USCIS and Dun & Bradstreet Announce Streamlined Process for VIBE Data Submission

Under its Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) program, through a data partnership with Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), USCIS verifies "business existence" for each US employer who files a petition for a foreign-national employee.

If data on the employer is unavailable in D&B, or does not match data in the employer's petition, USCIS sends the employer a Request for Evidence, asking for additional documentation of the company's business existence, which delays approval of the petition.  Although a single employer is not supposed to receive a VIBE Request for Evidence more than once, immigration practitioners have found that this standard is not 100% consistent.

USCIS and D&B have now announced a streamlined process for proactively updating a company's business data before a petition is filed.  This could prevent delays and additional legal fees associated with a Request for Evidence (although responding to a VIBE RFE is generally routine).  Employers may wish to avail themselves of this opportunity.

DHS Extends TPS for El Salvador

DHS announced that it is extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of El Salvador who already hold TPS.  TPS allows qualifying individuals to remain and work lawfully in the United States until conditions in their home countries improve.  The new extension allows qualifying individuals from El Salvador to reapply for TPS and work authorization that will be valid until September 9, 2013.  The re-registration period runs until March 9, 2012.  The USCIS will issue new employment authorization documents for those who timely re-register.  The USCIS is automatically extending employment authorization documents bearing March 9, 2012, expiration dates for an additional six months, until September 9, 2012.  This will allow TPS beneficiaries to continue working until their new employment cards are issued.  The DHS press release can be found here.

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