B-1 Visitor Visa
Canadian Cannabis Manufacturers Beware: Lifetime Bans in Effect
On October 17thof this year, Canadians will be able to purchase marijuana for recreational use. Although this is a great victory for the Cannabis industry, manufacturers, regardless if they personally use the drug, may soon be banned for life from the United States. Cannabis, or marijuana, is considered a Schedule I drug in the United…
Read MoreUnpacking the USCIS Memorandum: NOID & RFE (Part 2 of 2)
In the past few weeks, two memorandum out of the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) have upturned years of immigration procedures. In the first memo, USCIS announced a new direction to encourage USCIS officers to freely issue notices to appear (NTA), notably for cases in which a visa application is denied. In a separate…
Read MoreUSCIS Can Now Deny at Will: NOID & RFE (Part I of 2)
For many years, USCIS adjudicators have provided applicants & petitioners with the benefit of the doubt. As such, applications, petitions, and requests were not outright denied if a USCIS officer noticed an absence of evidence or if evidence was insufficient for eligibility. For years, USCIS officers instead issued requests for evidence notices (RFE) or a…
Read MoreAdvance Parole for Canadian Citizens
Advance Parole for Canadian Citizens is an important topic for those who wish to travel internationally while their U.S. immigration application is pending. Leaving the United States, even for a brief period of time, can be extremely complicated for foreign nationals. This risk increases if an individual wishes to leave the United States while an…
Read MoreThreats to Non-Immigrant Workers: USCIS Gains Deportation Referral Power
Recently, the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) released a policy memo endowing every adjudicating officer, and all USCIS employees, the power to issue a notice to appear, or NTA. With this policy change, USCIS employees may now initiate the removal and deportation of an individual that does not maintain lawful presence. Background Although…
Read MoreBusiness Visa Center: B-1 Visas Made Simple
Many companies across the country utilize the B-1 visitors’ program to bring business partners from around the globe to the United States for short term visits. This program enables companies, big and small, to collaborate with global partners and engage face to face with foreign based colleagues. To help the streamline the B-1 visa application…
Read MoreFOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Requests Now Online
On May 30th, USCIS announced the launch of an online processing system, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST). The online platform will allow users to submit, manage, accept FOIA requests online. Previously, such requests only were processed through mail, fax, and email; documents were then transferred via mailed compact disc. USCIS…
Read MoreDealing with a DUI/DWI: Revocation of Status
An arrest or conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) may mean big problem for those in the United States under a nonimmigrant visa. Once a U.S. consulate receives notice of the conviction of an alien for a DUI or DWI offense, consular officers will revoke the visa foil or…
Read MoreSocial Media Screening Included in State Department Efforts towards ‘Extreme Vetting’
On March 30th, the State Department released a proposal that would greatly slow processing for all visa classifications and provide sensitive data to the State Department officials. In response to the Trump Administration policies towards ‘extreme vetting’ of foreign nationals entering the United States, the State Department announced that it would begin to screen the social…
Read MoreUSCIS to Destroy Returned Green Cards, EADs, & Travel Documents after 60 Days
USCIS announced recently that, beginning April 2nd, all Permanent Resident Cards, Employment Authorization Cards (EADs), and Travel Documents returned as undeliverable by the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be destroyed after 60 business days unless USCIS is contacted by the recipient. A change of address, without proper reporting to USCIS, could result in a…
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