The United Sates Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a warning on October 22, 2012 advising of a telephone scam intended to victimize foreign nationals. According to the USCIS, scammers posing as USCIS employees have been contacting individuals by telephone and aggressively pushing them to...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on October 1, 2012 that some case processing work will be transferred from USCIS service centers to local USCIS field offices and the National Benefits Center (NBC). As a result, foreign nationals with pending applications and petitions may...
The President has signed legislation extending the expiration or "sunset" dates of four important immigration programs. These programs are: the EB5 (investor) Regional Center Program; the E-Verify employment verification program; the EB-4 Religious Worker (non-minister) Program; and the Conrad State 30 physician J-1 waiver program....
As we approach the season when many individuals and families travel abroad, our readers are reminded of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) policy regarding visa applicants with histories that include drunk driving or other offenses involving alcohol. The DOS guidance clarifies how consular officers...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted information helpful to foreign nationals facing immigration-related difficulties as a result of Hurricane Isaac. Natural disasters inevitably create disruptions that may make it impossible to meet all immigration requirements and deadlines. The USCIS generally makes reasonable...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on August 21, 2012, that for the third straight year it has approved 10,000 U visa petitions, the maximum quota allowed under the law. This clearly demonstrates the importance of this category, available to victims of certain...
Reliable sources have been reporting a wave of denials of J-1 visas for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) applying at U.S. Consulates in India. The scenario involves Indian physicians requesting J-1 exchange visitor visas to begin U.S. medical residency programs at teaching hospitals throughout the United...
The Employment Creation Immigrant Visa (EB5) program was established to provide the means for a foreign national investor to secure permanent residence (a "green card") by investing in a U.S. business, thereby, creating jobs for U.S. workers. Historically, the program has been fraught with problems....
The ever-present problems presented by the visa adjudications process at U.S. consulates around the world - and particularly in India - are well known to many of our readers. At these consulates, the issuance of section 221(g) visa refusals to those working as IT consultants...
In an unexpected and encouraging move, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an initiative on August 2, 2011, to encourage immigrant entrepreneurs and start-up companies to the United States. This USCIS initiative will be especially helpful to people from countries like India and...
