3D"Description:

Clark Hill to Host = Free Physician Seminars<= /p>

On Saturday, August 27, 2011 in Washington, DC and a= gain on Saturday September 24, 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, Clark Hill = will be hosting a free seminar for Physicians, entitled "Life Aft= er Training." The comprehensive seminar is designed for Physici= ans in the United States completing Residency or Fellowship training = on a J-1 or H-1B visa. This seminar provid= es a complete review of the J-I waiver, nonimmigrant visas and permane= nt residence processes. More details regarding the seminars can be found on t= he Clark Hill website.<= /p>

New H-1Bs Still Available

On July 22, 2011,= USCIS announced that it received approximately 21,600 H-1B petitions t= oward the 65,000 available per fiscal year, under the general H-1B cap. In addition, USCIS received 13,300 petitions toward the 20,000 H-1B Master's Cap. USCIS continues to acce= pt petitions toward the general cap and the Master's cap. The = H-1B is a frequently utilized temporary work = visa for professional positions. For more information on the H-<= span class=3DSpellE>1B visa, see the Clark Hill website. <= /p>

ICE Audits Target 1= ,000 Companies

On June 16, 2011,= the Obama administration issued a new round of ICE audits targeting 1,000 companies throughout the US whose business focuse= s on areas that affect national security and other government function= s, including companies who hold governmental contracts. Employers sh= ould feel free to contact Michael Nowlan at mnowlan@clarkhill.com or Rober= ta Freedman at rfreedman@clarkhill.com to dis= cuss their concerns regarding I-9 audits.

Updates on State Immigration Laws<= /p>

LOUISIANA - On July 1, 2011, = the governor of Louisiana signed an E-Verify bill into law that requires private contractors who do business with a state or local government to utilize E-Verify. On June 23, 2011, the gover= nor signed a bill requiring all business to either use E-Verify or ke= ep on file photo IDs of its employees as well as copies of birth certificates and citizenship documents or face fines for every unauthorized worker that it employs.

NORTH CAROLINA - On June 23, 2011,= the North Carolina governor signed an E-Verify bill into l= aw that requires counties and municipalities to begin using E-Verify= for new hires. Private employers who have more than 25 employees must also begin using E-Verify. The implementation of E-Verify for pri= vate employers will be phased in depending on their size and beginning October 1, 2012.

SOUTH CAROLINA - On June 27, the S= outh Carolina governor signed an immigration bill requiring= all private and public employers to utilize E-Verify as of July 1, 20= 12. In addition, beginning January 1, 2012, the law grants law enforcement authorities broader powers to verify the immigration status of individuals during a lawful stop or detention.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Updates

Below are summaries of recent efforts by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as they enforce laws related to employment of persons not authorized to work in the US. While there were many actions that took place recently, below are= a few of the highlights.

Restaurant Owner Sentenced

On July 14, 2011,= ICE announced that following a worksite enforcement action, a restaurant owner = was sentenced to 46 months in prison for harboring unauthorized worke= rs for commercial advantage and ordered to pay $239,089 in restituti= on to 15 unauthorized workers for paying wages below the minimum wag= e.

Workers Criminally Charged Following Raid

On July 8, 2011, = ICE announced that following a worksite enforcement action= that three workers had been charged with illegal misuse of documents a= nd two workers had been charged with illegal re-entry to the US.

Michigan Dairy Farmers Fined 2.7 Million

On June 28, 2011,= ICE announced that following an ICE investigation, the own= ers of a Michigan dairy farm had pled guilty to employing 78 unauthor= ized workers and were fined $2.7 Million. <= /span>

The August Visa B= ulletin has been posted. Visas for employment based second and third preference cases have moved forward, including those born in India and China. For a summary of priority dates, retrogression, = and how these dates impact US green card processing, please visit the Clark H= ill website.

For more information contact:

Roberta Freedman

rfreedman@clarkhill.com=

202.772.091= 3

Michael P. Nowlan
mnowlan@clarkhill.com
313.965.8666

Article contributor:

Karen M. Ke= tt
kkett@clarkhill.com
313.965.3457

About Clark Hil= l
Clark Hill PLC is a full-service law firm that provides business lega= l services, government and public affairs, and personal legal services to our cli= ents throughout the country. With offices in Arizona, Illinois, Michigan a= nd Washington, DC, Clark Hill has more than 200 attorneys and profession= als.

&nb= sp;

For more information on Clark Hill's Immigration Practice,
please visit clarkhill.com/ImmigrationLaw or call 800.949.3124.=