On 9 May 2008, various media outlets, including CNN.com, reported that 83 people were arrested and accused of arranging fraudulent marriages for US Citizenship during a federal sting of four companies. The companies were incorporated as immigration assistance services, and were all located in the State of Florida. The arrested included immigrants, Americans, and company officials. At least one company maintained a wedding showroom with cakes, table settings, and bridal gowns, which it would use to pose fake wedding photographs. Additionally, the companies would coach immigrants on answers to USCIS questions, but the fact that many immigrants did not speak the same language as their US Citizen spouses may have been what led USCIS to tip off federal agents. The intending immigrants paid as much as $10,000 to the companies, while companies offered US Citizens up to $2,500 for the marriage.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.ortega-medina.com

On 6 May 2008, USCIS announced that "it is publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase the maximum amount of time a Trade-NAFTA (TN) professional worker from Canada or Mexico can remain in the United States before seeking readmission or obtaining an extension of stay." Under the proposed rule, the maximum period of admission for TN worker will be extended from one year to three years. It will also allow TN workers to be issued extensions of stay for a period of up to three years. Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, USCIS will accept public comments for thirty days.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 6 May 2008, USCIS announced guidance, effective immediately, on its interpretation of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The CSPA "permits applicants for certain immigration benefits to retain classification as a child even if he or she has reached the age of 21." This new guidance extends the CSPA coverage to foreign nationals who had an approved visa petition prior to the enactment of the CSPA, but who did not have a pending application for permanent residence on the date of enactment. Individuals who were previously ineligible, and who never filed an application for permanent residence, may now file an application for permanent residence. Additionally, individuals who filed an application for permanent residence after the enactment of the CSPA, but were denied solely because they had aged out, may file motions to reopen or reconsider with USCIS without a filing fee.

For more information please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 5 May 2008, USCIS announced change to the E-Verify program designed to reduce the mismatch rate and increase efficiency. The announced changes reflect the first two phases of a three part improvement to the E-Verify program. Information for naturalized US citizens will now be included in the program, along with real-time arrival information from the Border Inspection System. The third phase of the improvements plans to improve information sharing between the USCIS and the Social Security Administration regarding naturalized US citizens.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Assocites, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 30 April 2008, USCIS published Michael Aytes's, Acting Deputy Director of USCIS, testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. His testimony discussed annual limits on the granting of Permanent Resident Status. According to the Office of Immigration Statistics as of March 2008, a total of 1,052,415 persons became Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) in 2007. Of this, 59% of new Residents were living in the United States and adjusted status. Two-thirds of all new LPRs were granted permanent residence based on a family member. The leading countries of birth for new permanent residents were Mexico (14 percent), China (7 percent), and the Philippines (7 percent). USCIS is working to increase its efficiency in dealing with applications for permanent residence and "has adopted a production strategy that focuses on completing cases where visas are immediately available and on working cases to the point just short of approval (pre-adjudication) where visas will be available in the coming months." Mr. Aytes's testimony also stated that USCIS and DOS are working together on a plan to forward all approved family-based visa petitions to DOS, including those where the petitioner indicates the beneficiary will apply for adjustment of status in the United States. They believe that this will "enhance the ability of DOS to accurately forecast demand for visa numbers and more precisely manage the establishment of priority dates to meter the intake of applications for adjustment of status to match visa availability."

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 29 April 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a revised Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. The revision was necessary due to changes to the Tuberculosis (TB) Component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons and now includes seven Tuberculosis Classifications. This revised form (edition date 04/02/08) must be used for any medical examination completed on or after 1 May 2008 and previous editions will not be accepted after 1 May 2008.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 25 April 2008, USCIS announced that the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization had been revised to include more eligibility codes. USCIS will accept the July 30, 2007 edition of the form through July 8, 2008. As of July 9, 2008, USCIS will only accept the revised Form I-765, dated April 8, 2008, and will reject all requests using previous editions of the form.

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com

On 22 April 2008, USCIS released the projected processing times for Naturalization applications filed during Summer 2007. However, it states that these processing times are based on cases without complications, and the following may delay a case: an applicant has been asked to submit additional information and their case is pending until they comply; or an applicant fails the naturalization test and has 60 days to prepare before they are retested; or the FBI name check is still in progress.

For more information please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.ortega-medina.com