October News From Trow & Rahal, P.C.

Change is in the air this October.

For starters, we hope you like the new format of our monthly newsletter. Our goal is to give you all the immigration information that you need each month in a format that is a breeze to read and can be referred to easily throughout the month. Click on the links for page 2 and page 3 (top right) for important immigration news. Specifically:

On page 2, you'll find a feature article about the immigrant visa allocation system. We'll tell you about the September 22, 2010, meeting where Charles Oppenheim explained the process used to assign priority dates and provided background in the applicable law. We'll also share his predictions about the progression of visa numbers over the next few months. Oppenheim is Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division of the Visa Office at the U.S. Department of State (DOS).

On page 3, you'll find our Immigration Updates, where among other changes, you'll learn that the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) has changed its filing fees and extended the validity period of advance parole.

You'll also find details about registration for the 2012 Diversity Visa (green card) Lottery Program, which began at noon EST on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, and will end at noon EST on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. DOS strongly encourages applicants to apply as early as possible.

You may also notice that we have a new portrait of our company's shareholders. That came courtesy of a special issue of Best Lawyers magazine that we'll be featured in this month. The issue will be inserted into The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Baltimore Sun. It will also be distributed to subscribers of the Legal Times, The American Lawyer, and Corporate Counsel. Be sure to pull it out and save this special section when it arrives at your office.

"We are very excited to be included in this special report, which features all of the top law firms in the region," says attorney and owner Steve Trow. "This is an elite group and we feel privileged to be part of it."

All of us at Trow & Rahal are available to help with your immigration-related needs. Don't hesitate to call for more information: 202-537-4830.

Steve Trow, Attorney / Owner / Founder, strow@trowlaw.com
Linda Rahal, Attorney / Owner / Founder, lrahal@trowlaw.com
Cynthia Hemphill, Attorney / Owner, chemphill@trowlaw.com

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In this Issue:

Page 2: A Look Inside the Immigrant Visa Allocation System

Page 3: Immigration Update

• USCIS Changes Filing Fees and Extends Validity Period of Advance Parole
  As of November 23, 2010, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase certain filing fees.
• Registration Begins for 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery Program The online registration period for the DV-2012 Diversity Visa (green card) Lottery began at noon EST on Tues., October 5, and will end at 12 EST on Wed., November 3.
• Alcohol-Related Arrests or Convictions Can Cause Visa Denials The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has updated the medical grounds of inadmissibility in its Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), the handbook used by U.S. Consulates abroad to interpret DOS regulations.
• New Puerto Rico Birth Certificates Will Change I-9 Process Under a new birth certificate law effective July 1, 2010, Puerto Rico began issuing new and more secure certified copies of birth certificates to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico.
• U.S. Mission in Canada Announces New Visa Appointment Service As of September 1, 2010, U.S. Consulates in Canada are transitioning to a new appointment service for applicants applying for a visa to come to the U.S.
• Labor Certification Point of Contact Must Be Employee of Company On October 12, 2010, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued Round 12 of its FAQs.
• E-Verify Now Requires Passport Photo Matching Beginning September 26, USCIS expanded its E-Verify portal to include a photo matching tool for U.S. passports.