If you haven't signed up yet, hurry to reserve your space for our February 10th Teleconference on "Tougher Standards for H-1Bs". We link to the details and agenda from our Blog With tougher standards being imposed and the new USCIS memo regarding the employer-employee relationship, this is a conference you will not want to miss if you plan on filing H-1Bs this year.

The controversial memo that is causing a lot of stir is especially important to petitioners who place H-1B workers at third-party sites, such as information technology staffing companies and healthcare staffing companies. Plan on attending this conference. RSVP to: info@immigrationcompliancegroup.com . Dial in information will be provided a few days in advance of the call.

We get asked this question all the time. Well, get ready - we link to a list of employers who filed the most H-1B's during 2009 - thanks to ComputerWorld

Where are the next decade's American jobs? The answer is undoubtedly healthcare. Four of the next decade's top 10 occupations with the largest growth are in health care, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study reported by National Public Radio.



Leading the pack is Registered Nursing. The US economy expects to demand over a half million RNs (22%) in the next ten years, at an average salary over $60,000 per year. Immigration traditionally has been used to fill obvious US supply shortages. American opinions on immigration differ, but after looking at the objective employment numbers, liberalized immigration for healthcare workers ought to be something everyone can agree on.



Expanding the capacity of nursing schools is an essential element in preparing the workforce for coming changes, especially if the healthcare system evolves to the point where it needs more advanced practice nurses. There will be a need to educate even more nurses, and capacity would continue to be a problem. That means that many healthcare organizations may be scrambling to fill vacancies and to develop creative and efficient strategies to deliver patient care. Planning becomes essential. For more on this click here

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Starting April 1, 2010, a new passing standard of -0.16 logits will be implemented to the NCLEX-RN examination. The new standard represents an increase of 0.05 logits from the current passing standard of -0.21 logits. Per NCSBN policy, NCLEX passing standards are reevaluated once every three years to accommodate possible changes in entry-level nursing practices. In December 2009, NCSBN Board of Directors considered all available evidence, including results from a criterion-referenced standard-setting study, and determined that safe and effective entry-level RN practice requires a greater level of knowledge, skills and ability than it did three years ago. This resulted in the decision to increase the NCLEX-RN passing standard.

For the official press release and the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan, please visit https://www.ncsbn.org/1983.htm

The first, and most important characteristic, of a leader is the decision to become a leader. At some point in time, leaders decide that they want to provide others with vision, direct the course of future events and inspire others to success. Leadership requires the individual to practice dominance and take charge. For more: http://humanresources.about.com/od/leadership/a/leader_success.htm

While retrogression continues, healthcare workers who require a healthcare certificate need to check the expiration on their healthcare certificate. The healthcare certificates are valid for only 5 years and an applicant must have a valid certificate at the time of the consulate interview or adjustment of status (for permanent residence - "green card"). The VisaScreen certificate is issued by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions, a division of CGFNS

Here is a list of those healthcare occupations that require VisaScreen Certification:

• Registered nurses
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Physician assistants
• Clinical laboratory technicians (medical technicians)
• Clinical laboratory scientists (medical laboratory technologists)
• Speech language pathologists
• Audiologists and Licensed practical or vocational nurses

CGFNS has proposed to the Department of Homeland Security that the English test be waived for applicants seeking a renewal of the healthcare certificate IF employed in the U.S. for at least 27 months out of the three years preceding the expiration of the healthcare certificate. Here's the language CGFNS sent to DHS and DHHS regarding the policy:



As we end the fifth year of implementation of Section 212(a)(5)(C ), we believe that English language proficiency can be re-established within the original intent of 212.15(k)(4)(viii) by requiring the VisaScreen certificate holder to (1) submit an updated score report from one of the designated English proficiency language testing organizations, or (2) demonstrate that he/she has been employed in a health care profession in the U.S. for a designated period. Employment in a health care profession in the United States must be for a period of at least 27 of 36 months preceding the expiration of the VisaScreen certificate, including 9 of the 12 months, immediately preceding the submission of a renewal application.

CGFNS is in the process of defining what can be used to document the work period.

An update was recently provided by CGFNS regarding the procedures for expediting VisaScreen certification under very narrow circumstances. We refer to: http://www.cgfns.org/sections/newsandalerts/2009/12-21-09-expedited.shtml

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs recently announced that it plans to deploy a fully Web-based Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) worldwide. The Visa Office said that the DS-160, the first component or module of the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), "has been used with great success at 24 posts so far" and will be expanded in phases, with the goal of worldwide usage for all nonimmigrant visa applications, except K visas, by April 30, 2010. The DS-160 will replace the Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156.

The Visa Office noted that although the target completion date is still five months away, it faces a technical challenge in meeting this deployment goal, involving development and testing of new foreign language translations. Sixty-four hours of development time are required to deploy a new translation of the DS-160 at a cost of $8,000 per language, which the Visa Office noted limits how quickly the DS-160 can be deployed to posts where English is not widely spoken. On October 29, Consular Affairs approved translation of 22 languages. The Visa Office said it will monitor this process carefully and will request additional funding and resources if necessary to avoid implementation delays.

The Visa Office strongly encouraged consular posts to consider developing an outreach plan to advise applicants and other stakeholders of the implementation. Posts listed in the Visa Office's cable have been identified as priority posts to implement the DS-160 by March 1, 2010. Posts listed below have been identified as priority posts to implement the DS-160. These posts must use the DS-160 no later than March 1, 2010:

Algiers, Algeria, Vienna, Austria, Manama, Bahrain, Minsk, Belarus, Beijing, China, Chengdu, China, Guangzhou, China, Shanghai, China, Shenyang, China, Havana, Cuba, Djibouti, Djibouti, Cairo, Egypt, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Paris, France, Frankfurt, Germany, Chennai, India, Hyderabad, India. Kolkata, India, Mumbai, India. Delhi, India. Jakarta, Indonesia, Surabaya, Indonesia, Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerusalem, Amman, Jordan, Nairobi, Kenya, Kuwait City, Kuwait,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Casablanca, Morocco, Muscat, Oman, Islamabad, Pakistan, Karachi, Pakistan, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Singapore, Khartoum, Sudan, Damascus, Syria, Taiwan, Taiwan, Kyiv, Ukraine, Dubai, UAE, Abu Dhabi, UAE, London, United Kingdom, Caracas, Venezuela, Sana'a, Yemen.

Posts not listed above must implement the new form between March 1 and April 30, 2010. The Department of State also has published an FAQ on the new DS-160.

Canada has immigration programs for entrepreneurs at both the provincial and federal level that create a path for immigrating to Canada and operating a successful business. Immigrating under the Federal Entrepreneur Program one must have a net worth of CDN 300,000 and at least two years of business experience (ownership and management of a qualifying business) within the five years prior to the filing the application.

Quebec has its own Immigrant Entrepreneur program as well as several of the other provinces. Entrepreneur/applicants must agree to implement a business plan upon obtaining permanent resident status in Canada, whether this plan involves setting up a new business or investing in and managing an existing one. Immigration Compliance Group has a Canadian affiliate office. Contact us for more information on this program.http://www.immigrationcompliancegroup.com/contact-immigration-solutions.php

-- IT Attacks pose small threat to US - big Threat for China http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9147299/IE_attacks_pose_small_threat_to_U.S._big_risk_to_China

-- The 22 best companies each have 500 openings for new positions, including Intel, Google, Cisco, Qualcomm and others: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1001/gallery.bestcompanies_mosthiring.fortune/index.html?hpt=C2

-- Oracle-Sun Merger Could Benefit Small Business http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/188181/oraclesun_merger_could_benefit_small_business.html