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September Visa Bulletin and Fraud Unit Site Visits | Print |
Written by WSM   
August 14, 2009

 

• Visa Bulletin:  The State Department’s recently issued visa bulletin for September 2009 shows significant forward movement for the second month in a row in the Employment-Based second preference category for Chinese and Indian nationals.  The EB-2 classification for these individuals advanced to January 8, 2005, a jump of one year and three months over last month’s bulletin.  The Employment-Based first preference category remains “Current” for all nationalities while, unfortunately, the Employment-Based third preference category continues to be “Unavailable.”   As October marks the beginning of the government’s fiscal year, we may have additional changes to report next month. 

• Fraud Unit Site Visits:  The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services’ Fraud Units have been well funded and are being kept busy in recent months.  Reports of government inspections of H-1B employer worksites are on the rise.  A typical site visit by a Fraud Unit representative is intended to confirm that the employer is an actual operating business entity and that the H-1B employee is a legitimate “employee” for the sponsored position.  Employers who are represented by immigration counsel should contact their attorneys immediately upon notification of a site visit.  Site visits may be random or triggered.  Establish a site-visit protocol and stay alert!
 
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