Dear
Readers:
Many
of you have used the INS' Premium Processing Prog
ram
. This week we report on a new government report which confi
rm
s what most immigration lawyers and many regular users of nonimmigrant visas
already know - since the premium processing prog
ram
came online, regular processing times have slowed considera
b
ly. 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
b
y our law fi
rm
under the premium processing prog
ram
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
b
y Gary Endelman on the topic.
We
also are p
lea
sed to let you know that the proposed bill to limit visitor visas to 30 days
instead of six months was officially dropped
b
y 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
fi
rm
news, this week I'll
b
e spe
ak
ing the Tennessee Association of International Educators as well as the
University of Ala
b
ama-Bi
rm
ingham Medical Center. I look forward to seeing newsletter readers at
b
oth events.
Finally,
as always, we remind readers that we're lawyers who m
ak
e our
living representing immigration clients. We would love to discuss
b
ecoming
your law fi
rm
. Just go
to http://www.visalaw.com/int
ak
e.html to
request an appointment or call us at 800-748-3819 or 901-682-6455.
Regards,
Greg
Siskind
