimated fee revenue collection, proposed a fee increase that will amount to an average increase of 10% across the board. A formal proposal has been published in the Federal Register and there is a 45-day comment period. Some of [...]
Starting December 2009, USCIS started implementing changes on the way I-131 reentry permit applications are receipted and processed. Previously, I-131 reentry permit applications were filed directly at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) which issued receipts and, where appropriate, issued expedited processing biometrics notices. The NSC processing of expedited processing reentry permit biometrics allowed us to [...]
In addition to the numerous inquiries on filing a new I-140 when a previous I-140 is pending on appeal, our office handles a number of such new I-140 filings. Pursuant to USCIS guidance, a previously approved labor certification which was timely used to file an I-140 can, in many circumstances, be subsequently used to file [...]
The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has provided an update on the current PERM processing dates as of April 30, 2010. They are as follows: Regular processing: July 2009. DOL is processing PERM applications with priority dates in July of 2009. This suggests that there is very slight forward movement for regular PERM processing. Accordingly, regular [...]
Our office handles a fair amount of appeals with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) and we often receive inquiries not only about about the procedural aspects of an AAO appeal but also about the current processing times for AAO cases. About the AAO The AAO is an appeals office which handles appeals of certain decisions [...]
On March 25, 2010, the Department of Labor ("DOL") held a stakeholders telephone conference to discuss DOL operations generally, and address PERM, iCERT prevailing wage and other specific areas. We are happy to share some interesting pieces of information from DOL. PERM Processing. With respect to PERM processing, DOL has made efforts to decrease its [...]
The Texas Service Center (TSC), in a meeting with AILA, has provided some helpful updates regarding processing of petitions filed with TSC. Processing Times TSC has confirmed that the pending application reports posted on the USCIS status check website are generally correct. I-485s filed prior to March 26, 2009 that are still pending should be [...]
Our office handles a fair amount of appeals with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) and we often receive inquiries not only about about the procedural aspects of an AAO appeal but also about the current processing times for AAO cases. About the AAO The AAO is an appeals office which handles appeals of certain decisions [...]
Our office has handled many cases where a specific USCIS benefit or application must be approved on an expedited basis. Also, we have received numerous inquiries from applicants who seek to expedite the processing of a pending application due to long processing times. It is helpful to describe the criteria which USCIS (and our office, [...]