USCIS Introduces Online Fee Calculator
Regardless of the visa application, calculating total fees for filings can be a hassle. But what many don’t realize is that an improperly calculated fee payment would result in rejection of the complete application thereby leading to a longer application process. This tedious process has left many with rejected applications due to citing and submitting…
Read MoreUSCIS Resume Premium Processing: FY19 H-1B
On September 11, 2018, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) further suspended premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions while expanding the premium processing suspension for additional H-1B petitions. Last year’s suspension was set to expand well into February. However, USCIS has announced that the Service will continue premium processing on January 28th for all…
Read MoreE-Verify During the Shutdown (Government Shutdown Continues)
Message to Users While many sections of the federal government remain operational, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), other offices remain unopened. As previously reported, entire visa programs, like the Immigrant Investor Visa (EB-5) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, are at risk of discontinuation. Besides programmatic immigration issues, several maintenance services are…
Read MoreCivics Test Question Update: New Answers
Those who wish to become a citizen, and do not qualify for a test waiver, must complete the Civics Test to finish the naturalization process. Those preparing for the U.S. history and government test focuses on a variety of subjects, including knowledge about representatives. Every couple of years, either due to information or election changes,…
Read MoreGovernment Shutdown: EB-5 Program & Immigration Agencies
In the absence of congressional authorization, the EB-5 foreign investors visa program was set to end on December 21st of 2018. However, following the government shutdown that began on December 20th of 2018 and continues into the 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced that the future of the EB-5 program will…
Read MorePlanning Travel to the United States: ESTA 72 Hour Minimum
During one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, it is important to take note of strict time cut offs for applications for entrance into the United States. Those eligible to enter into the United States through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), in particular, should apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at…
Read MoreDHS Proposed Rule: New Changes to Public Charge Inadmissibility
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a new proposed rule which would outline the ways in which the agency determines a foreign national is inadmissible due to risk of becoming a public charge. Foreign nationals who wish to enter the U.S. or adjust their immigration status must provide evidence of financial stability, and…
Read MoreH-1B Pre-Registration: USCIS Proposed Rule
The speculation about drastic changes to the H-1B registration process has come to fruition with the new proposed rule out of the Department of Homeland Security. The amendment to the current H-1B specialty occupation visa program would require petitioners to electronically register with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) prior to start of…
Read MoreColleges Sue DHS Over Student Visas
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are being sued by several colleges over changes to administrative policies changes related to foreign students. In August this year, USCIS changed the method by which USCIS officers calculated unlawful presence accrued by students (J-1, F-1, and M-1). This left…
Read MoreRecord US Asylum Seekers in Canada
According to Canadian officials, asylum applications from United States citizens have seen a six fold increase in the first year of the Trump Administration. Over 2,550 US citizens applied for asylum in Canada, the largest spike in applications from US citizens since 1994, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In an interview…
Read More