Dear Readers:

 This week marks an important milestone at Siskind Susser. We are pleased to note that on Tuesday, we will officially be merged with the Eric Bland Law Firm in New York City . The Eric Bland Firm has one of the largest arts, fashion and sports immigration practices in the nation and the combination of the firm’s three lawyers and their support staff with our firm’s already strong practice in arts and sports immigration means we will have, in my opinion, the strongest practice in the country in this field of immigration law.

In recognition of the importance of the addition of this new team to our firm, we are changing the name of our firm to Siskind Susser Bland, P.C. effective August 1, 2006 . Aside from the name change, we will also mark the expansion of our arts/sports/fashion immigration practice by launching in the next several weeks a new newsletter covering that subject of immigration law as well as developing a section of our web site devoted to the topic (much like we do with our health care immigration practice).

We’ll be adding to our web site biographies of the new lawyers and contact information for our new location in New York City shortly.

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In immigration news, another cap has been reached. This time it is the H-1B cap for graduates of US masters and higher degree programs. The bonus quota of 20,000 for this group lasted less than four months and people in this highly valued category must now wait until October 2007 to begin work in H-1B status. Next on the horizon – expect the 50,000 green cards set aside for nurses last year to run out in October or November of this year. Congress has introduced legislation to correct these problems in the SKIL Bill and in the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill, but it is unlikely either bill will pass anytime soon.

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As always, we remind readers that we're lawyers who make our living representing immigration clients and employers seeking to comply with immigration laws. 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