B-2 Visitor Visa
NIV Interview Waiver Program Now Permanent
The Department of State (DOS) has announced that the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Interview Waiver Pilot Program, introduced by President Obama in 2012, has now been made permanent. Generally, all NIV applicants are required to make a personal appearance and be interviewed by a consular officer. Additionally, the visa applicant is required to provide biometric identifiers…
Read MoreSocial Networking Sites are viewed by USCIS
We want to remind our readers about an undated memorandum by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the importance of social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Google+, etc.) in fraud detection. The memo talks about narcissistic tendencies amongst user of social network sites to have a large group of “friends” which may result in a…
Read MoreRecent USCIS Telephone Scams
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in recent weeks have learned of a new telephone scam targeting USCIS applicants and petitioners. Scammers are using a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to display a misleading or inaccurate phone number in a recipient’s Caller ID. The scammer poses as a USCIS official and requests personal information (such…
Read MoreDOMA Ruling and Immigration Benefits for Same-Sex Partners
With the overturn of Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), same-sex partners of U.S. Citizens and permanent residents are now entitled to same immigration benefits that were earlier available only to opposite-sex couples. Some of the notable immigration benefits that the same-sex partners are now eligible to includes: Fiancé Visa, Marriage Visa, Adjustment of Status, Immigrant…
Read MoreImmigration Reform Bill Introduced in Senate (Part 2 of 3)
In Part 1 of this Article, we provided you with an overview of the Immigration Reform Bill that was introduced in the Senate on April 17, 2013 and familiarized you with some of the key provisions for those who are present in the Unites States in an unlawful status. This article will highlight some of…
Read MoreImmigration Reform Bill Introduced in Senate (Part 1 of 3)
On April 17, 2013, Senators introduced a long-awaited and sweeping immigration overhaul bill, known as the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013” that addresses backlogs in legal immigration, undocumented immigrants, and border security. This 844-page bill is the result of weeks of negotiations amongst the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” – four…
Read MoreUpdating DS-160 after Submission
All nonimmigrant visa applicants, with the exception of those applying for K visa, must use online DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form. A successful submission of the DS-160 creates confirmation page with a unique barcode that the visa applicant must take with her/him to the visa interview. Issues arise where the visa applicant, after submitting her/his…
Read MoreDriver’s License, SSA, and other Issues for Noncitizens and Naturalized Citizens
SAVE (Systems Alien Verification for Entitlements) is an inter-governmental information services program which verifies the immigration status of a noncitizen or a naturalized citizen, helping to ensure that only entitled applicants receive federal, state, or local benefits, such as a driver’s license, Social Security Number, housing assistance, Medicaid, or other public benefits. Any participating benefit…
Read MoreB-1 in Lieu of H Visa (Update)
On October 12, 2012 the Department of State (DOS) issued a cable to all diplomatic and consular posts clarifying activities that will permit a B-1 in lieu of H-1B or H-3 annotation. This cable supersedes the June 21, 2012 cable and provides following guidance to the consular posts: 1. Remuneration to the Applicant: The cable…
Read MoreForm I-94 Information for Foreign Travelers: CBP Update
Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) is exploring automating the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to allow for the electronic management of the data. This has resulted in delays in processing the travel information into the I-94 database. Hence, CBP is advising foreign visitors entering the U.S., who need to prove their legal status to employers, schools/universities…
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