USCIS Updates Policy Manual on Family-Based Immigrant Visa Approvals

May 27, 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued an updated policy guidance on Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (“Petition”) explaining how the agency handles family-based immigrant visa petition approvals regarding correcting approval notice errors, requests for consular processing or adjustment of status, and routing procedures for approved

What Is A U.S. Visa, Visa Stamp And Visa Foil And What Are These Used For?

May 22, 2024

Quick Summary: 3 Terms to Know Term What Is It? Used For Visa Official permission to enter the U.S. for a specific purpose, issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Proves you are authorized to travel to a U.S. port of entry Visa stamp Physical ink stamp applied directly to

What is the PERM Process for U.S. Immigration Through Employment?

May 20, 2024

Quick Summary — The PERM Process Question Answer What does PERM stand for? Program Electronic Review Management Which agency manages PERM? U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) — not USCIS Which visas require PERM? EB-2 and EB-3 (most cases) Who files the PERM application? The U.S. employer — not the foreign

United States And Vietnam Sign A Memorandum Of Cooperation On Culture And People-To-People Ties

April 17, 2024

The U.S. Department of State has announced a signing a Memorandum of Cooperation on Culture and People-to-People Ties between the United States and Vietnam. See the post on the USDOS website here. “Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Liz Allen and Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield met

DHS Announces Temporary Increase Of The Automatic Extension For Certain EAD Applicants

April 16, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced a Temporary Final Rule (“TFR”) providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring Employment Authorization Documents (“EADs”) for renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, will be increased from

What Does A 214(b) Refusal Mean in U.S. Immigration Law?

October 3, 2023

A 214(b) refusal in U.S. immigration law refers to a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) that is often cited when a U.S. consular officer denies a nonimmigrant visa application. This section applies primarily to individuals applying for visitor visas (B-1 for business visitors and B-2 for

How Long Does My Passport Have to Be Valid Before Being Issued a U.S. Visa?

October 2, 2023

Quick Summary: Passport Validity Requirements by Nationality Nationality Minimum Passport Validity When Filing Notes Vietnamese 8 months from intended U.S. entry date Higher than the standard 6-month rule that applies to most countries Filipino 6 months from intended U.S. entry date Standard requirement Taiwanese 6 months when applying for a

Will U.S. Immigration Agencies Be Impacted if the Federal Government Shuts Down?

September 28, 2023

With the ongoing political deadlock in Washington D.C., Congress has been unable to pass any of the spending bills needed to keep the U.S. Government open beyond September 30, 2023. Unless any of the spending bills are passed and signed into law, funding for government agencies will run out of

Covid-Era Visa Application Fee Receipts Set to Expire on September 30, 2023

September 8, 2023

The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that all receipts for payment of Machine-Readable Visa (“MRV”) fees issued before October 1, 2022 will expire September 30, 2023. There will be no extensions of fee validity. Applicants must schedule an appointment or submit an interview waiver application before September 30,

USCIS Launches New Online Appointment Request Form

August 25, 2023

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently launched a new online form allowing individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person meeting at their local field offices without having to call the USCIS Contact Center. The new online appointment request form enables both individuals and their legal

The Visa Waiting Time for Married Children of United States Citizens: the Family-Based Third Preference Immigrant Visa Category

August 22, 2023

The family-based third preference immigrant visa category (“F3”) is a type of visa available to U.S. citizens who are looking to bring their married children to the United States. This immigrant visa category is in high demand and there are yearly quotas for visas. As a result, the waiting period

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