The U.S. Department of Education has posted a database of accredited post secondary institutions to help students find reputable programs in their fields. The Department of Education does not endorse any of the schools listed on the database, but rather recognizes the reliability of the accrediting agencies evaluating the schools. This resource is a good tool to help incoming students discern fact from fiction, as schools’ advertising can often be misleading.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.

Republican Senator John Cornyn introduced a bill on the Senate floor Tuesday that would create 55,000 visas for graduates of STEM advanced degree programs with qualifying job offers. The bill would not add to the number of immigrant visas issued each year, but would reallocate the 55,000 visas dedicated to the Diversity Visa Lottery. Supporters of the bill argue that the new program would promote economic growth by encouraging a set of highly educated people to remain in the U.S. The bill would also allow for certain people entering U.S. graduate programs (Masters and Ph.D.) in STEM fields to qualify for “dual-intent.” This would mean that they would be in lawful nonimmigrant status, while also pursuing their permanent residence.

For more information about the proposed legislation, see Senator Cornyn’s official press release, or read the bill here.

In a press release issued Friday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it has extended the list of approved degree programs that qualify for the STEM optional practical training extension. STEM refers to designated degrees in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, which qualify graduates for an extra 17 months of OPT beyond the 12 months allowed all foreign students upon graduation from a U.S. university. The list has been expanded to include graduates in pharmaceutical sciences, econometrics, and quantitative economics, among other things.

The STEM program was created to help attract the world’s brightest scholars, and encourage economic and technological development in the United States. For a complete list of STEM degree programs, please see the list issued by SEVIS.

USCIS has updated the count of cap eligible petitions for H-1B visas in the 2013 fiscal year. As of May 11, USCIS had received 36,700 out of 65,000 cap eligible petitions. USCIS also reported that it had received 14,800 petitions eligible for the Master’s cap exemption of 20,000 visas. For more information, please visit the USCIS website.

The White House released a press statement Thursday articulating the importance of international tourism in the U.S. economy. The administration reported that revenue from international tourism, goods, and services in the United States in 2011 rose more than 8% from 2010. The total spending of international visitors to the U.S. last year is estimated at around $153 billion, and the total number of international tourists has consistently been on the rise for several months now.

The Obama Administration took this opportunity to stress its dedication to promoting an increase in the U.S. tourism industry, which supports more than 7.6 million jobs in this country. The White House announced several initiatives, including the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, aimed at bolstering both international and domestic travel in the United States. The administration also hopes to encourage tourism in local areas that have traditionally received fewer visitors.

An important component of the President’s strategy is to encourage improvements in the Visa Waiver Program and visa interview processes. Improvements in these areas would simplify travel for many foreign travelers, and make the United States a more attractive tourist destination internationally.

For more details relating to the Obama Administration’s new tourism initiative, please refer to the official White House press release.

The U.S. Department of States has officially released its June 2012 Visa Bulletin. As projected, visa numbers in the EB2 category from India and Mainland China have become unavailable. The designation “unavailable” indicates that no visas will be issued to applicants holding EB2 priority dates until such time as new numbers become available. As previously mentioned, all cases filed prior to the retrogression of priority dates will remain pending until the dates again become current and processing can continue.

The samples below demonstrate the kind of information that USCIS expects to see in a letter attesting to the experience of a candidate for an I-140. The statements below are merely samples. Every sworn affidavit should  reflect the specific details of the individual beneficiary’s case, and the deponent’s relationship with the beneficiary.

AFFIDAVIT OF COWORKER

I, Kevin Lee, do solemnly state and affirm the following:

1. I am 27 years old and otherwise competent to make this affidavit.
2. I am currently employed with Pine Tree Electrical Services.
3. During the period June 2007 through August 2010, I was employed with Leafy Tree Technologies in the capacity of Programmer Analyst.
4. From September 2007 to August 2010 I was a co-worker of Anthony Fairchild, who also worked for Leafy Tree Technologies as a Programmer Analyst
5. To my knowledge, Mr. Fairchild worked no less than 40 hours per week.
6. I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, Mr. Fairchild performed the following duties as a Programmer Analyst:

• Develop and direct software system testing.
• Analyze user needs and software requirements.
• Design, develop and modify software systems.
• Consult with customers about software system design and maintenance.

I, Lisa Bell, do solemnly state and affirm the following:

1. I am over 35 years old and otherwise competent to make this affidavit.
2. I am currently, employed with Thorny Branch Technologies, located at 123 Main Street, Quaint Town, WA 10101
3. During the period from September 2007 to January 2011, I was employed with Leafy Tree Technologies, located at 765 Microtech Blvd., Pleasantville, MD 54201, in the capacity of Supervisory Analyst.
4. From September 2007 to January 2011, I supervised Anthony Fairchild, who worked for Leafy Tree Technologies as a Programmer Analyst for no less than 40 hours per week.
5. I certify that he performed the following duties:

• Develop and direct software system testing.
• Analyze user needs and software requirements.
• Design, develop and modify software systems.
• Consult with customers about software system design and maintenance.

Affidavits of birth may be used in certain circumstances. When a birth certificate or record of birth is required, but no such record exists for the applicant, (s)he may be able to submit notarized affidavits of birth in place of the actual certificate. Such affidavits should be completed by individuals (usually family members or close family friends) with personal knowledge of the applicant’s birth. Below is a sample affidavit that demonstrates the kind of information that USCIS believes to be relevant.

To Whom It May Concern:

I, John Doe, hereby depose and say that:

1. I, John Doe, was born on March 23, 1958 in Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain.
2. I am a citizen of Spain.
3. My full and complete address is 2134 Sunshine Lane, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain 08080.
4. I am closely related to Jane Doe. I am her biological father.
5. Jane Doe was born on July 7, 1985 in Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain.
6. I have personal knowledge of the event and circumstances concerning the birth of Jane Doe because I am her biological father and was present at the birth.
7. I am submitting this affidavit because there is no official record of birth concerning my daughter, Jane Doe.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing are true and correct statements.

Deponent,

John Doe

Below are forms used by the Department of State in the issuance of visas. More forms can be found on the Department of State’s website.

• DS-230: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration; and
• DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application.

• G-28: Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative;
• G-325A: Biographic Information;
• I-90: Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card;
• I-129: Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker;
• I-130: Petition for Alien Relative;
• I-131: Application for Travel Document;
• I-140: Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker;
• I-485: Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status;
• I-539: Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; and
• I-765: Application for Employment Authorization.