Top 10 Immigration Headlines from All Regions The H-1B visa program is used by U.S. employers to employ foreign nationals in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in a specialized field and require a bachelor's degree or its equivalent as a minimum requirement. A year ago, we reported on "site visits" conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contractors to verify the facts contained in H-1B temporary worker petitions filed by employers. United States immigration laws are preventing many of the most talented immigrants in the world from migrating to the United States. After a week-long trial, a 15-member team of Schnader lawyers and support staff obtained a full acquittal on May 24, 2010 on murder charges brought against the Firm’s pro bono client, William J. Barnes. Barnes was charged with causing the death of Philadelphia Police Officer Walter T. Barclay in 2007, 41 years after Barnes had shot and partially paralyzed Barclay. Under the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (TPA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to pay operational and travel promotion fees when applying for ESTA beginning September 8, 2010. As flagged in our earlier article (link) the right to work for those who have made a repeat claim for asylum has now been settled by the Supreme Court, in the case of ZO and others v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] UKSC 36. The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (BCIA 2009) received Royal Assent in 2009. With effect from 19 July 2010, the Government has changed the rules for applicants under tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based immigration system with the aim of reducing the number of migrants entering under these routes by five per cent in the period to 31 March 2011. On August 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which requires employers with 50 or more employees and more than 50% of their U.S. workforce on H-1B or L visas (L-1A, L-1B, L-2) to pay additional fees of $2,000 to $2,250 per visa application. | 
