In this month’s newsletter, Linda explains the top 5 reasons for employers to file early for PERM Labor Certification Applications. “The reasons are many, for it not only establishes the foreign national’s priority date sooner and enables H-1B visa extensions beyond the 6-year maximum, but employers may be able to file H-1B visa extensions every 3 years, eliminating the expense of legal and filing fees to file every year.” Click to page 2 to read more.

In our May Immigration Update, you’ll learn that quick adjudication of PERM applications continues, and that the U.S. Department of Labor affirmed use of “Headquarters Rule” in PERM recruitment. You’ll also find details about why DHS eliminated the NSEERS Registration Program, and information on the Secure Mail Initiative. Click to page 3 for details.

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“The general rule for I-94 cards is that the foreign national’s passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the expiration of the individual’s contemplated period of stay,” explains Linda Rahal in this month’s newsletter. Click to page 2.

In the April Immigration Update, you’ll learn about the new Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) System that USCIS is testing for adjudicating most nonimmigrant and immigrant visa petitions, why enforcement activities are on the rise under the Obama Administration, and more. Click to page 3 for details.

Mark your calendar for June 9, when Steve Trow will be speaking at a British-American Business Association program in Washington, DC, about the topic, “Leaving America: Immigration and Tax Issues for U.S. Permanent Residents Who Move Abroad.”

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This month, Trow & Rahal owner and founder Steve Trow explains the Top 10 Reasons to Apply for U.S. Citizenship. From the ability to vote and run for public office, to no longer having to deal with the immigration service, Steve also outlines a guide to “Citizenship 101.” Click on this link to go to page 2.

Then click over to page 3, to find our March Immigration Update. In it, we share details and insights about the latest in I-9 compliance audits, secured mail initiative for sending green cards, updates on the ability for individuals to use E-Verify to check employment eligibility, and more.

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Many thanks to everyone who turned out to Steve Trow’s Immigration, Visa & Work Permit Educational Seminar on Feb. 9. It was a tremendous success, and we look forward to hosting similar events in the near future.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up for Steve’s next seminar on March 2. Entitled, “Landing in America: Help for Foreign Nationals in Navigating the Sea of Immigration and Banking Issues,” it is being hosted by the British-American Business Association and the French-American Chamber of Commerce.

The first in a three-part series, the March 2 discussion will cover U.S. visa options for transferring key personnel — both non-immigrant (temporary) and immigrant (green card) — from Europe to the United States; global banking and international needs — challenges facing global companies and international assignees; and immigration compliance obligations including I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification requirement and use of E-Verify, particularly as it relates to federal contractors.

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Happy New Year! In this issue of our newsletter, we usher in 2011 with a feature article on page 2 by Trow & Rahal founder Linda Rahal, who encourages readers to Consider These New Questions Employers Must Answer on Revised Form I-129. This valuable guide will help employers seeking nonimmigrant visa status for foreign national employees.

In our Immigration Update on page 3, you’ll learn more about the Delayed Implementation of Deemed Export Requirement in Revised I-129 Petition. We also share details about the H-1B Cap, which is close to being reached.

As always, we welcome your questions and feedback, and invite you to contact us for all of your organization’s immigration needs. Here’s to a prosperous 2011.

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As 2010 comes to a close, we reflect on the interesting work we’ve done this year — as well as changes in the immigration law that have made an impact on our clients. In this month’s Immigration Update, for instance, you’ll find that USCIS has issued a new version of the Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), which pertains to employers seeking nonimmigrant visa status for foreign national employees. There are significant changes, so be sure to review the information on page 3 of this newsletter.

On page 2, you’ll find an article about our Of Counsel attorney, Laurie Volk. An accomplished attorney and equestrian, she combines her skills as an immigration lawyer with her passion for the horse world. We think you’ll be as impressed by her interesting work as we are.

With the holidays drawing near, we take this time to give thanks to you, our clients, for your business and for making us the lawyers that we are. We look forward to working with you again in 2011.

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“Imagine that your foreign-born client has been an American citizen since birth — but does not know it,” writes attorney Steve Trow in this month’s issue of our newsletter. “Perhaps the client tells you one of his parents was American, but he is not. Or he used to be an American citizen, but he lost that citizenship when he became a citizen of another country.” While your client may be certain he is right, Trow suggests that he or she could be wrong. Click here to learn more about The Accidental American Citizen.

We also want to congratulate Trow & Rahal shareholder and attorney Cynthia Hemphill, who celebrates 11 years with the firm this month.

And, we want to be sure that you got your copy of Washington, DC’s Best Lawyers magazine, 2011 edition. This special publication included a feature article on our firm, and was distributed to thousands of readers on Oct. 28 as an insert inside The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, and Corporate Counsel magazine. If you missed it, read more here.

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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.

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.

Be on the lookout for a feature article about us in the special section of Best Lawyers magazine that 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. “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.”

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This month, Steve Trow traveled to Switzerland to speak at the Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland Conference in Geneva (on Sept. 8) and in Zurich (on Sept. 9). The topic of the conference was “FATCA: first set of guidance for implementation.” He addressed U.S. immigration rules that determine whether an individual is a U.S. citizen or has U.S. permanent resident (green card) status. This is not always clear, as a person may be unaware that he is a U.S. citizen or may mistakenly think that he has lost U.S. citizenship by acquiring another nationality or lost permanent resident status by residing abroad. Click here to view the agenda for the conference.

In this issue: You’ll learn about the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which allows foreign investors and their families to obtain U.S. permanent resident status (green cards) to reside permanently in the United States. Read all about that by clicking inside. Don’t miss the insights we share in our immigration news briefs. Specifically, take a look at the higher filing fees that will be required for companies with a large H-1B/L-1 workforce.

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Change is afoot this month with Arizona’s immigration statute, and reporters at the popular Washington, DC publication LegalBisnow interviewed Steve Trow to learn more about what the attorneys at Trow & Rahal think about the Department of Justice lawsuit challenging Arizona’s immigration law. Steve said: “Congress dropped the ball on immigration reform, but that doesn’t give Arizona the right to run onto the field and pick it up. DOJ needs to get Arizona off the field, then Congress needs to fix our broken immigration system.”

For more information on the Arizona law debate, don’t miss this month’s Immigration Update, which provides additional details about the preliminary injunction that blocked key provisions of the 2010 Arizona Immigration Statute. You’ll also find details about the ICE final rule, which allows for electronic storage of Form I-9; USCIS clarification on the O-1 validity period; and we’ll tell you about the O-1 and P-1 visa petitions to be adjudicated this month. Also in this issue: You’ll find an article by Linda Rahal, which discusses the controversy surrounding the memo leaked from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Don’t miss it.

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As we sweat our way through the heat of July here in Washington, DC, we are reminded of the performing artists who all too often sweat their way through the immigration process.

In this issue of our newsletter: You’ll find insights and guidance from Trow & Rahal attorney and shareholder Cynthia Hemphill about how performing artists and organizations can minimize their chances of a denial and/or inherent delays if the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues a request for evidence. Also in this issue: You’ll find an interview by Attorney Linda Rahal with Human Resources expert Sharon Armstrong, author of The Essential Performance Review Handbook. And don’t miss this month’s Immigration Update, which shares details about the forward movement in the availability of immigrant visa numbers and future projections, cut-off dates, best hiring practices set forth by the Department of Homeland Security, and more.

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Welcome to our newly designed monthly newsletter. Our aim is to provide you with more in-depth articles on hot topics in immigration law.

What you’ll find below: Scroll down to find two feature articles — one by Steve Trow, who offers insightful information on the intersection of immigration and tax planning for high net worth clients; the other, by Linda Rahal, who delves into the controversial Arizona immigration law. As always, we continue to provide you with important Immigration Updates on the law each month (see the column to the right for that information).

About our new website: We are also excited to announce the launch of our new website, www.trowrahal.com, which contains more comprehensive information about our services, as well as visa options and immigration regulations. You’ll find updated content on our key practice areas including: visas for hiring foreign nationals, visas for athletes and entertainers, visas for high net worth clients, avenues for obtaining permanent resident (green card) status, copies of our recent newsletters, and testimonials from our clients.

We appreciate your comments and feedback. We are looking forward to helping you with all of your immigration-related needs. _With warm regards from all of us at Trow & Rahal.

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