WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today the availability of a competitive grant opportunity designed to promote immigrant civic integration and prepare permanent residents for citizenship. This year’s program will offer approximately $5 million in funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.
Through this grant opportunity, USCIS seeks to expand the availability of high-quality citizenship preparation services. Organizations selected to receive funding will offer both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services to permanent residents. USCIS expects to announce an estimated 31 award recipients in September 2012.
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Posted on March 21, 2012 | Category: Immigration News
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it extended an accommodation for H-2A workers in the sheepherding industry to transition to the three-year limitation of stay requirements. USCIS will require H-2A sheepherders who have reached their maximum three-year period of stay to depart the United States by Aug. 16, 2012, and remain outside the country for at least three months before petitioning for H-2A classification again.
The H-2A program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. H-2A nonimmigrant workers are subject to a three-month departure requirement once they have been in the United States in H-2A status for a maximum three-year period.
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Posted on March 21, 2012 | Category: Immigration News
Coordinator: Welcome and thank you for standing by. At this time all participants are in a listen-only mode. During the question and answer session, if you’d like to ask a question please press star 1 on your touchtone phone.
Today’s call is being recorded. If you have any objections you may disconnect at this time.
I would now like to turn the meeting over to Ms. Edna Ruano, Chief of the Office of Communications. Thank you, you may begin.
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Posted on March 21, 2012 | Category: Immigration News
Agency kicks off effort to ensure that immigration pathways for foreign entrepreneurs are clear and consistent, and better reflect today’s business realities
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas hosted an Information Summit today at the NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, Calif., to launch the USCIS Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) Initiative.
“Today USCIS gained invaluable insights from prominent entrepreneurs and industry leaders on immigration issues critical to our nation’s economic prosperity,” said Director Mayorkas. “The introduction of expert views from the private and public sectors will help us ensure that our policies and processes fully realize the immigration laws’ potential to grow our economy and create American jobs.”
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Posted on February 24, 2012 | Category: Immigration News
Chairman Gallegly, Ranking Member Lofgren, Members of the Subcommittee,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you about the efforts of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to protect the integrity of our nation’s immigration system and to help safeguard our nation’s security. I appreciate this Committee’s interest in learning about our continued prioritization of the agency’s efforts, which are unprecedented in their scope and effect.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the men and women of USCIS whose dedication to the agency’s mission is unwavering and whose hard work makes our vital mission a reality. Together as an agency we are committed to administering our nation’s immigration laws efficiently and with fairness, honesty, and integrity.
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Posted on February 17, 2012 | Category: Immigration News
