Published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2024, and effective immediately, the US State Department has updated the J-1 Skills List for the first time since 2009. This update substantially reduces the list of countries...more
On January 18, 2024, the Department of State published an online tool that H-1B visa applicants can use to determine if they are eligible for the stateside visa renewal pilot program. Over time, it is likely that the...more
The U.S. Department of State has announced a pilot program for stateside renewal of certain visas. For the first time in nearly two decades, a limited number of H-1B nonimmigrants will be able to renew their visas from...more
As the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions continue, we advise caution regarding international travel. Everyone considering international travel is urged to carefully consider the risks and be fully aware of how...more
4/6/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Health and Safety ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
Each year, USCIS purges records that are more than ten years old from its E-Verify system. The next records disposal, which will take place on May 14, 2021, will delete E-Verify records created on or before December 31, 2010....more
President Joe Biden has terminated the U.S. entry ban on new immigrants implemented by the Trump administration under Presidential Proclamation 10014. This ban, which had been set to expire on March 31, 2021, prevented new...more
As the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions continue, we continue to advise caution regarding international travel. Everyone considering international travel is urged to carefully consider the risks and be fully aware...more
1/26/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Form I-94 ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Restrictions ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
As the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions continue, many who have endured long separations from home and family are eager to travel as the holidays approach. Everyone considering holiday travel is urged to carefully...more
On Monday, November 2, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule intended to change the H-1B lottery process and further restrict H-1B eligibility. The rule would replace the random lottery selection...more
After much anticipation and unprecedented delay, the U.S. Department of State has announced the per-country priority date cut-offs for the November 2020 Visa Bulletin. The monthly visa bulletins indicate who may file an...more
10/29/2020
/ Adjustment of Status ,
EB-1 ,
EB-2 ,
EB-3 ,
I-485 Applications ,
Immigration Procedures ,
PERM ,
Popular ,
Priority Date Cutoff ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visa Bulletins ,
Visas
For the most prestigious players, video games are more than just an entertaining pastime, but a source of livelihood. Competitive video games played at a professional level are known as esports; these consist of both single...more
In early October, we reported that US visa processing in Turkey had been suspended amid security concerns, and that the government of Turkey had responded with a suspension of visa processing for US citizens....more
The U.S. Mission to Turkey has announced that it has suspended all nonimmigrant (temporary) visa processing at posts in Turkey. This includes all nonimmigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate...more
The European Commission is being urged to require U.S. citizens to obtain visas for travel to Europe in an effort to obtain full visa waiver reciprocity for all European Union (EU) nations.
Currently, five EU nations are...more
In April 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) introduced electronic Forms I-94, enabling nonimmigrants entering the U.S. via air and sea to easily access their Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Records online. As of May...more