Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. State Department is eliminating visa waiver of appointments (otherwise called dropbox appointments) for many visa applicants. Many visa applicants and their dependents previously...more
On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a new policy that will significantly limit the eligibility of visa applicants to obtain visas without consular interviews. The new policy will go into effect on...more
The U.S. Department of State announced that effective September 2, 2025, the categories of applicants that may be eligible for the Dropbox Program (a/k/a Interview Waiver) will be updated, adding further restrictions to those...more
Last week, an internal U.S. Department of State (DOS) correspondence pertaining to visa processing for international student and exchange visitors in the F, M, and J visa classifications was leaked and published by various...more
Effective February 18, 2025, the Department of State has changed the categories of applicants that are eligible to waive the in-person non-immigrant visa interview appointment when applying for a non-immigrant visa stamp for...more
The Japan government further relaxed its border measures on September 7, 2022. While the number of people infected with COVID-19 in Japan still remains high, the government is gradually changing its conservative approach....more
We now have the exact date that international travel to the United States will be reopened for vaccinated visitors – November 8 – meaning that businesses will have an easier time bringing over business visitors and employees....more
The Japanese government has announced the second statement of emergency on January 7, 2021; however, comprehensive entry ban that had been considered was not implemented. ...more
On July 2, US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced the decision to postpone plans to re-open Trusted Traveler Programs Enrollment Centers until at least August 10, 2020. This announcement came just days after CBP had...more
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced its plans to re-open some Global Entry Enrollment Centers on July 6, 2020. Operations at all Enrollment Centers have been suspended since March 19, 2020 to prevent the spread...more
The Coronavirus and Its Impact on Those Traveling from China - On January 31, 2020, in response to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, the Trump administration, through Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex...more
On Friday, January 24, 2020, the US Department of State published a final rule that amends part of the regulations governing the issuance of “B” visitor visas. This regulatory amendment now establishes a rebuttable...more
Any foreign national making plans to travel abroad this summer should make sure to prepare in advance, from a U.S. immigration perspective. Following are 5 helpful tips for summer travel...more
Even the simplest tasks tend to be chaotic around the holidays, and a trip to the U.S. Consulate for a visa interview is no exception. With no school for children and a desire to be with extended family during the holidays,...more
Subsequent to President Trump’s March 6, 2017 Executive Order Suspending travel to the US of certain nationals and Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland...more
On March 17, 2017, the Department of State (“DOS”), through the Secretary of State, issued a cable to all US consulates and embassies with guidance on enhanced screening and vetting of applications for US visas and other...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) electronic application processing systems have been experiencing significant technical difficulties since October 17, 2016. Consequently, there have been...more
In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in visa application processing delays due to Section 221(g), otherwise known as “Administrative Processing.” Ramped up fraud prevention and related security procedures...more
The recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino are going to result in increased security checks for visa applicants at U.S. consular posts. We also anticipate Congress to at least review the Visa Waiver Program for potential...more