In an August 12, 2020 news alert, the Department of State (DOS) has issued extensive set of clarifications and exemptions to the June 22, 2020 Trump H-1B, H-2B, L-1 and certain J-1 work visa ban (see our article). The DOS clarification provides much needed and welcome guidance of how to make the arguments for national [...]
As a result of the Coronavirus/Covid-19 travel disruptions and border closures, many Visa Waiver Country nationals are in the United States within an ability to depart the U.S. before their 90-day authorized period of stay (I-94) expires. There are limited (but expanding) options for getting relief for Visa Waiver Country nationals stuck in the U.S. [...]
In a surprising move, on March 11, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation by which he is seeking to suspend travel to the U.S. from a number of European countries starting Friday, March 13, 2020 for a period of 30 days. During its release, this ban was labeled "total" and although it is very broad [...]
Starting May 2019, CBP is introducing some minor changes to the I-94 number format by making them alphanumeric. I-94 numbers are 11 digits long and until now they only contained numbers; however, starting this month, CBP is starting to use alphanumeric I-94 numbers. At this time the length will still be 11 characters [...]
The U.S. Department of State ("DOS") has amended a section of the Field Adjudicators Manual ("FAM") which pertains to government officials' determinations of misrepresentation by applicants and specifically with respect to activities permitted in the U.S. on nonimmigrant visas. 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(3) has been amended to include a section called "Inconsistent Conduct Within 90 Days [...]
Our office has recently learned that USCIS is changing their long-standing practice and have started denying Form I-131 Advance Parole applications due to abandonment in cases where the applicant has left the United States while the I-131 Advance Parole application was pending. USCIS has confirmed that this is their actual current policy going [...]
The U.S. Embassy in Russia has announced that starting August 23, 2017, all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) operations across Russia will be suspended. Beginning September 1, 2017, nonimmigrant visa interviews will be conducted only at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and interviews at the St. Petersburg, Yekaterininburg and Vladivostok will be cancelled. What is the Reason [...]
In the era of increased immigration enforcement under President Trump, our foreign national clients and readers are increasingly asking about the requirements on carrying specific immigration documents with them while they are in the U.S. – whether [...]
There has been a tremendous amount of discussion and comment on President Trump's executive order banning certain travelers from the seven countries; however, one provision of the executive order which has a significant impact on many visa holders from all countries is the suspension of the interview waiver program (commonly called "dropbox") which allows visa stamp [...]
Many USCIS applications (normally those which result in the production of a "secure document") require the applicant provide digital biometrics at a USCIS office. In most cases, the biometrics process includes digital fingerprinting and a digital photo. Many applicants who need to submit to the required biometrics are able to do so in the closest USCIS [...]
