WASHINGTON – (August 11, 2008) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it continues to make steady progress in reducing the significant number of naturalization applications it received last year. USCIS now anticipates naturalization application processing will average 10-12 months nationally by the end of September 2008 – a substantial improvement from its estimated average processing time of 16-18 months first announced last year.

"USCIS is committed to providing customers with clear expectations and regular updates about the agency's progress to reduce its backlog," Acting USCIS Director Jonathan Scharfen said. "We are working steadily toward achieving our goal of processing all naturalization applications within five months by this time next year." During Fiscal Year 2007, USCIS received 1.4 million naturalization applications, nearly double the normal annual volume. In July alone, USCIS received 460,000 applications for naturalization prior to the implementation of its July 30, 2007 fee increase. As a result, average processing times significantly increased. In response to the surge in applications, USCIS implemented a work plan to reduce the backlog, including implementing an aggressive hiring plan and expanded work hours. As a result of this effort, USCIS anticipates completing more than one million naturalization applications by the end of this fiscal year, including most of the applications received during the summer of 2007. Last year's application surge did not impact USCIS offices evenly across the country. Although most offices have already processed cases received during the 2007 filing surge, a handful of offices will have a small percentage of their 2007 cases pending at the end of Fiscal Year 2008. That will result in processing times longer than the 10-12 month national average. USCIS will continue to shift resources to ensure that all local offices achieve the goal of five month processing times. USCIS field office projections are listed below. These projections indicate the average time it will take to complete a naturalization case as of the end of September 2008. Estimate of Local Office Naturalization Processing Times by September 2008. Following are the offices (left) and number of months (right) Agana, Guam.................................. 5.0 Memphis, Tenn. ............................. 8.4 Albany, N.Y. .................................. 5.6 Miami, Fla.................................... 12.0 Albuquerque, N.M.......................... 8.4 Milwaukee, Wis. ............................ 6.6 Anchorage, Alaska ......................... 5.0 Mount Laurel, N.J. ......................... 5.0 Atlanta, Ga...................................... 6.7 New Orleans, La. ......................... 14.5 Baltimore, Md. ............................... 7.0 New York, N.Y. ........................... 10.0 Boise, Idaho.................................. 10.5 Newark, N.J.................................... 7.4 Boston, Mass. ................................. 8.8 Norfolk, Va. ................................... 7.2 Buffalo, N.Y. .................................. 7.0 Oklahoma City, Okla. .................... 8.6 Charleston, S.C............................. 14.1 Omaha, Neb. .................................. 5.0 Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands.... 7.2 Orlando, Fla. .................................. 9.5 Charlotte, N.C............................... 14.9 Philadelphia, Pa............................ 10.0 Chicago, Ill. .................................... 5.1 Phoenix, Ariz. ................................ 8.6 Cincinnati, Ohio ............................. 7.0 Pittsburgh, Pa. ................................ 6.0 Cleveland, Ohio.............................. 6.8 Portland, Maine.............................. 5.5 Columbus, Ohio.............................. 5.7 Portland, Ore. ................................. 5.4 Dallas, Texas ................................ 11.0 Providence, R.I............................... 6.7 Denver, Colo. ................................. 5.2 Reno, Nev....................................... 5.0 Des Moines, Iowa........................... 5.7 Sacramento, Calif........................... 5.0 Detroit, Mich. ................................. 5.0 Salt Lake City, Utah....................... 5.0 El Paso, Texas ................................ 7.9 San Antonio, Texas ........................ 5.0 Fort Smith, Ark............................... 7.6 San Diego, Calif............................. 5.0 Fresno, Calif. .................................. 6.7 San Francisco, Calif. ...................... 5.5 Harlingen, Texas ............................ 5.0 San Jose, Calif................................ 5.0 Hartford, Conn.............................. 14.3 San Juan, Puerto Rico .................. 10.4 Helena, Mont. ................................. 5.0 Seattle, Wash.................................. 9.0 Honolulu, Hawaii ........................... 5.0 Spokane, Wash............................... 5.0 Houston, Texas............................... 5.1 St Albans, Vt. ................................. 9.5 Indianapolis, Ind............................. 5.0 St Louis, Mo................................. 10.3 Jacksonville, Fla. ........................... .7.4 St Paul, Minn.................................. 5.5 Kansas City, Mo............................. 7.0 Tampa, Fla. .................................... 8.6 Las Vegas, Nev............................... 9.0 Tucson, Ariz................................. 12.0 Los Angeles, Calif........................ 12.5 Washington, D.C.......................... 12.7 Louisville, Ky................................. 7.1 West Palm Beach, Fla. ................... 5.0 Manchester, N.H............................. 5.3 Yakima, Wash................................ 5.0

Complaint filed against the Dept. of Labor on 8/8/08 by the Fragomen law firm, whose labor certification filings had been subjected to special audits by DOL. In addtion to the other refiefs sought, the law suit specifucally request for an order directing the Secretary of Labor to rescind and reverse all implementing actions the Department has taken based on its unlawful iterpretation of the Regulation, including (without limitation) its determination to place 100 percent of all of the more than 2,500 PERM applications filed by Fragomen into audit, and to process those applications without further delay.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ-- On Thursday, July 17th hundreds of executives from major I.T consulting companies in the tri-state area gathered at Nanking Restaurant for a seminar sponsored by the Law Offices of Keshab Raj Seadie, P.C. The conference titled “How to navigate USCIS and DOL Investigations and not violate civil and criminal laws” offered companies who sponsor H1B visas with information and advice from specialized attorneys in the field. “This is a problem that could potentially shatter your glass house” said Attorney Seadie referring to the fragile legal framework in which I.T consulting companies operate. Attorney Seadie has been practicing immigration law for the last ten years and has guided hundreds of I.T. clients in successfully responding to government audits.

In his talk, attorney Seadie outlined “red flags” that could trigger an investigation including erroneous LCA filing, fraudulent projects, benching and back wage issues, among others. He also discussed critical steps needed to successfully overcome an audit once a notice arrives in a company’s mailbox. Other panelists also offered their expertise on the matter, including Attorney Rosa Barreca, a former Deportation Officer with the Department of Homeland Security and attorney Marc Garber. The presentation was followed by an extensive Q&A session that was the highlight for many participants. “This kind of approach to a seminar is something I have never seen before” said Mala Rao, Human Resources Manager with Diaspark Inc. “Keshab answered everyone’s questions in a candid and clear way that is not commonly seen from an attorney, you could tell the crowd was impressed.” In addition to a delicious lunch, the Law office also provided attendees with a “goodie bag” filled with sample letters, forms, checklists and other relevant information needed to navigate through USCIS and DOL investigations. All of the information included in the seminar is accessible free of charge to the public by visiting www.seadie.com. The talk is the first in a newly created Speaker Series sponsored by the Law Office and future seminars will be advertised in advance on the website. With over 150,000 H1B visas filed by employers this year it is no wonder this popular event has drawn such a crowd and caught the attention of Mr. Seadie “We see now that there is a need for this kind of seminar and we are happy to do more in the future and continue to inform the public and our clients”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors 76th Annual Meeting June 20-24, 2008 Miami: At its annual meeting in June, the U.S. Conference of Mayors officially adopted a resolution recognizing the important economic and cultural contributions immigrants have made to this country. The resolution also called on ICE to exercise better and more reasonable judgement when engaging in worksite enforcement activities.

2008 ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS OF THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS 76TH ANNUAL MEETING JUNE 20-24, 2008 MIAMI) : U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS WORKSITE ENFORCEMENT WHEREAS, the United States is a nation of immigrants, the overwhelming majority of whom are making an important and positive contribution to both our economy and our culture; and WHEREAS, immigration reform is one of the most pressing issues facing The U.S. Conference of Mayors; and WHEREAS, the federal government has not been able to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation; and WHEREAS, as a consequence of such inaction has been a dramatic increase in identity theft of the Social Security numbers of U.S. citizens; and, WHEREAS, due to a lack of a workable immigration policy, our country is inhabited by more than 12 million undocumented individuals; and WHEREAS, many of these undocumented individuals are working in well-established businesses that contribute significantly to the local economy; and WHEREAS, responsible employers often have to rely on documentation that appears facially valid in order to determine an individual's status to accept employment; and WHEREAS, the current federal E-Verify system has not been reliable in ascertaining a prospective employee's right to work;and, WHEREAS, some employers will prey upon undocumented workers, with substandard wages, long hours and unsafe working conditions, knowing these workers will not complain to authorities; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Immigration & Custom Enforcement (ICE) has increased worksite enforcement activities; WHEREAS, ICE worksite enforcement activities are often the result of "anonymous" tips from the competitors of legitimate employers, thereby using ICE raids to disrupt production; and, WHEREAS, ICE enforcement activities targeting companies that have had no record or suspicion of engagement in exploitative practices will negatively impact local economies and may drive employers to locate manufacturing facilities overseas; and WHEREAS, ICE has limited resources and time to conduct worksite enforcement activities; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls upon U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to develop a national policy for its workforce enforcement activities that focuses on employers with a demonstrated history or reasonable suspicion of engaging in exploitative practices, such as violation of wage, hour or occupational safety laws and regulations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ICE not prioritize responsible employers for worksite enforcement activities before accurate verification systems are available or comprehensive immigration reform regularizes the status of workers on whom they rely; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ICE should strive to keep in close communication with the nation's mayors when conducting worksite enforcement activities in their cities.

BALCA upholds denial of PERM application filed for an Appendix A "finance manager" at a used car dealership, underscoring that an Appendix A occupation requires use of the professional recruitment standard, even if the employer does not require a bachelor's for the position. Matter of A One Auto Center, 2008-PER-00043 (6/17/08).

In May 2008, CBP released a Fact Sheet on Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDLs), and the effort to develop alternative documents to meet Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) implementation requirements. It also covers the alignment of EDL and REAL ID requirements, use of RFID chips and privacy protection.