The Gikas-Smith Law Offices

09/03/2009

Big win for our client, a sergeant at Fort Hood, on temporary custody orders. Our client is the father and wins custody. Hoorah!

09/02/2009

As of August 14, 2009, approximately 45,000 H-1B cap-subject petitions and approximately 20,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption had been filed. USCIS will continue to accept both cap-subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits, taking into account the fact that some of these petitions may be den

08/12/2009

There's still 20,000 H-1B visas available for this year. Please note, employers, that you're likely to be audited if you hire H-1Bs. Just make sure your I-9s and other paperwork are in order.

08/10/2009

08/10/2009

This is the firmest timetable yet offered by President Obama on immigration reform. He says he'll have a bill this year that includes a pathway to legalization but that debate on the bill won't occur until next year. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25986.html

In Mexico, Obama says he expects to have a draft immigration bill in Congress by year’s end.

08/10/2009

Back from Big D after a week of CLE. Scrambling to catch up. I'll be posting some of the more interesting things we discovered as the week goes on.

08/02/2009

We're heading to Dallas for some CLE. But you can always reach us by email or phone.

07/31/2009

On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes $787 billion in stimulus money. This Act, includes the Sanders H-1B amendment which includes strict regulations for hiring foreign workers under the H-1B p

07/31/2009

ICE sent "notices of inspection" to 652 business nationwide, notifying those business of impending I-9 audits. Employers are required to complete and retain I-9s on all employees, even those who are legal permanent residents or US citizens. ICE only sent 503 such notices in all of last year. This reflects a new approach to target employers. http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0907/090701washington.htm

WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is launching a bold, new audit initiative today by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide - which is more than ICE issued throughout all of last fiscal year. ...

07/31/2009

Two weeks ago the Senate passed the Homeland Security Appropriations bill (HR 2892) and threw in some immigration-related amendments, including extending the EB-5 immigration category, expanding the use of E-verify, and providing relief for foreign-born w

07/31/2009

We're up and at 'em. Some news: first, you can follow us on Twitter ; and second, if you do, you'll find out that USCIS just updated its cap count for H-1Bs for FY 2010 to 44,900. The cap for H1-B visas is 65,000. So, get your petition in to