Blog - Kazmi & Sakata

Due to the current political and security situation in Yemen in June and July of 2011, the Department of State has ordered all eligible family members of U.S. government employees as well as certain non‐emergency personnel to depart Yemen. Due to the fluid security situation in Sana’a, the Consular Section will only be able to …Read More

As of June 2011, for the first time in 20 years, immigrant visa applicants will again have scheduled interviews in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Embassy Islamabad was previously the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate where immigrant visa applicants could be interviewed. Applicants for petition-based visas, which are mostly temporary work visas, can also now interview in …Read More

The U.S. State Department is voiding the results of the Diversity Visa Program for 2012. The State Department said that due to  a computer programming problem, the results of the 2012 Diversity Lottery that were previously posted on their website have been voided. They were not valid and were posted in error. The results were …Read More

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the elimination of the list of countries whose nationals have been subject to registration under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS)-effectively ending the NSEERS registration process through the publication of a notice in the Federal Register:     DHS and the U.S. government have conducted roundtables, meetings, …Read More

The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen recently announced that it is temporarily suspending routine visa services.  The Consular Section is currently dedicating its limited resources to providing services to U.S. Citizens. The State Department issued the following statement: “The U.S. Embassy is distressed by the violence, April 27,  that killed and injured hundreds of Yemeni citizens. …Read More

Our firm is tracking the H1-bs very closely. USCIS is periodically updating the public on the count since the filing began earlier this month. As of April 22nd, USCIS has received approximately 8,000 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 5,900 petitions toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees.

USCIS is monitoring the number of petitions received that count toward the congressionally mandated annual H-1B cap of 65,000 and the 20,000 U.S. master’s degree or higher cap exemption. USCIS has received approximately 5,900 H-1B petitions counting toward the 65,000 cap, and approximately 4,500 petitions toward the 20,000 cap exemption for individuals with advanced degrees.

USCIS starts accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2012 cap on April 1, 2011. Cases will be considered accepted on the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition for which the correct fee has been submitted; not the date that the petition is postmarked. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ …Read More

On March 17th the U.S. Department of State issued a warning for U.S. citizens in Pakistan. The Embassy remains open but all Consulates General will be closed until further notice, except for emergency American Citizens Services. The Embassy will issue an updated Warden Message when the Consulates General reopen for routine business. The Embassy reiterates …Read More

Our thoughts are with our friends, clients and family in Japan. We hope that everyone is OK and staying safe. The USCIS has issued an advisory is for Japanese and other foreign nationals from the Pacific stranded in the United States due to the earthquakes and tsunami devastation in the Pacific. If you have exceeded …Read More