STEPHANIE MARKS’ IMMIGRATION UPDATE - Vol. 45 (07/2009)

► H-1B portability and extension petitions now take longer due to new procedures

► Visa lottery applicants may check the status of their applications online

► Form I-9 on USCIS website remains valid past expiration date of June 30, 2009

► H-1B portability and extension petitions now take longer due to new procedures.
Effective July 1, 2009, a new online procedure was instituted to obtain certified Labor Condition Applications (LCA) which are needed for H-1B and E-3 visa petitions. The new procedure is taking up to one week to obtain a certified LCA. Therefore, employers should provide us with as much notice as possible when making an employment offer to a new hire who has H-1B status and is changing jobs. We will also require sufficient advance time to prepare H-1B extension petitions for timely filing.

► Visa lottery applicants may check the status of their applications online.
Persons who entered the green card visa lottery last fall may check the status of their applications online at http://dvlottery.state.gov/esc/default.htm.

► Form I-9 on USCIS website remains valid past expiration date of June 30, 2009.
USCIS announced that the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (Rev. 02/02/09) currently on the USCIS website will continue to be valid for use beyond June 30, 2009.

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