Monthly Immigration Newsletter - the Law Office of Jocelyne J. Kim Lew, APC

Employment Based Immigrant Visa Numbers for January 2012
On December 9, 2011, the U.S. State Department released the January 2012 Visa Bulletin which shows continued availability and movement forward for employment based visa categories. First Preference Employment for all countries and Second Preference Employment for the world except China and India visa numbers remain current. India and China Second Preference Employment cut off dates have progressed significantly from the cut off date of March 15, 2008 to January 1, 2009- a nine and a half month jump.
Third Preference Employment for the World, the Philippines and Mexico moves forward by two weeks from January 15, 2006 to February 1, 2006. China also moves five weeks from September 8, 2004 to October 15, 2004. Third Preference India moves only one week from August 1, 2002 to August 8, 2002.

USCIS Postpones New Electronic Filings
On December 2, 2011, USCIS announced that the scheduled release of the new Electronic Immigration System (ELIS), which would transform the agency into an electronic, online organization, was postponed. The delay is due to additional time needed to complete the testing of the system. USCIS did not provide any projection as to when the release will occur.