Dear Readers:

Many of you have used the INS' Premium Processing Program. This week we report on a new government report which confirms what most immigration lawyers and many regular users of nonimmigrant visas already know - since the premium processing program came online, regular processing times have slowed considerably. That was not supposed to happen. The INS was supposed to use the millions of dollars in extra fees to improve service overall. But that has not happened, despite a drop in H-1B applications and despite a massive infusion of premium processing money. Coincidentally, this week we had the first case filed by our law firm under the premium processing program that was not completed in the allotted 15 days. After 20 days (and my contacting the INS three times), a case for a medical doctor was approved. We're going to ask for a refund of the premium fee, and I'll let you know how difficult that process is.

In our issue this week, we report on the new Justice Department report on processing as well as include a guest article by Gary Endelman on the topic.

We also are pleased to let you know that the proposed bill to limit visitor visas to 30 days instead of six months was officially dropped by the government. The rule could have thrown the already deeply hurt tourism industry in this country into a downward spiral.

We include many of our regular features as well this week.

In firm news, this week I'll be speaking the Tennessee Association of International Educators as well as the University of Alabama-Birmingham Medical Center. I look forward to seeing newsletter readers at both events.

Finally, as always, we remind readers that we're lawyers who make our living representing immigration clients. We would love to discuss becoming your law firm. Just go to http://www.visalaw.com/intake.html to request an appointment or call us at 800-748-3819 or 901-682-6455.

Regards,

Greg Siskind