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News & EventsSEPTEMBER 2016 VISA BULLETIN FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED CATEGORIES
The Department of State (DOS) has issued its final September 2016 Visa Bulletin for Fiscal Year 2016. Fiscal Year 2017 begins with the October 2017 Visa Bulletin where some categories will return to their “current status.” For the September 2016 Visa Bulletin, as...
Visa Revocations Policy
According to the new FAM provision (9 FAM 403.11-3) updated by the U.S. Department of State, consular officers shall prudentially revoke nonimmigrant visas for DUI arrests, as driving under the influence is indicative of a possible physical or mental disorder with...
New U.S. Reporting System For Chinese Visitors—Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)
The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), announced a new reporting system for B-1/B-2 visitors from the People’s Republic of China (China). This new online reporting system is called the Electronic Visa Update System (“EVUS”). EVUS will...
August 2016 Visa Bulletin Released
AUGUST 2016 VISA BULLETIN RELEASED The Department of State (DOS) has issued its August 2016 Visa Bulletin imposing cutoff dates for India and China for the EB-1 (Priority Workers) and EB-2-Worldwide categories (Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of...
US Supreme Court Upholds Bar to Implementing DAPA and expanded DACA.
U.S. v. TEXAS: THE SUPREME COURT RULES THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S TWO MAJOR IMMIGRATION INITATIVES SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED. The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the ban on implementing President Obama’s two major immigration initiatives. The case, U.S. v. Texas,...
July 2016 Visa Bulletin Released
JULY 2016 VISA BULLETIN NO MAJOR RETROGRESSION OR ADVANCEMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED CATEGORIES. The Department of State (DOS) has issued its July 2016 Visa Bulletin with no major retrogression or advancement for the EB-1 (Priority Workers), EB-2 (Professions Holding...
Major Retrogression for EB-2, India and China, and EB-3 China for June 2016 Visa Bulletin
The Department of State has issued its June 2016 Visa Bulletin with major retrogressions in priority dates for India’s and China’s EB-2 (Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability) and EB-3 (Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers) nonimmigrant visa...
New 24-month OPT Extension for STEM Graduates Takes Effect
International students who have studied STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects for their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees from U.S. universities and who are completing their 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs...
USCIS Proposes New Filing Fees (05/12/2016)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week a proposal to increase the fees of certain U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) applications. Fee increases generally range from 8 to 60%. However, filing fees related to the EB-5 green card...
E visa options for foreign nationals
For individuals from certain countries who are interested in working, investing, or starting a business in the U.S., one option to consider is the “E” visa. This article will briefly address what an E-1 and E-2 visa is, discuss some key issues and requirements for...