On 30 April 2008, USCIS published Michael Aytes's, Acting Deputy Director of USCIS, testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law. His testimony discussed annual limits on the granting of Permanent Resident Status. According to the Office of Immigration Statistics as of March 2008, a total of 1,052,415 persons became Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) in 2007. Of this, 59% of new Residents were living in the United States and adjusted status. Two-thirds of all new LPRs were granted permanent residence based on a family member. The leading countries of birth for new permanent residents were Mexico (14 percent), China (7 percent), and the Philippines (7 percent). USCIS is working to increase its efficiency in dealing with applications for permanent residence and "has adopted a production strategy that focuses on completing cases where visas are immediately available and on working cases to the point just short of approval (pre-adjudication) where visas will be available in the coming months." Mr. Aytes's testimony also stated that USCIS and DOS are working together on a plan to forward all approved family-based visa petitions to DOS, including those where the petitioner indicates the beneficiary will apply for adjustment of status in the United States. They believe that this will "enhance the ability of DOS to accurately forecast demand for visa numbers and more precisely manage the establishment of priority dates to meter the intake of applications for adjustment of status to match visa availability."

For more information, please contact Ortega-Medina & Associates, http://www.Ortega-Medina.com