One key requirement to qualify for the K-1 non-immigrant visa for when a United States Citizen, the petitioner, wants to sponsor a foreign partner to immigrate to the U.S., is that the citizen and foreign spouse must physically meet within 2 years prior to filing the I-129 Petition with the
While this recent op-ed (opinion-editorial) article in the Los Angeles Times, focuses on President Trump and his ongoing war with the U.S. and Mexico border and its illegal immigration issues, the article points out that the Trump administration has, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), radically slowed the
A Form I-130A is a supplemental form that is submitted with a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and supplemental documentation to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A Form I-130A is only included when a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) is petitioning his
Ryan Barshop, Esq. interviewed by Philippines cable news on the upcoming closure of the USCIS Manila Field Office.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published on its website that applicants filing for a Form I-131 Travel Document will not have their applications considered abandoned if they travel abroad with an approved advance parole document while a second one is pending provided that the first approved advance
On October 30, 2018, USCIS announced plans to expand the InfoPass pilot program, known as the Information Services Modernization Program, to additional USCIS field offices throughout the United States. The Information Services Modernization Program ends self-scheduling of InfoPass appointments and instead encourages applicants to use USCIS online information resources to
The United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated their website so that the training experience of F-1 visa international students who receive science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees can no longer complete their optional practical training (OPT) in the workplace of their employer’s clients or customers. The
Is a Final Rule Coming on Changes to EB-5, Especially an Increase to the Minimum Investment Amount? The answer: Maybe. Currently, any change to the US$500,000 minimum investment amount in a Targeted Employment Area (proposed increase to US$1,350,000) would require the publication of the Final Rule for the related “EB-5
USCIS announced an increase in the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, beginning on October 1, 2018. The premium processing fee will increase to $1,410. This increase will affect any L-1 and EB-1C petitions that our clients
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) August 9, 2018 policy memorandum revises the calculation of unlawful presence of those under F, J, or M nonimmigrant visa status and their dependents during their stay in the United States. Under the new memorandum, those holding F, J, or M visas who
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will extend the suspension of in-person services at field offices, asylum offices and application support centers through April 7, 2020. The USCIS had originally cancelled in-person operations on March 18th and was expected to recommence on April 1st in an effort to help contain
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it will accept benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures for submissions dated March 21, 2020 and thereafter. The policy change was made in response to the Coronavirus National Emergency declared by President Donald Trump on March 13, 2020. While USCIS
As of March 18th, all United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in-person services at all field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (“ASC”) are suspended in an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. In-person services are scheduled to resume on April 1st. USCIS field offices will
The Employment Based Second Preference Immigrant Visa Category (EB-2) Advanced Degree Holder and Person of Exceptional Ability with National Interest Waivers. Previously we wrote about the qualifications for an Employment Based Second Preference (EB-2) Immigrant Visa which is for persons who have an advanced degree or persons with exceptional ability
On February 24, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will implement the agency’s new rules for inadmissibility on public charge grounds. The final rule outlines some of the criteria on how the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) will determine whether a foreign national is inadmissible to adjust status from
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) released an updated policy memorandum advising the Department of States (“DOS”) on adjudicating Form I-130 Petitions for Alien Relatives at U.S. Embassies and Consulates through Direct Consular Filing (“DCF.”) The policy memorandum clarifies that USCIS will no longer accept and adjudicate routine I-130 Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced it is changing the way it will process Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, moving from a first-in, first-out basis to a visa availability approach. The Form I-526 Petition is filed by someone wanting to immigrate to the U.S. via the EB-5
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is scheduled to increase its filing and processing fees for business visas in 2020. Below are examples of the proposed increased fees by visa category: L-1 and H-1B Visas: L-1 visa petitions (for temporary workers, non-immigrant) are scheduled to increase by 77 percent
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has proposed to increase its filing fees for family-based immigrant visas and naturalization applications in 2020. Below are examples of the proposed fee increases. Spouse and Family-Based Immigrant Visas: Filing fees are scheduled to increase a nominal 3.74 percent from US$535 to US$550.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has increased its premium processing fees for Forms I-129 Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers andI-140 Petition for Immigrant Workers on December 2, 2019. The slight increase, from US$1410 to US$1440 was previously reported at USCIS to Increase Premium Processing Filing Fees for Forms
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