The 2008 Edition of VA's Federal Benefits for Veterans is Now Available

The 2008 Edition of VA's Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet is Now Available
The 2008 Edition of VA's Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet is available for viewing on-line or for download in portable document format (PDF).  

China Travel Warning

This Travel Alert is being issued to update U.S. citizens to safety and security concerns in China's Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) as well as the neighboring provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai .  American citizens in Tibet, especially in Lhasa , are advised to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place.  American citizens should defer travel to Tibet at this time.  This supersedes the Travel Alert for China dated March 15, 2008 and expires on April 21, 2008. China Travel Warning

H-1B Visas: USCIS Announces Interim Rule on H-1B Visas

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) transmitted an interim final rule to the Federal Register today that prohibits employers from filing multiple H-1B petitions for the same employee.  These changes will ensure that companies filing H-1B petitions subject to congressionally mandated numerical limits have an equal chance to employ an H-1B worker. To ensure a fair and orderly distribution of available H-1B visas, USCIS will deny or revoke multiple petitions filed by an employer for the same H-1B worker and will not refund the filing fees submitted with multiple or duplicative petitions. H-1B Visas: USCIS Announces Interim Rule on H-1B Visas

IRS Has $1.2 Billion for People Who Have Not Filed a 2004 Tax Return

Unclaimed refunds totaling approximately $1.2 billion are awaiting about 1.3 million people who failed to file a federal income tax return for 2004, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2004 must be filed with an IRS office no later than Tuesday, April 15, 2008.  IRS Has $1.2 Billion for People Who Have Not Filed a 2004 Tax Return

Mortgage Scams: California Shuts Down Mortgage Scam Artists

As the mortgage crisis worsens, a growing number of fly-by-night companies are employing utterly brazen tactics to push homeowners into illegal and unconscionable loans, Attorney General Brown said. The illegal sales practices of these companies, run by Eric Pony and his family, included psychological pressure, forgery, and outright lies, Brown added. Mortgage Scams: California Shuts Down Mortgage Scam Artists

Asbestos, Mold and Lead Assessment, Testing, Training, Consultation Contract Opportunity

The State of California is seeking a contractor to  furnish all labor, including travel and per diem, materials, nonconsumable supplies, transportation, equipment, and every other item of expense necessary to perform Asbestos, Mold and Lead Assessment, Testing, Training, and Consultation Services specified herein for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Folsom State Prison (FSP) located at Prison Road, Represa, California 95671- Asbestos, Mold and Lead Assessment, Testing, Training, Consultation Contract Opportunity

Reebok to Pay Record $1,000,000 Civil Penalty for Importing Charm Bracelets

The penalty settles allegations that Reebok International Ltd., of Canton, Mass., imported and distributed charm bracelets that contained toxic levels of lead. The charm bracelets were provided as free gifts with the purchase of various styles of children's footwear. In March 2006, a 4-year-old boy from Minneapolis who swallowed the bracelet's heart-shaped pendant died. Reebok to Pay Record $1,000,000 Civil Penalty for Importing Charm Bracelets