For the sixth year in a row, Kirsten Schlenger has been named a Northern California “Super Lawyer” by her peers in the immigration field.  Additionally, associate Lisa Baker is listed as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers 2009.

Most significantly, the Employment-Based third preference category is finally “available” for Chinese nationals with priority dates of February 22, 2002 and Indian nationals with priority dates of April 15, 2001, and for all others (not from Mexico), June 1, 2002.  For the Employment-Based EB-2 second preference category, there has been only slight forward movement from last month:  Permanent visas are available for priority dates of March 22, 2005 for Chinese nationals and January 22, 2005 for Indian nationals.  The EB-2 category is still current for all other foreign nationals.  Please click here to access the complete October Visa bulletin.

E-Verify Effective September 8 for Federal Contractors

• Moving forward, new contracts for projects over $100,000 (and subcontracts over $3,000),  applicable contract renewals, and every new work order issued under existing affected contracts, will require federal contractors and subcontractors to enroll in E-Verify.   The USCIS has confirmed that contractors must then enroll within 30 days but it will be up to the contracting government agencies to enforce this requirement.  Businesses, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with a failed appeal last week, challenged the program on many different fronts, causing several delays from its initial January 2009 implementation date.  As we previously have advised, E-Verify is an electronic employment verification program, voluntary in many states, and required in others, which has been controversial both in implementation and reported error rates.  We continue to offer strategic planning analysis for our clients. 

Partner Laura J. Mazel spoke at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Association of Independent Research Institutes (AIRI) in Seattle. The meeting was held October 4-7, 2009.

Ms. Mazel addressed key immigration compliance issues for research institutes. She also addressed Export Control Act issues, some resulting in collaborations with private entities, and tips for retaining highly skilled researchers.