REMINDER: VISASCREEN LAW TAKES EFFECT JULY 26
The regulations implementing the healthcare certificate (“Visa Screen”) requirement will take effect July 26, 2004. If the Department of Homeland Security issues a last-minute waiver of the requirement, HLG will post the news on our website and notify all readers via an Immigration Alert. To sign up for Immigration Alerts or the medicalMonitor, please see:
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/mailing_list.htm

HLG ARTICLE: PROPER POSTING PLACE FOR SCHEDULE A CASES
HLG attorney, Cindy Unkenholt, wrote an article for ilw.com explaining the proper place to post a job notice in Schedule A cases where the job location is uncertain. http://www.ilw.com/lawyers/articles/2004,0506-Unkenholt.shtm

ASHHRA CONFERECE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HLG attorneys Chris Musillo and Sherry Neal, will be attending the annual conference of the American Society of Healthcare Human Resource Professionals. The conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from July 25-28, 2004.
http://www.hospitalconnect.com/ashhra/conference/registration.html

CGFNS SEMINAR IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
CGFNS is continuing its seminar series, “Building International Bridges”, with a seminar in Chicago, Illinois on July 8, 2004. HLG founder and attorney, Mike Hammond, will attend the seminar.
http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/index.html

BEWARE IMPOSTER CREDENTIALING AGENCIES
Several credentialing agencies are claiming that they have been approved by CIS to issue healthcare certificates for foreign workers. Currently only CGFNS is authorized to issue certificates for all healthcare occupations. The CIS said that it will post a notice of approved agencies when new agencies are approved by CIS.

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/health_cert.htm#hc4

HEALTHCARE SHORTAGE AND IMMIGRATION POLICY
The American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) issued a policy brief titled, “Health Worker Shortages and the Potential of Immigration Policy” which contains helpful statistics and policy arguments.
http://www.ailf.org/ipc/ipf031104.asp

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO EXTEND "CONRAD 30" J-1 WAIVER PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIANS
The Conrad 30 program which allows each state to sponsor up to 30 J-1 waivers per year expired on May 31, 2004. The Access to Rural Physicians Improvement Act of 2004 (H.R. 4453), introduced by Representative Jerry Moran, would extend the program for one year and exempt recipients of these waivers from the annual H-1B cap. This bill passed the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims on June 3, 2004 and has now moved on to the House Judiciary Committee.
 

STATE DEPARTMENT RETRACTS ERRONEOUS MEMO REGARDING "CONRAD 30" J-1 WAIVER PROGRAM
The Waiver Review Branch of the State Department retracted a previous memorandum dated June 16th directed to the J-1 Waiver Coordinators at the State Departments Health which stated that the Conrad State 30 J-1 Waiver program had sunset. The corrected memorandum issued on June 18th affirmed that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) who acquired J-1 status prior to May 31, 2004 remain eligible for Conrad 30 J-1 Waivers.
http://travel.state.gov/jvw.html

AILA ROUNDUP
In keeping with an annual tradition, Hammond Law Group's Immigration Alerts presents its post-AILA annual conference, "AILA Roundup". Among the interesting items for healthcare workers was a notification from CGFNS that the processing time for completed files is 35-50 days.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/06.15.2004alert.htm

VISA DEADLINE
The State Dept. has indicated that July 16, 2004 is expected to be the last day applications will be accepted within the United States for visa reissuance.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/06.17.2004alert.htm

STAFFING INDUSTRY ANALYSTS HEALTHCARE SUMMIT
HLG's Steve Albert participated in the Staffing Industry Analysts Healthcare Summit, which was held June 15-17 at the Westin Atlanta. The Summit brought together senior level executives to discuss a variety of healthcare segments, including immigration.
http://www.staffingindustry.com/healthcare/