According to various consular websites, U.S. consulates have implemented a roll-back of the expanded nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview waiver (IW) program criteria that has been in place since the COVID pandemic. Without having issued any public announcement, it appears that the State Department…
According to the State Department’s February Visa Bulletin, Final Action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application will be as follows: EB-1: India will remain at February 1, 2022, and China will…
If you are a foreign national planning to travel abroad this holiday season, now is the time to make sure you have the information, immigration documents, and instructions you need to depart and reenter the United States. Understanding your immigration…
Once President-Elect Trump is inaugurated on January 20, 2025, we anticipate that employers and foreign nationals will face greater challenges throughout the immigration process. The President-Elect is expected to articulate his detailed plans for immigration and the leadership of the…
As FY 2025 federal budget discussions continue, U.S. government funding could expire after midnight on September 30, 2024 if Congress fails to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown. In the event of a shutdown, some immigration processes would be…
Beginning today, the Department of Homeland Security will accept applications for the new parole in place (PIP) program for certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. Applicants must submit USCIS Form I-131F and supporting documentation online. Paper applications are…
If you are a foreign national planning to travel internationally this summer, make sure that you have all the necessary documents, including a passport with sufficient remaining validity, a valid U.S. visa in the appropriate classification, and advance permission to…
If you are an F-1 student who has applied for or is working on optional practical training (OPT) or who will be the beneficiary of a petition to change status to H-1B in this year’s H-1B cap filing season, make…
Details of the State Department’s long-awaited stateside visa renewal pilot are undergoing federal review, the next step toward executing the program. The pilot is expected to permit certain nonimmigrants with an expired or expiring visa to apply for renewal of…
A revised State Department fee schedule that increases fees for nonimmigrant visa applications and border crossing cards will take effect on May 30. The fee increases are not as steep as those proposed by the agency in a December 2021…