Some of the USCIS programs will be extended until September 30, 2015, according to the Public Law 112-176, signed by President Obama. Immigration programs such as e-verify, religious worker visa program, immigrant investor (EB-5) pilot program and the Conrad-30 program, have been extended for three more years.
E-Verify, is a program that allows the USCIS customers to verify their eligibility to work in the United States, through an internet-based system. USCIS states that currently, 402,000 US employers are using e-verify to verify the eligibility of their employees, to work in the United States and around 1.2 million worksites are also found to use e-verify. E-verify is run by the USCIS along with the Social Security Administration. As this program has been extended, US employers may continue to use e-verify.
Immigrant Investor (EB-5) Pilot Program, is a program that allows foreign nationals to become eligible for permanent resident status in the United States based on their investment in the United States. This program is valid until September 30, 2015 and so USCIS will continue to receive applications filed by eligible entrepreneurs, proposals for EB-5 Regional Centers and Forms I-485.
Similarly, USCIS will continue to accept Forms 1-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant, Forms I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status and Forms I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, filed by religious workers and their family members. This Special Immigrant Religious Worker program, will allow religious workers in the country to become Green Card holders.
The Conrad 30, is a waiver program that allows foreign medical graduates studying in the United States in J-1 status, to request a waiver. According to this, the foreign medical graduate may become eligible to change his status to permanent resident status and he may not be required to return to his home country to apply for an immigrant visa. The old law stated that the foreign medical graduate must acquire J1 status prior to 30th, September, 2012, but now this USCIS program has been extended and is valid until September 30, 2015.