CIS WEBSITE PROVIDES FAQ ON VISASCREEN REQUIREMENT
The website of the Citizenship and Immigration Service provides an informative FAQ regarding the Health Care Worker Certificate.
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/Health_Cert.htm

CGFNS SEMINARS REGARDING VISASCREEN
CGFNS is holding a series of educational seminars (“Building International Bridges”) throughout various cities. The seminar focuses on the VisaScreen process and its requirements. HLG attorney, Sherry Neal, attended the seminar in Detroit, Michigan on April 30, 2004.
http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/index.html
 

TORONTO HEALTH CAREER FAIR
HLG attorneys will be featured speakers and guests at the Health Career Fair in Toronto, Ontario on May 14 and May 15, 2004.
http://marskell.jobscience.com/toronto.htm

WINDSOR, ONTARIO HEALTH CAREER FAIR
HLG’s Michael Hammond will be a featured speaker and guest at the Health Career Fair in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The event is to be held on May 10, 2004.
http://marskell.jobscience.com/Windsor.htm

CIS INCREASES FILING FEES
Effective April 30, 2004, the filing fees for most USCIS petitions increased. The average filing fee increase is $55 per petition.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/04.15.2004alert.htm

NURSING SHORTAGE PUTS PATIENTS AT RISK
The Associated Press and MSNBC released yet another article linking the nursing shortage to patient injuries and deaths.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4587667/

AONE CONFERENCE
HLG Attorney, Steve Albert, attended the AONE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Phoenix. The Meeting ran from April 17, 2004 until April 21, 2004. Steve reports that the foreign nurse recruiting industry is still characterized by hospitals’ frustration with the immigration process. This results in immense opportunities for the well-managed recruiting company.
http://www.hospitalconnect.com/aone/events/04am.html

NSC PROCESSING TIMES REVERT
In our last update, we reported that the Nebraska Service Center’s (NSC) was processing I-140 Schedule A nurse cases receipted in on February 9, 2004. This was the processing time posted on the CIS’ website. The CIS’ current report shows a processing date of November 14, 2004. Inquires at CIS have fallen on deaf ears.
https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp

EDITORIAL: WHY DELAY DOCTORS’ VISAS?
The April 28, 2004 Cincinnati Enquirer published an interesting editorial from Pakistani-national Dr. Khayam Shaukat. In his opinion piece, Dr. Shaukat relates his difficulties obtaining an H-1 visa stamp after an emergency trip outside the U.S. to care for his ill mother.
http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/28/editorial_ed1v.html