When an H1B visa foil (commonly referred to as a visa 'stamp') is issued, the consular officer typically annotates the visa with the petition number and expiration date of the I-797 approval notice presented at the U.S. consular post abroad. At the time of admission...
Answer Unfortunately, this has become a common problem. When filing for an extension online, the biometrics notice generally is sent only electronically through the USCIS online portal; no physical notice is mailed to the applicant. If the applicant misses the appointment and is not able to...
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recently sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State (DOS), urging the DOS to address ongoing issues related to E-1 and E-2 visa applications. In the letter, AILA also includes various suggestions that could be implemented to alleviate...
When an individual applies for an F-1, H1B, or other nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. consulate abroad, it can be fairly common to be refused initially under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This broad section applies to a wide variety of...
Mr. Don Heflin, the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in India, recently conducted a question-and-answer session to update the public on the state of visa appointments at U.S. consulates in India. Staffing Levels Mr. Heflin noted that staffing levels at the consulates have...
If certain criteria are met, a group of ten or more applicants may schedule a group appointment at a U.S. consulate. An overview of the process of scheduling such an appointment at a U.S. consular post in India is provided here for the benefit of...
The United States allows for the issuance of a Social Security number (SSN) to an individual who is authorized to work in the U.S. One of the key purposes of the SSN is to serve as a tracking number for income tax and related matters....
On August 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) shared a briefing where Ms. Julie M. Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, discussed the status of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates around...
For most types of immigrant petitions, such as a family-based petition for an alien relative (form I-130) or an employment-based petition for an alien worker (form I-140), the petitioner must indicate whether the foreign national beneficiary will be applying for adjustment of status (form I-485)...
Answer As a general rule, a consular officer will not automatically cancel a B-1/B-2 visa based on the fact that the individual has been issued an H1B visa. (18.Aug.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law. For information on our FREE online...
