B-2 Visitor Visa
Public 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…
Read MoreAdministrative Processing for Visa Applications
Visa applications are sometimes held for so called “administrative processing.” If your application is delayed for administrative processing, it could mean additional wait time for your case decision. What is Administrative Processing? According to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), Administrative Processing refers to “clearance procedure of the submission of a case to the Department”, or…
Read MoreTSA to Enforce Real-ID Standards
If you have traveled domestically in recent months, you probably noticed signs posted by the Transportation and Security Agency (TSA). The posting notifies passengers of new regulations for acceptable state identification requirements for travel within the US. Due to the REAL-ID Act (2005), TSA security agents will no longer accept IDs, or driver’s licenses from…
Read MoreAvoiding USCIS Scams
Around the world, foreign nationals are being targeted by immigration scams. The threat is so prevalent and expansive that the www.uscis.gov reserves an entire section of the website for immigration scam protection and prevention. USCIS requires monetary payments from visa applicants for a variety of filing fees and other expenses. Those who are awaiting decisions…
Read MoreChanges to Foreign Affairs Manual (90 day rule): New Guidelines for Inadmissibility for Misrepresentation
On the first of September, the Department of State (DOS) released new guidelines, published in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), for the term “misrepresentation” for the purposes of deciding grounds for inadmissibility. Misrepresentation of intent to enter the US or receive a visa presents grounds for inadmissibility under INA. The new announcement eliminates the DOS…
Read MoreUnderstanding Your Status: Lawful Status, Period of Authorized Stay, & Lawful Presence
A foreign national’s legal status at the time of a change, extension, or adjustment of status can influence the outcome of an immigration matter. An error in maintaining legal status may prevent the foreign national from receiving the desired immigration benefits. It is important to understand your current legal status and how it may determine…
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