... My B-2 expires in a few days. I know I should not start my program of study until the USCIS approves my request for change of status to F-1. If the USCIS does not approve my F-1 status by the start of my program...
There are three typical outcomes for visa applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas: approval, outright refusal, or refusal under § 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). A 221(g) refusal - commonly referred to as "administrative processing" - generally occurs for one of...
Earlier today, President Trump signed two immigration-related executive orders. The first calls for construction to begin on a border wall between the United States and Mexico. The second order serves to withhold federal funding from so-called "sanctuary cities" - that is, U.S. municipalities that do...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule, on January 13, 2017, in the Federal Register, that would make a number of modifications to the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) immigrant investor program, including a massive increase in the minimum investment required to...
Answer Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. This generally would be considered domestic travel, and one typically would not need a valid visa "stamp;" just a valid ID to board the plane is all that normally would be needed. (23.Jan.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela...
Answer To file for AOS, there must still be a valid offer of employment from the I-140 sponsor (and normally an updated offer of employment letter to submit with the I-485.) In most circumstances, if the I-140 position is not still available, the I-485 cannot be...
Answer Based upon the most recent guidance, there appears to be no time limit to reclaim H1B time. So, this should be possible. (23.Jan.2017)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details...
Answer It depends upon whether the H1B was filed through a cap-exempt employer. Just because a company is a nonprofit, does not automatically make it cap-exempt; rather, this only applies to universities and their nonprofit affiliates, as well as government and nonprofit research institutions. Assuming the...
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), supplies visa bulletin explanations nearly every month. This month's update regarding the February 2017 Visa Bulletin provides insights and predictions related to several backlogged categories; unfortunately, many of...
After years of having to overcome various bureaucratic hurdles, it appears that Israeli citizens are on the verge of being granted access to the E-2 (treaty investor) visa. According to the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. and Israeli governments at last have reached a...
