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Occupational Therapist candidates are reminded that the filed of Occupational Therapy raised its minimum educational standard on January 1, 2013.  All applications that are postmarked after January 1, 2013 can only be filed by Masters Degree prepared OTs.  

The NBCOT reminds applicants that starting July 31, Occupational Therapy Education Determination (OTED) applicants who do not hold a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy will be deemed incomplete. 

Anapplication is deemed incomplete when one or more of the documentationrequirements remains outstanding:

Last year the H-1B cap wasreached on June 11, 2012; we expect that the demand will be greater this year. It is imperative that all H-1B cap-subject Petitions are filled on April1, 2013 in order to insure that the H-1B Petition qualifies under this year’sH-1B cap.

H-1B cap-subject petitionsinclude:
* International studentsworking on an EAD card under an OPT or CPT program after having attended a U.S.school
* International employeesworking on a TN may need an H-1B filed for them in order for them to pursue apermanent residency (green card) case
* Prospective internationalemployees in another visa status e.g. H-4, L-2, J-1, F-1
* H-1B workers with a capexempt organization
* Prospective internationalemployees currently living abroad

In addition to the H-1B capdiscussion, MU lawyers will also provide an employment-based immigrationlegislation update.

The Philippines continues to produce nurses, in spite of a global recession entering its fifth year.  GMA News reports that the Philippines produced about 100,000 nurses last year, about triple the Philippines 36,000/year need.

This is not unusual for a country that acknowledges that overseas employment is a key part of its government policy.  The natural result of educating a greater number of nurses is that the licensure pass rates of the nurses will decrease.    The Philippine nursing will need to make sure that the quality of the education does not suffer as the volume of nursing students increases, which is certain to happen in the next few years.  These schools traditionally have been good at adapting to these macro-economic labor trends.  There is no reason to think that they won’t be in the future.  

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is the Philippine government’s agency dedicated to managing the outflow of Philippine workers to countries around the world.  The POEA is specially charged with protecting the rights of Philippine workers, as well as promoting the deployment of Philippine workers.  It regulates both foreign recruiting agencies and monitors the workers’ jobs, insuring fair pay and fair working conditions.

POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac will be answering questions via Twitter on January 22, 2013 at 3PM Manila time.  Questions may be sent to: http://twitter.com/askPOEA.

While your on Twitter, you can give MU Law a follow too!

The Department of State has launched an on-line tracking system for petitions and application that are being processed through their agency.  DOS cases include all Consular /Embassy appointment cases, notably immigrant visas (green cards) where the applicant has to have an interview at an overseas Consulate/Embassy.    It is expected that all applications that funnel through the National Visa Center will be accessible via this on-line system.