USCIS in a naturalization ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, naturalized 55 noncitizen members of the U.S. military and 17 military spouses who were born in 30 counties: Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, Dominica, France, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Palau, the Philippines, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam. The special ceremony marked a milestone for USCIS, with 196 members of the military becoming U.S. citizens in the Republic of Korea this year, more than in any other year since the inception of the overseas naturalization program in 2004.  

On July 1, 2010, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure certified copies of birth certificates to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico because of a new Puerto Rico birth certificate law. After Sept. 30, 2010, all certified copies of birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010, will become invalid. This new law does not affect the U.S. citizenship status of individuals born in Puerto Rico. It only affects the validity of certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates. 

CBP reminds VWP travelers about the $14 fee for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization applications that will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 8. A fee of $4 will recover the costs incurred by CBP of providing and administering the ESTA system and is in addition to the mandatory $10 travel promotion fee established by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. The total fee for a new or renewed ESTA will be $14. 

As of September 3, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 36,600 H-1B cap subject petitions and approximately 13,400 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption. USCIS will continue to accept both cap subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits.  

As of August 27, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 34,900 H-1B cap subject petitions and approximately 13,000 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption. USCIS will continue to accept both cap subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits. 

As of August 20, 2010, USCIS has received approximately 33,900 H-1B cap subject petitions and approximately 12,600 petitions qualifying for the advanced degree cap exemption. USCIS will continue to accept both cap subject petitions and advanced degree petitions until a sufficient number of H-1B petitions have been received to reach the statutory limits.  

On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed a, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. The law requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, 2010, and will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2014.