beautifulMind
08-24 12:40 PM
Fragomen Client Alert (08/06/09) - USCIS Expands Employer Site Visit Program (http://www.worldwideerc.org/Resources/Immigration/Documents/fragomen-20090806.html)
August 6, 2009
USCIS Expands Employer Site Visit Program __________________________________________________ _______
Executive Summary
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its unannounced visits to the worksites of employers that sponsor foreign workers. USCIS uses site visits to verify the information in an immigration petition submitted by the employer and to make sure that sponsored workers are complying with the terms of their admission to the United States.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its site visits to employers that sponsor foreign workers. The site visits, which are conducted by USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit, are usually conducted without notice. They are used to verify the existence of the employer, the information the employer has provided in immigration petitions, and whether sponsored foreign nationals are working in compliance with the terms of their admission to the United States. If your company is contacted by an FDNS officer, you should call your designated Fragomen professional immediately to discuss options, including the possibility of having counsel present during a site visit.
Though the FDNS unit has conducted employer site visits for several years, it has recently begun to add more staff and broaden its investigative efforts. In the past, site visits usually pertained to already-approved immigration petitions. However, under the expanded program, the agency is more frequently using site visits to verify information in petitions that are pending with USCIS. USCIS could use information obtained during a site visit to decide whether or not to approve a petition. In submitting petitions for immigration benefits, employers subject themselves to reasonable inquiries from the government. Therefore, it is crucial that employers make efforts to cooperate with FDNS officers. A failure to cooperate could jeopardize an employer's pending petitions and its ability to participate in U.S.
immigration programs.
Typically, an FDNS officer will make an unannounced appearance at the petitioning employer's worksite, though occasionally an officer may call the company in advance to notify it of an impending visit. During the site visit, the officer may ask to speak to an employer representative, such as a human resources manager, and may also ask to meet with a sponsored foreign worker. Usually, the officer will have a copy of a specific immigration petition and will seek interviews to verify the information in the petition.
During site visits, FDNS officers typically work from a standard list of questions. Officers commonly ask about the employer's business; the worksite; the number of employees; whether the employer filed the immigration petition in question; whether the foreign national is actually employed by the employer; the foreign national's position, job duties and salary; and the foreign national's qualifications for the position, educational background, previous employment and immigration history, residence and dependents in the United States. The officer may also ask about the employer's overall use of specific immigration programs. In addition to conducting interviews, the FDNS officer may ask to tour the employer's premises or examine the foreign national's work area, and may also request payroll records and other documentation pertaining to the foreign national's employment.
Fragomen is closely monitoring the FDNS site visit program and will issue additional information as we discern investigation trends. If you have any questions about this alert, please contact the Fragomen professional with whom you usually work.
Copyright 2009 by Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Fragomen Immigration Alerts
August 6, 2009
USCIS Expands Employer Site Visit Program __________________________________________________ _______
Executive Summary
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its unannounced visits to the worksites of employers that sponsor foreign workers. USCIS uses site visits to verify the information in an immigration petition submitted by the employer and to make sure that sponsored workers are complying with the terms of their admission to the United States.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its site visits to employers that sponsor foreign workers. The site visits, which are conducted by USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit, are usually conducted without notice. They are used to verify the existence of the employer, the information the employer has provided in immigration petitions, and whether sponsored foreign nationals are working in compliance with the terms of their admission to the United States. If your company is contacted by an FDNS officer, you should call your designated Fragomen professional immediately to discuss options, including the possibility of having counsel present during a site visit.
Though the FDNS unit has conducted employer site visits for several years, it has recently begun to add more staff and broaden its investigative efforts. In the past, site visits usually pertained to already-approved immigration petitions. However, under the expanded program, the agency is more frequently using site visits to verify information in petitions that are pending with USCIS. USCIS could use information obtained during a site visit to decide whether or not to approve a petition. In submitting petitions for immigration benefits, employers subject themselves to reasonable inquiries from the government. Therefore, it is crucial that employers make efforts to cooperate with FDNS officers. A failure to cooperate could jeopardize an employer's pending petitions and its ability to participate in U.S.
immigration programs.
Typically, an FDNS officer will make an unannounced appearance at the petitioning employer's worksite, though occasionally an officer may call the company in advance to notify it of an impending visit. During the site visit, the officer may ask to speak to an employer representative, such as a human resources manager, and may also ask to meet with a sponsored foreign worker. Usually, the officer will have a copy of a specific immigration petition and will seek interviews to verify the information in the petition.
During site visits, FDNS officers typically work from a standard list of questions. Officers commonly ask about the employer's business; the worksite; the number of employees; whether the employer filed the immigration petition in question; whether the foreign national is actually employed by the employer; the foreign national's position, job duties and salary; and the foreign national's qualifications for the position, educational background, previous employment and immigration history, residence and dependents in the United States. The officer may also ask about the employer's overall use of specific immigration programs. In addition to conducting interviews, the FDNS officer may ask to tour the employer's premises or examine the foreign national's work area, and may also request payroll records and other documentation pertaining to the foreign national's employment.
Fragomen is closely monitoring the FDNS site visit program and will issue additional information as we discern investigation trends. If you have any questions about this alert, please contact the Fragomen professional with whom you usually work.
Copyright 2009 by Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
Fragomen Immigration Alerts
mnq1979
10-23 10:39 AM
Ok, thanks for the info...really appreciate it...will let him know to stay atleast 3-4 days and then leave.....by the way did u go to Ottawa for stamping or some place else in canada?
In addition to my above question can u please also tell me that if the visa officer told u after ur interview that u would need to come on friday to pick get ur visa stamp or did they jst say that they will inform him? secondly do u remember by any chance that if the visa officer told u that u would have certain # of days to come and stamp ur visa once they inform u that ur visa is ready for stamping?
In addition to my above question can u please also tell me that if the visa officer told u after ur interview that u would need to come on friday to pick get ur visa stamp or did they jst say that they will inform him? secondly do u remember by any chance that if the visa officer told u that u would have certain # of days to come and stamp ur visa once they inform u that ur visa is ready for stamping?
kgwithnogc
05-08 01:48 PM
One of China'a growth/export strategy is (and was) always to attract Chineese enterprenuers who settled in the west, so that they can bring technology and market(links).
Now they want all the other chineese to come back, as it is more of country's requirement of quality work force of their own, it seems.
US will loose the edge slowly, if they don't act quickly in not only in retaining talented immigrants and need to do "lot" other things.
That is why it is called "Mother Land".
But in this story it looks like the locals are a little bit suspicious of returnees.
"Starting a company isn't an option for most of the 20-something haigui. Some end up unemployed and are known as haidai, "seaweed"." :(
Now they want all the other chineese to come back, as it is more of country's requirement of quality work force of their own, it seems.
US will loose the edge slowly, if they don't act quickly in not only in retaining talented immigrants and need to do "lot" other things.
That is why it is called "Mother Land".
But in this story it looks like the locals are a little bit suspicious of returnees.
"Starting a company isn't an option for most of the 20-something haigui. Some end up unemployed and are known as haidai, "seaweed"." :(
black_logs
10-25 01:13 PM
You cannot use current job's experience in any situation
From the above posts you can defintely use the priority date once I-140 is approved and move on.
My Question is can you start a new application under PERM with the same company, use the experience gained in the current company to apply under EB2, and use the locked priority date.
Hope I make sense. I have been with my current company for more than 5 years and used the EB3 category and have no intention of leaving etc, but if I were to reapply and use the old priority dates, my dates would be current.
Thanks in advance for your comments.:)
From the above posts you can defintely use the priority date once I-140 is approved and move on.
My Question is can you start a new application under PERM with the same company, use the experience gained in the current company to apply under EB2, and use the locked priority date.
Hope I make sense. I have been with my current company for more than 5 years and used the EB3 category and have no intention of leaving etc, but if I were to reapply and use the old priority dates, my dates would be current.
Thanks in advance for your comments.:)
more...
eb3retro
12-11 02:54 PM
Hi there
I am asking the same question. I too want to take a job as a BA since that role is what I currently have for the last 4 yrs.
Are there any other ways to make this possible?
one way i am thinking of doing is asking for a EVL from the new company with the same kind of job description. 10 years ago, all these laws (to be in the same job description was having some meaning , people used to get GCs in less than a year), but these days it takes anywhere between 5-7 years, and how can uscis expect someone to be in the same description working for 7 years. it just doesnt make sense when you want to be competitive in the market.
I am asking the same question. I too want to take a job as a BA since that role is what I currently have for the last 4 yrs.
Are there any other ways to make this possible?
one way i am thinking of doing is asking for a EVL from the new company with the same kind of job description. 10 years ago, all these laws (to be in the same job description was having some meaning , people used to get GCs in less than a year), but these days it takes anywhere between 5-7 years, and how can uscis expect someone to be in the same description working for 7 years. it just doesnt make sense when you want to be competitive in the market.
belmontboy
05-22 07:35 PM
I want to apply labour with another employer based on future employment and when that labour get approved for how many days it is valid, can i apply I 140 for that labour .
Do i have to take transfer in order to apply for I 140 ?
Can two I 140 process parallel ?
Thanks for you all support..
Keep up the Good job
what is the rationale behind applying two I140's?
Do i have to take transfer in order to apply for I 140 ?
Can two I 140 process parallel ?
Thanks for you all support..
Keep up the Good job
what is the rationale behind applying two I140's?
more...
logiclife
12-15 10:39 AM
This is actually good. this means that the company will not meddle in H1B and your papers and do whatever the lawyer says should be done.
That means that you have a chance to hire your own lawyer and establish contact between company and lawyer.
It may cost your some money to hire a lawyer, but trust me, having your own lawyer that is employed by you (rather than employer) is worth 10 times the lawyer's fees. Get a lawyer, ask your company to talk to that lawyer and follow his/her directions. All you company has to do is provide the paperwork.
Tell your company that its not a big deal and even 10-employee companies sponsor H1 and its a matter of paperwork.
That means that you have a chance to hire your own lawyer and establish contact between company and lawyer.
It may cost your some money to hire a lawyer, but trust me, having your own lawyer that is employed by you (rather than employer) is worth 10 times the lawyer's fees. Get a lawyer, ask your company to talk to that lawyer and follow his/her directions. All you company has to do is provide the paperwork.
Tell your company that its not a big deal and even 10-employee companies sponsor H1 and its a matter of paperwork.
bigtiger
06-30 05:33 PM
Hi All,
By reading the AILF pdf:
http://www.murthy.com/current485/VisaBulletinFAQ6-29-07.pdf
I get this impression that they primarily mean the "Other Worker" category AOS rejections done in June 2007...I don't know what rules govern that category, but rejections did happen despite visa bulletin indicating current status for that category and AILF is considering this lawsuit. Now they are assuming that this might happen for EB2, EB-3 categories also. Plus we have this $4.4 billion CIR failure theory. There is no document date mentioned in this doc. So, I don't know how AILF is so confident that this will happen for EB2, EB-3 categories, for the rejections of applications has not even happened yet.
By reading the AILF pdf:
http://www.murthy.com/current485/VisaBulletinFAQ6-29-07.pdf
I get this impression that they primarily mean the "Other Worker" category AOS rejections done in June 2007...I don't know what rules govern that category, but rejections did happen despite visa bulletin indicating current status for that category and AILF is considering this lawsuit. Now they are assuming that this might happen for EB2, EB-3 categories also. Plus we have this $4.4 billion CIR failure theory. There is no document date mentioned in this doc. So, I don't know how AILF is so confident that this will happen for EB2, EB-3 categories, for the rejections of applications has not even happened yet.
more...
calif
10-29 03:59 PM
which service center?
Give a try if they can update it.
Give a try if they can update it.
cbpds
09-15 02:07 PM
he is enjoying two types of freedom now :P
Enjoy the freedom!
Enjoy the freedom!
more...
rjgleason
August 8th, 2005, 11:11 AM
How aboutr a beautiful field of flowing grasses, perhaps with some stationary objects, like rocks, or a barn, etc. Great technique and a great shot!
smartboy75
11-01 06:18 PM
And how does this news add any values to our issues here ????
more...
prioritydate
08-14 01:02 PM
A US company is a US company, be it Microsoft, or Cap Gemini, or whatever. For all you know, you may be working with Oracle's consulting division. Are you considered direct employee for Oracle or from a consulting company?
I have friends from Microsoft and Oracle who just got approved after 7 years + in EB2. I also know people from Consulting companies who got approved in 4 years.
I do not think there is any logic or facts to support this argument.
Well, I didn't said that I just proved my theory. It was just an assumption.
I have friends from Microsoft and Oracle who just got approved after 7 years + in EB2. I also know people from Consulting companies who got approved in 4 years.
I do not think there is any logic or facts to support this argument.
Well, I didn't said that I just proved my theory. It was just an assumption.
vandanaverdia
09-09 09:39 PM
We had 2 more users join the WA Chapter. Welcome aboard! We need more....
more...
Anders �stberg
May 3rd, 2005, 05:29 AM
Nice work Anders. Personally, I pan for the stuff on the ground and leave the in air stuff static.That's probably a good approach, panning should be eaiser in the slower corners too.
bskrishna
01-02 11:47 AM
I am in the same boat..all the transfer cases are taking a longer time to get FP notices.
more...
vpadman
10-19 09:54 PM
Hello,
I work in Huntsville.
Can we organize some kind of a get together ?
I work in Huntsville.
Can we organize some kind of a get together ?
indyanguy
01-14 11:07 AM
This is the format of the letter I had submitted initially. Can someone tell me what is wrong in this?
----
To Whom It May Concern
I am writing this letter to confirm that XX was employed full time
(40 hours/week) with XX, located at XX from XX through XX as a Programmer/Analyst.
His job duties included developing web based software systems. In this
position, Mr. XX used the following technologies: ASP.NET/C#,
SQL/SQL Server, HTML, XML, JavaScript, CSS and Web Services.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
XX
----
To Whom It May Concern
I am writing this letter to confirm that XX was employed full time
(40 hours/week) with XX, located at XX from XX through XX as a Programmer/Analyst.
His job duties included developing web based software systems. In this
position, Mr. XX used the following technologies: ASP.NET/C#,
SQL/SQL Server, HTML, XML, JavaScript, CSS and Web Services.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
XX
shx
10-17 12:10 PM
I had an interview in San Francisco after I moved there from Denver. They just wanted to find out why I moved. They only saw my employment letter. No w2s or tax returns or paystubs. Its better to take all the usual documents though. You don't need employer tax returns for sure.
new2perm
05-29 10:03 AM
Can you share your company lawyer's name before when you are spreading these kind of speculative rumors ....use commonsense before posting
Can you please read the following statement in my above post?.. 'I dont know how true it is...just sharing what I have heard.'
Can you please read the following statement in my above post?.. 'I dont know how true it is...just sharing what I have heard.'
smiledentist
10-25 03:40 PM
Thanks, I am not sure if it applies to only H1 or even to I 140.
