- New H-1b professional visa petitions for fiscal year 2011 will be accepted for processing beginning April 1st, 2010.

- Effective January 20, 2010, DHS is enforcing compliance of ESTA requirements for persons travling under the Visa Waiver program (VWP).  VWP travelers should check requirements at  www.travel.state.gov  prior to traveling to the U.S. to avoid being denied boarding on air carriers. 

- The Department of Labor and the Immigration Service are conducting random audits of companies employing persons holding H-1b visas.  Employers must keep a Public Access File (PAC) for each H-1b visa employee. 

- Employers are reminded to comply with properly completing and keeping a file of employment-eligibility form I-9 for every employee.

- A comprehensive immigration reform bill was introduced in Congress by Rep. Luis Gutierrez on January 15th, 2010.