Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced March 9, 2010, the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States. “Our efforts to guard against terrorism while enhancing legal travel and trade [...] Read more »
USCIS Reminds Applicants for Adjustment of Status, Asylum, Legalization, and TPS Beneficiaries to Obtain Advance Parole Before Traveling Abroad
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds individuals that they must obtain Advance Parole from USCIS before traveling abroad if they have: been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS); a pending application for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident; a pending application for relief under section 203 of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief [...] Read more »
Cap Count for H-1B and H-2B Workers for Fiscal Year 2010
What is a “Cap”? The word “Cap” used in this Update refers to annual numerical limitations set by Congress on certain nonimmigrant visa classifications, e.g., H-1B and H-2B. Caps control the number of workers that can be issued a visa in a given fiscal year to enter the United States pursuant to a particular nonimmigrant [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Extension of Post Completion Practical Training and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the Cap Gap Regulations
These Questions & Answers address the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of October 1, 2009 under the FY 2010 H-1B cap. What is the H-1B [...] Read more »
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or depart the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. The travel document requirements make up the departments of State and [...] Read more »
Fact Sheet: Iraqi Refugee Processing
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is an inter-agency effort involving a number of governmental and non-governmental partners, both overseas and domestically, whose mission is to resettle refugees in the United States. The U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) has overall management responsibility for the [...] Read more »
Questions and Answers: Qualifying Family Members of U Visa Beneficiaries May Obtain Lawful Permanent Residence
The T nonimmigrant status (also known as the ‘T’ Visa) was created to provide immigration protection to victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons. The U nonimmigrant status (or ‘U’ visa) is set aside for victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse because of the crime and who are willing [...] Read more »
Non-Minister Category of Special Immigrant Religious Workers To Expire On March 6, 2009
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers that authorization for the non-minister special immigrant religious worker program will expire on March 6, 2009. Individuals applying under the non-minister category of the program, including family members, must either adjust status to permanent resident or be admitted with an immigrant visa before March 6, 2009. [...] Read more »
Dept. of Homeland Security Facts Regarding Crossing of U.S. Borders
U.S. Citizens Air Travel All U.S. citizens including children must present a passport or secure travel document when entering the United States by air. Land/Sea Travel Beginning January 31, 2008, the United States will end the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship at the border. U.S. citizens ages 19 and older must present documentation [...] Read more »
22 charged with massive international Visa scheme
22 foreign nationals and U.S. citizens have been indicted for massive immigration-related fraud. Read more »
