H-1(b) CAP WILL BE REACHED IN OCTOBER 2004
The USCIS has notified the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that it had received 40,000 H-1(b) filings subject to the fiscal 2005 cap of 65,000 H-1(b) visas, as of August 4, 2004. Once the cap is reached, H-1(b) visas will not be available for Physical Therapists, Pharmacists, Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses and many other medical professions.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/08.23.2004alert.htm

H-1(b) CAP: STRATEGIC PLANNING
In light of the forthcoming H-1(b) cap, HLG recommends that employers take several steps to prepare.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/08.25.2004alert.htm

EXTENSION OF BIOMETRIC REQUIREMENT FOR VISA WAIVER SIGNED INTO LAW
The President recently signed into law a bill, which extends the requirement that Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries include biometrics in passports. The law delays the implementation of the biometric requirements for one year -- until October 26, 2005. Accordingly, nationals of visa waiver eligible countries may enter the U.S. under the visa waiver rule even if their country does not supply passports with biometrics.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/08.17.2004alert.htm

EAD VALIDITY PERIOD TO BE EXTENDED
The Citizenship and Immigration Service has published a notice allowing the CIS the discretion to issue EADs for longer than one year. The rule is currently in the "comment phase". Under this process members of the public are allowed to offer their opinion to CIS on the pending amendment to policy.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/alerts/07.29.2004alert.htm

INTERACTION 2004: TORONTO
HLG attorneys will be featured speakers at the Interaction 2004 Health Career Fair in Toronto. The Fair is being held at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, September 10-11.
http://marskell.jobscience.com/torontoSEP.htm

CGFNS/ICHP: NEW YORK
CGFNS and ICHP will be holding a special educational session, Building International Bridges, on October 4, 2004. HLG has attended several earlier sessions and found them quite informative.
http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/newsandevents/specialevents.html

NEW NCLEX TEST PLAN EFFECTIVE APRIL 2005
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) met at its August 2004 Delegate Assembly and adopted changes to the NCLEX-PN Test Plan. The revised test plan and was presented to the member boards of nursing at this Delegate Assembly for adoption.
http://www.ncsbn.org/docs/DA04testplan2.doc

MINNESOTA FACING OVERCROWDING IN NURSING
The Associated Press reported that the nursing shortage is a myth in Minnesota...at least until 2008.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&e=21&u=/ap/20040823/ap_on_he_me/too_many_nurses

JAPAN RESTRICTING NUMBER OF PHILIPPINE NURSES
The Japanese government has tentatively set a limit of 100 Philippine nurses per year based upon Free Trade Agreements.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20040826wo41.htm

CGFNS THINK TANK
CGFNS is hosting a "Think Tank" on September 12-14, 2004 in Philadelphia. The session will discuss globalization of nursing.
http://www.cgfns.org/cgfns/newsandevents/conferences.html

CSC: GOAL IS SIX MONTH PROCESSING TIME
In a recent Q&A with the California Service Center (CSC), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) asked why it still takes the CSC 12+ months to process Nurse/Schedule A I-140 filings. The CSC commented that it was taking steps to improve the processing time and that its “goal is to reduce all processing times within six months or less.”
http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm