Citizenship and Immigration Canada has confirmed today that as police certificates are related to admissibility, rather than eligibility, at this time applicants will not be required to provide them when they submit their application to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO). Police certificates will be requested at a later point in the process. All other supporting [...]

The U.S. Department of State has released the September 2010 Visa Bulletin, which summarizes the availability of immigrant visa numbers during the month of September.  The Employment-Based Third Preference Category (EB-3) dates have retrogressed by a few months for certain countries and several of the Family-Based Preference Categories have moved forward to January 2010.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have receipted approximately 28,500 cap-subject H-1B petitions as of August 6, 2010.  USCIS is still accepting cap-subject H-1B petitions.  In addition, the Service has receipted approximately 11,900 advanced-degree H-1B petitions to date.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a new fee of $14 for a new or renewed ESTA.  All Visa Waiver travelers to the U.S. must register with ESTA and pay the new fee.  The new fee will go into effect September 8, 2010.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services annouced new filing instructions for certain I-140 Immigration Petition for Alien Worker.  The Service is attempting to transition these petitions to USCIS Lockbox facilities.  Notable changes include Form I-140 filed alone or together with Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status should be filed with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility, or at [...]

The R-1 visa is for a range of religious workers.  The R-1 visa has come under great scrutiny over the past several years and has often resulted in difficult Requests for Evidence (RFEs).  The Bomza Law Group recently successfully assisted a Jewish day school in obtaining an R-1 visa for one of its religious professionals, [...]