Us Immigration New And Updates 2012

[abadham]

[center][b][i][u]Immigration News and Updates[/u][/i][/b][/center]

[center][b][i]September 2012[/i][/b][/center]

[i][u]News Updates[/u][/i]
[b] Ø[url="#_U.S._Department_of_1"]U.S. Department of State Releases October 2012 Visa Bulletin[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_U.S._Consulates_in_1"]U.S. Consulates in India Visa Processing Changes [/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Diversity_Visa_Green_1"]Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery Registration Starts October 2, 2012[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_September_2012_Green"]Permanent Residence Overview Meetings for Employees and their Manager[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Visa_Stamping_Brown"]Visa Stamp Application Process Meetings[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_H-1B_Brown_Bag"]H-1B Cap Brown Bag Sessions[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Immigration_Office_Hours"]Office Hours[/url][/b]

[b] [i][u]Reminders[/u][/i][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_GIT_Goes_to"]GIT Goes to Trouble Ticketing Effective October 1, 2012![/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Know_Your_Assigned"]Know Your Assigned Immigration Specialist[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Administrative_Processing"]Administrative Processing at the U.S. Consulate[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Passport_Expiration_and"]Passport Expiration and your I-94 Entry/ Departure Record[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Traveling_to_Canada?"]Traveling to Canada? I-94 card procedures[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Moving?__Remember"]Moving? Remember to file an AR-11 within 10 days of your move[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Changing_Jobs_or"]Changing Jobs or Job Locations? Remember to report material changes in your employment to the GIT[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Maintenance_of_Legal"]Maintenance of Immigration Status[/url][/b]

[b] Ø[url="#_Feedback_on_the"]Reminder! Feedback on the GIT[/url][/b]


[center][i]News Updates[/i][/center]
[b] U.S. Department of State Releases October 2012 Visa Bulletin[/b]

According to the U.S. State Department’s October [url="http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5770.html"]visa bulletin[/url], the EB-2 priority date cut-off date will be September 1, 2004 for India and July 15, 2007 for mainland China. For all other countries, the EB-2 cut-off date will advance by three years, to January 1, 2012.

[b]October 2012 Priority Date Cut-Offs [/b]
In October 2012, EB immigrant visa priority date cut-offs will be:

[b]EB-1 [/b]
Current for all countries

[b]EB-2 [/b]
China: July 15, 2007
India: September 1, 2004
All other countries: January 1, 2012

[b]EB-3 Professionals and Skilled Workers [/b]
China: February 8, 2006
India: October 15, 2002
Philippines: August 1, 2006
All other countries: October 22, 2006

Each month, the State Department calculates the demand based on preference category, country use, and priority date, to determine cutoff dates for the Visa Bulletin. The State Department obtains information from USCIS and consular posts to determine the rate of usage in each category. If there are sufficient visas available in a given category to satisfy expected usage, the category will remain “current” or available. However, when the number of expected applicants in a given category will exceed the numbers of visas available, that category is considered to be “oversubscribed” and a retrogressed cutoff date is set by the State Department.

While the State Department routinely collects data regarding visa usage from USCIS and consular posts, there are some trends that are difficult to anticipate and calculate. These can result in unanticipated movements in the cutoff dates. For example, applicants who move from the EB-3 to the EB-2 category or from the EB-2 to the EB-1 category are difficult to track. Previously, movement from a lower category to a higher category was limited to individuals from India and China. However, with the slow movement in the worldwide category, USCIS is seeing an increasing movement between categories for applicants from other countries as well. In February 2012, applicants moving from the EB-3 to the EB-2 category represented 2,900 filings, placing a much higher demand than anticipated on the EB-2 category.
[b] U.S. Consulates in India Launch New Initiatives to Streamline Nonimmigrant Visa Application Process[/b]

In an effort to improve consular services and meet the increasing demand for U.S. visas, the U.S. Embassy in India is implementing two new programs. One program will allow many nonimmigrant visa applicants at U.S. Consulates or U.S. Embassies in India to complete all the requirements for a visa renewal without needing to visit an embassy or consulate. A separate new system will streamline and standardize the procedures associated with the process for all applicants, including those who must still attend interviews.
[b] Interview Waiver Program[/b]

Under the new Interview Waiver Program (IWP), certain nonimmigrant applicants at any U.S. Consular office or U.S. Embassy in India who were interviewed in conjunction with a previously approved visa application will be allowed to renew their visa without undergoing another interview.

For an applicant to qualify for an interview waiver under the IWP, the following criteria must be met: [list]
[*]Applicant has a previous U.S. visa in the same class as the visa class for which he or she wishes to renew;
[*]Applicant previously held or currently holds a B1/B2, C1D, J2, L2 or H4 visa;
[*]Visa is valid or recently expired (expired within 48 months if applying for B1/B2 or C1D visa, expired within 12 months for J2, L2 or H4 visa);
[*]Applicant’s previous visa was issued by a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate in India;
[*]Applicant is applying for the visa in the consular district where his or her passport will be delivered (consular districts may be found here: [url="https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/consulardistrictslocation.html"]https://www.vfs-usa.co.in/USIndia/consulardistrictslocation.html[/url]);
[*]Applicant has not been refused a visa for any category after the most recent visa issuance;
[*]If applicant’s visa was issued before January 1, 2008, applicant may be required to submit fingerprints at a consular station;
[*]Applicant’s prior visa must not have the annotation “Clearance Received.”
[/list]
[b] Changes to Appointment Scheduling[/b]

The U.S. Embassy in India also announced that effective September 26, 2012, individuals who need to make consular visa appointments will be able to do so through a new website, [url="http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in"]http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in[/url], which will streamline appointment scheduling, simplify fee payments and provide new delivery options. In addition to facilitating payment of visa application fees and providing information about required documents for visa interviews, the website will allow applicants to schedule their appointments online or by phone for the first time. The new system will also include more payment options, including payment by Electronic Fund Transfer or mobile phone
Applicants will also be able to schedule appointments through a call center. Call center agents will answer questions in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, and Telugu. Call centers will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. IST on Monday through Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. IST on Sunday. The telephone numbers are (91 120) 660 2222 or (91 22) 6720 9400 in India or 1.310.616.5424 in the United States. Applicants can email requests for appointments in English or Hindi to [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email], or they can chat with information agents directly on the new website during call center hours. There is currently no fee for using the call center. In addition, visa applicants will be able to pay visa application fees via electronic fund transfer (EFT), through their mobile telephones, or in cash at branches of Axis Bank and Citibank.
[b] Separate Biometric Appointment[/b]

Under the new system, many first-time applicants and some renewal applicants will have to make two appointments. Prior to their visa interviews, many first-time applicants and a smaller number of renewal applicants will have to visit an Offsite Facilitation Center (OFC) to submit their fingerprints and a photo. OFCs are located apart from the embassy and consulates in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
[b] Passport Delivery[/b]

Under the new system, passports, visas, immigrant visa packets, and other documents will be delivered to 33 document pickup locations across India within a week at no charge. Applicants will be asked to choose a delivery location when they schedule their appointments and will be able to track the progress of their visa application on the website. When documents are ready for pickup, applicants will be notified via email and/or short message service (SMS) on their mobile telephones.
[b] How This Impacts You[/b]

If scheduling your visa stamping process in In India, you should plan for the need for two separate appointments as well as the potential for delays or glitches as this new system is implemented. As always, with any international travel you should also communicate any potential delays to your return to the U.S. to your manager.
[b] Diversity Visa Green Card Lottery Registration Starts October 2, 2012[/b]

The registration period for the FY 2014 [url="http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html"]Diversity Visa lottery[/url] will open on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Foreign nationals will have until Saturday, November 3, 2012 at noon EDT to submit their online registration forms and accompanying photographs.

Each fiscal year, the State Department makes 50,000 immigrant visas available through the DV lottery. Foreign nationals selected in this year’s lottery will be eligible to submit a green card application during the 2014 fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2013.

To register, a foreign national must submit an online form and a digital photo through the official DV lottery website. Only one entry is permitted per person. If there are multiple registrations for one person, all of them are disqualified.

The State Department has yet to release its official instructions for the FY 2014 DV lottery, which will contain detailed information regarding registration procedures, and a list of countries whose nationals are not eligible to participate in the lottery. Fragomen will issue a Client Alert when the instructions are released. Applicants must carefully follow the State Department’s official lottery instructions. Lottery entries and digital photos that do not precisely conform to the instructions will be disqualified.

The State Department chooses lottery winners by random computer selection. Results will be posted on the official DV lottery entry status website. The State Department does not notify entrants by letter, e-mail, fax or telephone. The official website is the only legitimate source of information about lottery results.

See the [url="http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html"]Diversity Visa Program[/url] webpage for information about:
[url="http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html#fraud"]Important fraud warning[/url]
[url="http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html#occupations"]DV qualifying occupations[/url]


[center][i]Upcoming Brown Bag Sessions & Events[/i][/center]

[b]Permanent Residence Overview Meetings for Employees and their Managers[/b]
The Global Immigration Team hosts green card process brown bag sessions every month. To ensure your understanding of the Amazon sponsorship process and to educate yourself about the steps involved in the U.S. permanent sponsorship process we strongly encourage you and your manager to attend a brown bag session prior to undertaking the process with Amazon. During this meeting, you will get an overview of the eligibility criteria for sponsorship, instructions on initiating the process and a high level overview of the legal requirements involved with Amazon’s sponsorship of your permanent residence applications.
[b] September 2012 Green Card Process Brown Bags[/b]

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 12:00-1:00PM CONF US SEA Van Vorst 02.204 AV/VC Room
[b] Visa Stamping Brown Bag Sessions[/b]

The Global Immigration Team hosts monthly visa stamp application process meetings. If you have questions regarding this process, this sessions is your chance to learn about the visa application process, review the supporting documents you must take to your visa interview, completing the visa application form (Form DS-160), and get any other additional questions you might have. This is also an excellent time to share your anecdotal experiences with your fellow Amazonians! Please bring your immigration documents to this meeting (including approval notice and your immigration petition filed on your behalf).
[b] September 2012 Visa Stamping Brown Bags[/b]

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 - 12-1PM - CONF US SEA Day 1 North 02.102 AV/VC Room
[b] H-1B Brown Bag Sessions[/b]

The GIT will be hosting a number of H-1B Brown Bag sessions for employees who received an H-1B under this year’s H-1B visa cap. During these sessions we will go over your new responsibilities as an H-1B visa holder, learn about H-1B visa stamping procedures and general Immigration questions will be addressed. Please bring your immigration documents to this meeting (including approval notice and your immigration petition filed on your behalf).
[b] September 2012 H-1B Brown Bags[/b]

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM - CONF US SEA Van Vorst 02.205 AV/VC Room
Friday, September 28, 2012 - 12:00PM - 1:00PM - CONF US SEA Varzea 05.300 AV/VC Room
[b] Immigration Office Hours[/b]

The GIT hosts an open forum “office hours” every other week in SEA23 (Wainwright) on the 2nd floor. These sessions are from 1:00pm-4pm and you have a chance to ask any questions you might have directly on a 1:1 basis.
[b] September 2012 Visa Stamping Brown Bags[/b]

Friday, September 21, 2012 - 1:00PM - 4:00PM CONF US SEA Wainwright 02.300/02.301

[b]Feedback on Office Hours![/b]
The Global Immigration Team is dedicated to providing world-class immigration services to our clients. In an effort to improve our services, we ask that you complete the survey available [url="https://portal.ant.amazon.com/sites/hrservices/Immigration/Lists/GIT%20Office%20Hours/overview.aspx"]here[/url] if you have attended one of our office hours events. It should only take you 2 minutes or less and it is anonymous. By responding to this survey, it will help us determine if this service is of any value and if it makes sense to increase the number of office hours each month.

[center][i]REMINDERS[/i][/center]
[b] GIT Goes to Trouble Ticketing Soon![/b]

The Global Immigration Team receives a high volume of email inquiries. To help us better assist you in a more expeditious manner, the GIT will begin to support trouble ticketing beginning October 1, 2012. In the interim, please continue to contact us at [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email].
When contacting immigration@ please adhere to the following subject line format:
LAST NAME, First / Subject / STEAM

An example of this would appear as:
[b]FIBONACCI, Leonardo[/b] [b]/ H-1B and Travel / JASSY[/b]
Providing your LAST NAME, First name helps us quickly organize your emails and providing the STEAM member is crucial as it will assist us in identifying your inquiries quickly and also identifies your dedicated immigration specialist responsible for the life-cycle of your immigration process.
[b] Know Your Assigned Immigration Specialist[/b]

The GlT’s workload is divided up our workload by S-TEAM alignment. You can locate your S-TEAM in the[url="https://contactstool.amazon.com/ac/can/people/find/"]Contacts Tool[/url].

[center]Keeshia Moultrie
Global Immigration Program Manager
[email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email][/center]
[center]Allison Wilson
Immigration Specialist
[email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email][/center]
[center]Cindy Tan
Global Immigration Program Manager
[email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email][/center]
[center]Adrian Johnson
Immigration Specialist
[email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email][/center]
[center]Grandinetti
Kessel
Limp
Onetto
Piacentini
Wilke[/center]
[center] Blackburn
Galbato
Gunningham
Jassy
Szkutak
Valentine[/center]

[b] Administrative Processing[/b]

Amazon and other employers of non-immigrant visa holders (H-1B, L-1, etc.) are reporting a significant number of foreign national employees experiencing delays in the issuance of visas when applying for nonimmigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad. The result is that foreign national employees are finding themselves “stuck” abroad and unable to return to the United States for varying and sometimes lengthy periods of time. Foreign nationals of China, India, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, and other predominantly Muslim countries seem to be heavily targeted.
Please note that if you find yourself subject to administrative processing and you wish to be able to work abroad while you await clearance you MUST submit an inquiry to the Tax Team for approval re same. In this case, please submit your work travel request to [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email].
Select the following link for further information. [url="https://inside.amazon.com/en/Employment/immigration/2010Immigration-US/ExtendMyVisa-Final/Documents/Administrative%20Processing%20FAQ.pdf"]Administrative Processing FAQ[/url]
[b] Passport Expiration and your I-94 Entry/ Departure Record[/b]

For employees whose passports expire prior to the expiration date of their nonimmigrant status (H, L, TN), please note that you will receive an I-94 Departure Record with an expiration date that is consistent with your passport expiration date not your nonimmigrant status expiration. For instance, if your passport expires on October 1, 2011, and you have an H-1B approval notice and visa that expires on October 1, 2012, you will receive an I-94 departure record that expires on October 1, 2011 when you enter the U.S. [b]For this reason, it is imperative that you pay close attention to your I-94 Departure Record. If you remain in the U.S. beyond the expiration date on the I-94 departure record, you can be considered unlawfully present. [/b] Also, if you find yourself in this situation, we can assist you with the issuance of a new I-94 card once you have your passport renewed. Please contact the GIT by submitting a ticket if you have this issue.
[b] Traveling to Canada? I-94 card procedures[/b]

If you travel to Canada, please keep your original I-94 card. It is not necessary for you to surrender this original document, when traveling to Canada – either by air or car. It is a good idea to carry a copy of your I-94 card in the event that customs insists on taking the original. Please contact us if you have further questions regarding this procedure.
[b] Moving? Remember to file an AR-11 within 10 days of your move[/b]

All non-U.S. citizens, except for holders of A or G visas must report a change of address within 10 days of moving by completing a USCIS Form AR-11, Change of Address. You file your application electronically at [url="https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa.Terms"]https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa.Terms[/url] . The Global Immigration Team recommends that you keep a copy for your records. In addition, if you file a paper form AR-11, the GIT recommends that you file it using certified return receipt requested mail, and retain a copy of the filing for your records. You should file one form for each of your non-U.S. Citizen family members.
[b] Changing Jobs or Job Locations? Remember to report material changes in your employment to the GIT[/b]

If you are in H or L status and expect or experience a material change in your employment, you must report this change to the GIT in advance of the change. A “material change” includes significant changes to your job responsibilities and a change in job location-even if you are just moving from one Seattle location to another. Amazon may be required to file an amended petition or an additional application on your behalf prior to the change. Also, if you are in the permanent residence process, you should schedule time with a member of the GIT to discuss any potential changes in advance as they may have an adverse effect on your green card application. Please report any material changes to your position or location to the GIT at [email="[email protected]"][b][email protected][/b][/email] at least 2 weeks in advance so that the team can review your case and determine what necessary steps may need to be taken to protect your immigration status and petitions. Thank you for your cooperation.
[b] Maintenance of Legal Immigration Status[/b]

This is a friendly reminder that your I-94 card governs your legal stay and working authorization in the U.S. [b]not[/b] the visa stamp in your passport. As such, it is crucial to review any new I-94 cards that are issued to you (or your dependents) upon your re-entry to the U.S. and provide us with copies so we can review for accuracy as well. If your I-94 card is “shorted” with an earlier expiration date, please notify us ASAP so we can determine the best strategy to correct this error. If you are in the U.S. with an expired I-94, it can have serious consequences, including being barred from the U.S. for 3 or 10 years.
[b] Feedback on the GIT[/b]

The GIT Values your feedback. Please provide any feedback to [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email] to help us to provide you with better service.
Thank You,
Global Immigration Team

[CHANAKYA]

Gp

[abadham]

kanisam okarikaina use ayite gud e post...

[Chimidi_Mukku]

you working for Amazon ?

[AK27]

good and useful post !!!

[abadham]

[quote name='Chimidi_Mukku' timestamp='1347901969' post='1302491323']
you working for Amazon ?
[/quote]

yes baa [img]http://i54.tinypic.com/16bwy7d.gif[/img]

[ICANWIN]

GP

[ghazni]

gp

[karna11]

andhuloo ee year lo OPT nundi H1change ayye valla ki use ayye news emina vuntee koncham short gaa cheppu

[Jatka Bandi]

all lies... abadham.

[abadham]

[quote name='bantrothu bullabbai' timestamp='1347904101' post='1302491578']
all lies... abadham.
[/quote]
100% truth bhayya...[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F4_eLjPsqK8/TgX9bpMA5QI/AAAAAAAADAQ/ESIC-J_84ew/s150/Samantha.gif[/img]

[abadham]

[quote name='karna11' timestamp='1347904004' post='1302491572']
andhuloo ee year lo OPT nundi H1change ayye valla ki use ayye news emina vuntee koncham short gaa cheppu
[/quote]
[b][img]http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh517/twinklebt/Brahmis/33.gif[/img]Passport Expiration and your I-94 Entry/ Departure Record[/b] sadukoo..

[Jatka Bandi]

[quote name='abadham' timestamp='1347904280' post='1302491592']
100% truth bhayya...[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-F4_eLjPsqK8/TgX9bpMA5QI/AAAAAAAADAQ/ESIC-J_84ew/s150/Samantha.gif[/img]
[/quote][img]http://www.andhrafriends.com/uploads/profile/photo-thumb-11780.jpg?_r=1347903335[/img]

[jaffanajeffada]

[quote name='bantrothu bullabbai' timestamp='1347904594' post='1302491612']
[img]http://www.andhrafriends.com/uploads/profile/photo-thumb-11780.jpg?_r=1347903335[/img]
[/quote]
enti deyyam bomma petti janalni bayapedadham ani choostunnava?

[abadham]

[quote name='bantrothu bullabbai' timestamp='1347904594' post='1302491612']
[img]http://www.andhrafriends.com/uploads/profile/photo-thumb-11780.jpg?_r=1347903335[/img]
[/quote]

enti baa display pic marchav....