As reported in a series of NewsFlashes posted on MurthyDotCom at the end of July 2014, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) began experiencing problems with one of its key computer systems, the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD). This has caused some ongoing delay in visa processing...
The process of applying for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas at U.S. consular posts abroad may raise questions of exactly what information is checked and how that information is gathered during the screening process. A June 2014 Congressional Research Service report provides an overview of the...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) have published a notice inviting comments on President Obama's request for a plan to improve the entry process for international travelers arriving at U.S. airports. In the notice, the two agencies are...
On July 6, 2014, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that travelers boarding flights bound for the United States from certain airports with direct flights to this country will face enhanced security measures. Travelers are advised to be particularly aware of the potential inspection of electronic...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released a fact sheet outlining the strategy that is used by its Entry / Exit Transformation (EXT) Office, which was created in May 2013. The goal of the EXT Office is to "accurately verify who arrives and to...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released a checklist now being utilized by officers to evaluate trade NAFTA (TN) applications. This is an apparent response to concerns over inconsistencies in decision making on cases requesting admission in the TN category. TN for Canadian and Mexican Professionals The...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced the creation of a new website that gives travelers access to five years of their own I-94 arrival / departure and border crossing records. This website promises to serve as a valuable tool to foreign nationals who...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) WebSite provides detailed and helpful information about the wait times at various U.S. ports of entry (POEs). While there can be considerable variation at any given port, the information provided by the CBP can be useful in making...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun operating a new preclearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport, making it the 16th such facility to be established around the world. The preclearance process is intended to protect U.S. security interests by allowing the CBP...
Many foreign nationals travel to Mexico to apply for visas at the U.S. consulates there. Mexico is also a popular tourist destination for U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals who reside in the United States. However, a Travel Warning recently issued by the U.S. Department...
