Immigration Law Facts and Issues - Articles by Richard Hanus - USA Visa Counsel.com » United States Embassies Abroad

Waiting for Comprehensive Immigration Reform – What Actions Can the Overstay/Undocumented Take in the Meantime?

Admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:40:37 +0000

So, you have made the decision that being in the U.S. without legal status is better than being in your home country with all the legal status in the world. And you continue to hope that President Obama can advance his goal of comprehensive immigration reform and that your particular [...]

An Alternative to the H-1B Visa for Canadian and Mexican Citizens: TN status now available for 3-year approval

Admin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:00:37 +0000

For citizens of North American countries such as Canada and Mexico, the path toward obtaining a nonimmigrant visa or permission to work in the United States is often much simpler than applying for the H-1B. Since the enactment of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) in 1994, workers in [...]

CGFNS Halts Visa Screen Issuance To Certain Filipino RN’s

Richard Hanus — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:00:36 +0000

For final U.S. immigrant visa processing to be completed, most foreign Registered Nurses are required to present evidence of special certification confirming the bona fides of their educational and professional credentials along with their competence in the English language. The “VisaScreen” certificate is issued by the Commission on Graduates of [...]

Isolated Instances of Drug Use May Lead to Denial of Immigrant Visa

Richard Hanus — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 21:00:36 +0000

Section 221(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires immigrant visa applicants to undergo a physical and mental examination so as to determine whether the applicant has a medical condition that would make him/her ineligible for admission into the US. HIV, tuberculosis, and other contagious diseases are tested for, and [...]

CIS Service Centers Implement Good Idea

Richard Hanus — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:00:36 +0000

Over the past year or so, processing times for family based, I-130 immigrant petitions have skyrocketed. Of particular significance are the extended processing times for visa petitions in the “Immediate Relative” or “IR” category, where visas are immediately available and the main obstacle to visa processing are stateside CIS service [...]

Responding to Those Thick National Visa Center Packets

Richard Hanus — Thu, 17 Apr 2003 21:00:36 +0000

The following sequence of events may sound familiar. First, the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident files an I-130, Alien Relative Petition on behalf of a family member living outside the U.S., or maybe even living in the U.S. – with or without status. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (now [...]

Family Based Immigrant Visa Availability – Rapid Progress Expected in the Coming Months

Richard Hanus — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 21:00:36 +0000

By federal statute, roughly 500,000 family-based immigrant visas and 140,000 employment based immigrant visas become available each fiscal year, which begins on October 1 and runs through September 30. This number does not include the 55,000 immigrant visas that become available each year through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, a [...]

New INS Regulations Severely Impact Visitors to the U.S.

Richard Hanus — Fri, 12 Apr 2002 21:00:36 +0000

In response to several recent highly publicized bureaucratic blunders, the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service has taken dramatic action in announcing the implementation of several new rules that will significantly impact those entering the U.S. on nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas. Under the new rule, visitor visa holders will now have [...]

New Section 245(i) Provision Passed by House of Representatives and Awaiting the President’s Signature

Richard Hanus — Fri, 22 Mar 2002 21:00:36 +0000

By now many have heard that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a new Section 245(i) provision and that all we are waiting for is the President’s signature. What most have not heard is the fact that the proposed provision will benefit a very limited class of illegal aliens. And [...]

More Observations on the Effects of September 11

Richard Hanus — Fri, 22 Feb 2002 21:00:36 +0000

It is widely believed among the general public that since September 11 things must be tougher, all around, when it comes to obtaining any immigration benefit or just dealing with the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service. Some believe that the immigration laws have gotten much stricter, while others assume that [...]