NewsBrief Archives - Page 7 of 20 - Murthy Law Firm

13 Mar 2020

NewsFlash! All Visa Appointments at U.S. Consulates in India Canceled

The U.S. Department of State announced today that, effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all nonimmigrant and immigrant visa appointments at U.S. Mission India posts - which includes the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and all U.S. consulates in India - have been canceled. This measure...

13 Feb 2020

Visa Interview Waiver Program: “Can I Use the Drop Box Option?”

In most circumstances, anyone applying for a nonimmigrant visa must apply in person at a U.S. consulate or embassy and be interviewed by a consular officer. In the context of applying to renew a visa, however, the interview requirement may be waived under the visa...

08:28 / Consulates / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Student / Travel / Visitor / Worker

24 Jan 2020

New B-1/B-2 Visa Rules Target Birth and Medical Tourism

Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) published a final rule in the Federal Register that aims to prevent women from being issued B-1/B-2 visas for purposes of "birth tourism" - that is, traveling to the United States for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S....

13:51 / Citizen / Consulates / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Travel / Visitor

04 Nov 2019

DOS Visa Office Guidance on DS-160 Process

Representatives of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recently met with representatives from the U.S. Department of State's Visa Office (VO) to discuss current immigration policies and procedures. Prior to the meeting, AILA submitted written questions to the VO, to which the DOS responded in...

09:35 / Consulates / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Student / Travel / Visitor / Worker

24 Oct 2019

DOS Rule on Determining Visa Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds

On October 11, 2019, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register, entitled Visas: Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds. Once this interim final rule goes into effect, it will greatly expand the categories of public benefits considered...

10:02 / Consulates / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker

15 Oct 2019

NewsFlash! DOS Delays Implementation of Public Charge Rule

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced today that the interim final rule regarding visa ineligibility based on public charge grounds is not yet being implemented. Per the announcement, "visa applicants are not requested to take any additional steps at this time and should attend...

16:34 / Consulates / For Families / For Individuals / Government / NewsBrief / Resident / Student / Travel / Visitor / Worker

10 Oct 2019

NewsFlash! DOS Amending Public Charge Rules, Effective 15 Oct 2019

On October 11, 2019, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will publish an interim final rule to amend the regulations regarding how consular officers determine whether a foreign national is likely to become a public charge, and therefore ineligible for a visa. This rule will...

17:37 / Consulates / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / Visitor / Worker

04 Jun 2019

DS-160 and DS-260 Now Require Social Media Information

The U.S. State Department (DOS) has implemented changes to electronic forms DS-160, Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa, and DS-260, Application for an Immigrant Visa, that go into effect immediately. These applications will now request information about the social media username or handle used by an...

19:29 / Consulates / Employment Based / Family Based / For Families / For Individuals / Homeland Security / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Nonimmigrant Family / Resident / Student / Visitor / Worker

03 Jun 2019

USCIS Implements Stricter Expedite Request Criteria

On May 10, 2019, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) to reduce the circumstances under which the USCIS will consider granting a case expedited treatment. In general, the USCIS has the authority to grant an expedite request on...

08:59 / Citizen / Family Based / For Employers / For Families / For Individuals / Immigrant Family / NewsBrief / Resident / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker

06 Mar 2019

USCIS Will Only Accept Revised Version of Form I-539, as of 22 Mar 2019

The application to extend / change nonimmigrant status (form I-539) is undergoing several significant changes. Effective March 22, 2019, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only accept the updated version of the form. In addition, a new supplement, form I-539A, will be released,...

07:23 / For Families / For Individuals / NewsBrief / Student / USCIS News / Visitor / Worker

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