United States Embassies Abroad Archives - Page 2 of 4

8 02, 2019

Federal Indictments Handed Down Against Birth Tourism Ring

By Richard Hanus|2019-02-08T09:57:45-06:00February 8th, 2019|Categories: Citizenship / Naturalization and the N-400 Application, Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., General, Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published February 8, 2019 With few exceptions, per the Constitution of the United States of America, if a person is born in the U.S., they are born as a U.S. citizen – and no matter the citizenship or immigration status of their parent. As further evidence of just how valuable a life in the U.S. is, especially with a U.S. passport, we have news of the prosecution of an alleged criminal enterprise specializing in arranging for foreign individuals to enter the U.S. for the sole purpose of giving birth to their children as U.S. citizens. In recent days, federal authorities have unsealed […]

10 01, 2019

How Are Immigration Related Services and Offices Impacted By the Government Shutdown?

By Richard Hanus|2020-05-01T15:51:06-05:00January 10th, 2019|Categories: Citizenship / Naturalization and the N-400 Application, Conditional Permanent Residence Based on Marriage, Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, Family-Based Immigration Law, Foreign Exchange Student Visas to the U.S., Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigrant Visas for Spouse / Fiancee / Child Visas, Immigration and Criminal Law / Detainees, Immigration and PERM / Labor Certification, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, Removal / Deportation Proceedings and Court Hearings, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published January 10, 2019 As our nation is headed toward the longest government shutdown in our history, many of the players impacted, including companies petitioning foreign workers as well as individuals in all our immigrant communities, are asking questions about how the shutdown impacts immigration system related processing. Can I obtain a U.S. passport? Is my Green Card application interview in the U.S. still going to be conducted? Can I still apply for a visa at a U.S. consular post abroad? These and other questions are answered below – and with the answer usually dependent on whether the applicant is […]

6 06, 2017

When Will CIS Expedite Processing of your Petition or Application? AND New Vetting Procedures in Place for Visa Applicants

By Richard Hanus|2020-05-01T18:05:12-05:00June 6th, 2017|Categories: DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, Family-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigrant Visas for Spouse / Fiancee / Child Visas, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published June 6, 2017 These days, with processing times for various petitions and applications getting longer, it is important to be aware that U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) will entertain and grant expedite requests under a variety of circumstances. Firstly, there are a line of employment based petitions where CIS, for an additional “premium processing” fee, will review the filing and issue a decision in as little as 7-14 days. The additional fee is $1,225.00, and that amount is on top of base filing fee at issue. CIS offers this option for the processing of the vast […]

9 12, 2015

New Legislation to Govern Certain Visa-Waiver Visitors

By Richard Hanus|2015-12-09T08:37:27-06:00December 9th, 2015|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), General, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published December 9, 2015 At present there are 38 countries whose citizens are generally relieved of the requirement of obtaining a visa to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days. But in the wake of recent terrorist acts in Europe and the U.S., and where the terrorism advocacy engine is primarily operated by Islamic extremists in the Middle East, Congress is set to finalize legislation to significantly tighten up this visa waiver program – especially for those who have visited certain Middle Eastern nations. Specifically, if a citizen of one of the visa waiver nations has visited Iraq, Iran, Syria […]

16 04, 2015

Retrogression Hits Hard for Professionals and Skilled Workers (EB-3) from the Philippines Seeking Immigrant Visas

By Richard Hanus|2015-04-16T11:43:15-05:00April 16th, 2015|Categories: DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigration and PERM / Labor Certification, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published April 16, 2015 According to the most recent visa bulletin released by the U.S. Department of State, effective May 1, 2015, the cut-off date setting forth the availability of Employment Based Immigrant Visas in the EB 3rd Preference – FOR THE PHILIPPINES – retrogressed to July 1, 2007 – a huge setback from the current October 1, 2014 cut-off date. The Employment Based 3rd Preference is the most common immigrant visa category for foreign workers, including Registered Nurses. It is not known how long this retrogression will last, but employers and immigrant visa applicants impacted, such as those with now […]

13 04, 2015

April 2015 H-1B Filing Season Sees Record Demand

By Richard Hanus|2015-04-13T11:50:31-05:00April 13th, 2015|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, Foreign Exchange Student Visas to the U.S., General, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigration and PERM / Labor Certification, Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published April 13, 2015 For the past few years, come April 1, tens of thousands of employers and prospective employees vie for one of 85,000 H-1B work visas made available for highly skilled or professional workers for the ensuing fiscal year, starting October 1. It used to be a 1 in 2 chance an H-1B petition will be picked for consideration, given that each year the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/CIS) receives around 170,000 or so petitions, and with only 85,000 visas to distribute. Not surprisingly, given our relatively robust economy, and the global perspective that […]

5 03, 2015

Update: The Truth About U.S. Immigration and Registered Nurses

By Richard Hanus|2015-03-05T12:35:48-06:00March 5th, 2015|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigrant Visas for Spouse / Fiancee / Child Visas, Immigration and PERM / Labor Certification, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published March 5, 2015 As of this writing the landscape for foreign national registered nurses (excluding nurses from China and India) to enter the U.S. to live and work can best be described as “improved” and “not too bad”. From start to finish, I would estimate the process at approximately 8 to 14 months, although it could take a little shorter or longer. This is in contrast to the state of affairs over the past 5+ years, where foreign national registered nurses and their petitioning facilities faced a many year waits between petition approval and visa issuance. And to be […]

12 10, 2014

I-864 Affidavit of Support: A Legally Enforceable Contract

By Richard Hanus|2014-10-12T09:51:18-05:00October 12th, 2014|Categories: DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Family-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Visas for Spouse / Fiancee / Child Visas, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published: October 12, 2014 I-864 Affidavit of Support: A Legally Enforceable Contract For the vast majority of individuals being issued U.S. lawful permanent resident, or “green card” status, their applications for residence are premised on a family based visa petition and a specific familial relationship with a U.S. citizen or resident family member, such as spouse/spouse, parent/child, or sibling connection. With few exceptions, the U.S. citizen or resident filing the immigration petition will also eventually execute, as part of the immigration process, an I-864 Affidavit of Support – a document guaranteeing that the new immigrant will not become a “public charge,” […]

24 09, 2014

The Green Card Lottery (DV-2016)

By Richard Hanus|2014-09-24T09:38:20-05:00September 24th, 2014|Categories: DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Family-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Uncategorized, United States Embassies Abroad, Visa Lottery and Diversity Visas to the U.S.|

Published: September 24, 2014 The Green Card Lottery (DV-2016) As in years past, millions of people from all over world will submit entries to have a chance at one of 50,000 diversity immigrant visas and obtain “green card” status in the U.S. Excluded from eligibility are natives of Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and Vietnam. These specified, excluded countries are considered to be “high admission” nations, and Congress’ purpose in establishing the visa lottery program was to provide immigration […]

10 07, 2014

Healthcare Workers Seeking Green Cards: Make Sure Your Visa Screen Certifications and Licenses are Current!

By Richard Hanus|2014-07-10T12:06:46-05:00July 10th, 2014|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published: July 10, 2014 In recent months, the line allowing foreign nationals seeking residence in the U.S., by way of a job offer as a professional healthcare worker, has moved forward considerably. So whether they are in the U.S. or abroad, the intending immigrant should pay careful attention to the expiration date on their Visa Screen Certification and U.S. license (if applicable to their profession), since the final approval of their I-485 application for permanent residence (if in the U.S.) or application for immigrant visa (if applying at a U.S. consular post abroad) will depend on the submission of current documentation. […]

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