B-1 Visitor Visa
USCIS Processing Times Gain Transparency
USCIS recently announced exciting news for those with pending USCIS cases. A new pilot website now offers a user-friendly platform that estimates the processing time for your application. The website is still in the testing stages and will first offer the service to four types of forms. Clearer Processing Times Several factors impact the processing…
Read MoreAffidavit of Support for Visitor Visa (B-1/ B-2)
An Affidavit of Support can be extremely helpful in most cases, but not when it comes to B-1/B-2 Visitor Visas. If you wish to “sponsor” a friend or family for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa, filing a Form I-134 may cause more harm than good. What is an Affidavit of Support? A Form I-134 affidavit of…
Read MoreScheduling an InfoPass Appointment: Online Services Could Soon End
InfoPass is a free online service that allows individuals to schedule an appointment with a USCIS immigration officer. The online platform offers 12 different languages to make scheduling an in-person appointment easier. InfoPass is accessible from both computers and mobile devices to make scheduling available anywhere. The appointments scheduled through InfoPass are intended for specific…
Read MoreNew USCIS Requirements: Valid Signature
Last week, USCIS released a memo outlining stricter requirements for petitioners and applicants seeking immigration benefits. The memo outlines that a petitioner or applicant must provide a “valid signature” to receive approval from a USCIS. A valid signature is defined by USCIS as any handwritten mark or sign by an individual to signify his or…
Read MoreMultiple H-1B Cap Petitions for Same Beneficiary
In matters of multiple H-1B petitions filed for the same beneficiary, last month the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) ruled, in a non-precedent decision, that “related entities” shall be interpreted beyond legal relations. Although the decision is not legally binding for USCIS, the case indicates that USCIS intends to crack down on petitioners attempting to beat…
Read MorePublic Charges Must Go: Changes to FAM
While the debate over immigration continues in Washington, a lot of questions have emerged regarding “public charge” non-citizens. Last week, the White House released proposed guidance for DACA recipients in which “Status is subject to revocation for criminal conduct or public safety and national security concerns, public charge, fraud, etc.” The announcement comes in addition…
Read MoreTravel during Administrative Processing
If your visa application is held by a consulate office for administrative processing, your case could be delayed for up to 60 days. Typically, the US consulate reviewing an application in administrative processing will not reveal the estimated period of delay nor will a consular officer reveal the reasons for the delay. For those with…
Read MoreGovernment Shutdown: What it means for your visa application
In the early morning of January 20th, officials in Congress and the White House announced that the federal government would shut down. The shutdown came after the Senate failed to pass legislation approving federal spending for the next year. To enable the operations of the federal government, including major bureaucratic agencies like the Department of…
Read MoreChecking Your Status Made Easier: CBP VWP Website Update
On January 5th U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the implementation of new initiatives that will help to ease the application process for travelers using the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The program, that allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for business or tourism for a period of up to…
Read MoreDistrict Court Reinstates “Start-up Visa”
On December 1st, United States district judge James Boasberg ruled the Trump Administration’s delay of the Obama-Era International Entrepreneur Rule an unlawful use of administrative power. The ruling effectively reinstates the “start-up visa” program until further response from the administration. Ruling In NVCA v. Duke, the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), a group of entrepreneurs…
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