Proposed 2010 USCIS Fee Adjustments
(6/15/10)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has
proposed changing its processing fees and modifying the structure of
the fee regulations to pave the way for the eventual implementation
of electronic filing through its "Transformation" initiative. Public
comment will be due on or before July 26, 2010.
Read
more...
DOS Raises Visa Fee Effective June 4,
2010
(5/25/10)
The Department of State (DOS) will raise the Machine
Readable Visa (MRV) fee and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) fee,
effective June 4, 2010. The MRV fee for all nonimmigrant visa types
prior to June 4, 2010 was $131. The interim final rule implements,
for the first time, a tiered fee structure that distinguishes
between the fee charged for different kinds of nonimmigrant visas.
New MRV fee for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas: $150. New fee for E
visas: $ 390. New fee for K visas: $ 350. New MRV fee for all other
nonimmigrant visas: $ 140.
Read
more...
DHS to Eliminate I-94W for VWP Visitors by Summer
2010
(5/25/10)
In a May 20, 2010, press release, the Department of
Homeland Security announced that by the end of summer 2010 it plans
to eliminate the use of paper I-94W forms for Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
travelers who have an approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel
Authorization).
Read
more...
Review of Requirements to Carry Immigration Documents
and Report Address Changes
(5/18/10)
A NAFSA Practice Advisory reviews the requirements
that nonimmigrants must carry their Form I-94 and report address
changes. Although these requirements have been law for many years,
many individuals might not be aware of them, or may need to be
reminded of them.
Read
more...
Immigration Plan Would Give STEM Grad Students Green
Cards
(3/23/10)
If passed, a new bipartisan immigration reform plan
would give a boost to efforts by U.S. universities to recruit the
top science and graduate students from around the world. The plan
unveiled in an
op-ed in The Washington Post by Sen. Charles E. Schumer
(D-NY), , and Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) would give a green card
to those from outside the United States who receive a doctoral or
master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
Read
more...
Travel Warning Issued for Mexico
(3/16/10)
On Sunday, March 14, the Department of State issued a
Travel Warning for Mexico, due to an increase in violent attacks
by drug cartels. Of particular concern, is the U.S./Mexico border
region, including Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, Chihuahua City, Nogales,
Matamoros, Reynosa and Monterrey. Engage with colleagues on this
issue and access resources on NAFSA's Developing and Managing
Programs Abroad Professional Network.
Read more...
USCIS Implements Lockbox Filing For Several
Application Forms
(3/2/10)
Several key forms, including Form I-765, Form I-485,
Form I-102, and Form I-824 must now be initially filed with USCIS
lockboxes, instead of USCIS Service Centers. U.S. Immigration and
Citizenship Services (USCIS) states that this is "part of an overall
effort to transition the intake of some benefit forms from Service
Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities."
Read more...
USCIS Memo on Employer-Employee
Relationship in H-1B Petitions
(1/19/10)
USCIS stated in a recent field memo that "an employer
who seeks to sponsor a temporary worker in an H-1B specialty
occupation is required to establish a valid employer-employee
relationship."
Read
more...
H-1B Cap Reached for FY 2010
(1/5/10)
USCIS has announced that as of December 21, 2009, it
has received sufficient petitions to reach the statutory H-1B cap
for FY 2010. All cap-subject petitions received on December 21,
2009, itself will be subject to a "computer generated random
selection process" that will assign any remaining FY 2010 H-1B
numbers to petitions selected in that process. Those petitions
received on December 21, 2009, that are not selected in the random
selection process, and any petitions requesting a FY 2010 start date
that are received after December 21, 2009, will be returned to the
petitioner.
Read
more...
State Department Proposes Raising Machine Readable
Visa Fees
(12/15/09)
The Department of State (DOS) has proposed raising
the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee. The proposed fee structure
would for the first time distinguish between the MRV fee charged for
different kinds of nonimmigrant visas. Comments from the public are
due by February 12, 2010.
Read
more...
State Department Cable Advises on Worldwide
Implementation of DS-160
(12/15/09)
A Department of State (DOS) cable advises consular
posts of DOS's plans to implement worldwide the DS-160 nonimmigrant
visa electronic application by spring 2010. The DS-160 is an
electronic form that combines Forms DS-156, 157, and 158.
Read
more...
Tijuana Consulate Requires Online
DS-160 Visa Application Form
(11/17/09)
Starting November 9, 2009, individuals applying for a
nonimmigrant visa at the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana will be
required to submit the new online DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa
Electronic Application.
Read
more...
Drop
in F-1 Student Visas Issued in India
(10/27/09)
Fewer F-1 student visas were issued for the United
States in India in fiscal year 2009 than in fiscal year 2008,
according to a report in The Times of India.
Read
more...
State Department Issues H1N1 Travel
Alert Regarding China
(9/25/09)
On September 25, 2009, the U.S. Department of State
alerted U.S. citizens to the quarantine measures imposed by the
government of China in response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic that may
affect travel to China. This Travel Alert updates the July 9, 2009,
Travel Alert in order to advise U.S. citizens of the current
quarantine situation. This alert expires on December 30, 2009.
Read
more...
Embassy of France Announces Change in
Visa Policy at All U.S. Consulates
(9/22/09)
The Embassy of France has announced that biometrics
will be mandatory for all student visas for France beginning this
fall. This will impact visa processing at the Washington, DC,
consulate and will be implemented at all French consulates in the
United States. For details on these changes and the new immigration
registration requirements in France, visit NAFSA's France visa Web
page at
www.nafsa.org/FranceVisas.
Online Student Employment Eligibility Database
Now Online (8/24/09)
Supervisors looking for student workers now have a new tool at their
disposal: the Student Employment Eligibility Database (SEED). Now
available online via the college's Intranet, SEED allows students to
complete applications online and supervisors to conduct searches
based on applicants' availability, experience, academic background
and funding source. All applicants will be screened and interviewed
by Career Services before being placed in the database. For more
information, contact Yasser Issa at Ext. 3438 or
yasser.issa@canyons.edu.
Volunteers Needed for Science, Engineering
Education (8/24/09)
Continually exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the
academic experience associated with the college's science and
engineering programs, the College of the Canyons Mathematics,
Sciences and Engineering Technologies (MSET) division is looking to
establish partnerships with individuals interested in advancing
technology-based education in the Santa Clarita Valley. The MSET
division has launched the Volunteers in Partnership (VIP) program to
establish a series of collaborative partnerships with volunteers
interested in opportunities to share their knowledge and expertise
in an academic setting. Prospective volunteers are encouraged to
contact Dr. Ram Manvi at
ram.manvi@canyons.edu or Ext. 3135. For information,
please visit
http://www.canyons.edu/Divisions/MathSci.
More:
http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/nr081309voluntee.html
College Introduces New Program to Improve Student
Success
(8/24/09)
College
of the Canyons will introduce a new program this fall for students
who need additional academic support and skills to help them succeed
in the college classroom. Sponsored by the Skills for Success
initiative, the program will offer instructor-led one-hour workshops
on a variety of topics from fractions to essay writing. All
workshops and activities are free. For more information, visit
http://www.canyons.edu/offices/CTE/collegesuccess/studentresources.asp.
More:
http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/PIO/nr082009success.html
USCIS Guidance on Case Status Inquiries with Service
Centers
(8/11/09)
On August 6, 2009, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
posted guidance on making inquiries about case-related issues
arising out of cases filed at Service Centers. The three-step
process involves a succession of contacts with the National Customer
Service Center (NCSC), the Service-Center itself, and ultimately
with USCIS headquarters. A timeline and contact information are
included in the guidance.
Read
more...
DHS Pilots US-VISIT Departure Processes at Detroit
and Atlanta Airports
(6/9/2009)
The Department of Homeland Security began a pilot program on May 28,
2009, at the Detroit and Atlanta airports to test collection of
fingerprints and biographic information by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) at the departure gate, and by the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) at the security checkpoint.
Read more...
SEVP Limits I-901 Credit Card Payments for Some
Countries
(6/9/2009)
Due to the prevalence of fraudulent I-901 fee charge-back practices
in certain countries, SEVP is currently unable to accept credit card
payments made on behalf of students or exchange visitors from Ghana,
Nigeria, Cameroon, and Kenya. If a student or exchange visitor is
from one of these countries, the I-901 fee must be paid by cashier's
check, money order, or Western Union transfer.
Read more...
State Department Announces Visa Improvements for
Students, Scholars in Sciences
(6/9/2009)
At NAFSA's annual conference in Los Angeles, the State Department
announced important changes to the visa clearance process to relieve
lengthy delays experienced earlier this year by international
students, scholars, and researchers studying in the sciences. The
State Department announced that it has added resources and revised
procedures to help reduce processing times for routine applications
from students and scholars requiring a Visas Mantis clearance to two
weeks. NAFSAns should see the results of these changes quite soon,
and the State Department expects these processing changes to be
permanent.
Read more...
Visa Waiver Program Developments
(1/13/2009)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has undergone some important changes,
including the addition of new countries to the program and the
requirement for VWP passengers to obtain pretravel authorization
through an electronic screening system called the Electronic System
for Travel Authorization (ESTA) starting January 12, 2009.
Read more...
I-901 Fee Payment System is Not Issuing
Confirmations
(1/6/2009)
SEVP announced that the online fee payment system for potential F,
M, or J nonimmigrants who must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee is not
appropriately issuing a confirmation after payment is made. SEVP
advises that if the confirmation page does not appear within two
minutes, the individual should not resubmit the payment, but should
instead request a confirmation by e-mailing
fmjfee.sevis@dhs.gov.
Read more...
Use of Online DS-160 Visa Increasingly Required
(11/25/2008)
Some U.S. consulates abroad are now requiring visa applicants to use
the online DS-160 form. The consulates in Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey,
Montreal, and Vancouver now require the DS-160 online form for all
Non-Immigrant Visas, and the consulate in Hong Kong requires for
petition-based applicants (H, L, O, P, and Q visas). Visa applicants
should confirm a consulate's policy on the consulate's Web site.
Screenshots and description of the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Electronic
Visa Application are available on the NAFSA Web site.
Read more...
Guidance on Unemployment During OPT
(11/18/2008)
While the current SEVP Policy Guidance and SEVIS functionality do
not fully address what happens if a student on postcompletion OPT
accrues more than the allotted number of days of unemployment, SEVP
has provided some guidance to clarify the role of DHS and DSOs.
Read more...
New Countries and Mandatory ESTA Registration for
Visa Waiver Program
(11/18/2008)
The following
new countries were added to the visa waiver program (VWP)
effective Nov. 17, 2008: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Korea, and the Slovak Republic.
As of January 12, 2009, all VWP air and sea travelers will also be
required to register online and obtain a travel authorization before
they begin travel to the United States under the electronic
prescreening system called ESTA (Electronic System for Travel
Authorization).
Read more...
USCIS Responds to 2008 USCIS Ombud
Report
USCIS responds to recommendations made in the USCIS Ombudsman
Annual Report 2008, highlighting actions taken by the agency to
achieve some of the Ombud recommendations. These include
adjudication of certain applications when the FBI name check has
been pending for more than 180 days, providing an EAD with a
validity period of two years for certain applicants, planning for
transformation, and improving customer service.
Read more...
More Countries to be Added to Visa
Waiver Program
On October 17, President Bush announced that seven additional
countries will be added to the Visa Waiver Program. A number of
other countries are currently working toward meeting the
requirements to be admitted to the program as part of the "visa
waiver road map."
Read more...
USCIS Guidance on EAD Delays Over 90
Days
The USCIS Ombudsman's office has been working with USCIS to
alleviate issues stemming from Employment Authorization Documents
(EAD) processing times over 90 days. On October 1, 2008, USCIS
headquarters advised the USCIS Ombudsman's office that it will
immediately (1) audit its caseload to determine which cases have
been pending for more than 70 days, (2) process service requests at
75 days rather than 90 days, and (3) adjudicate EADs that are
outside normal processing times within four hours for customers that
appear at local offices.
Read more...
Visa Processing Delays in Pakistan
Recent events, including the bombing of the Marriott hotel in
Islamabad, are impacting visa processing for Pakistani students
who'd planned to attend universities in the United States and the
United Kingdom, reports the Daily Times of Pakistan.
Read more...
Department of Labor Updates Now Online
Read the summary of the latest Quarterly Stakeholders Meeting
with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor
Certification for updates on PERM and LCA processing times, changes
to the ETA-9089 and ETA-9035 forms and instructions, and plans to
integrate the LCA and PERM online systems. Please submit your
questions or trends for follow up with DOL during biweekly
submissions or the next Stakeholders' Meeting to
IssueNet: Report an Issue.
ICE Publishes SEVIS Fee/Recert Final
Rule; Provides Recertification Guidance
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published the final
SEVIS fee/recertification rule September 26, 2008, and the rule is
effective October 27, 2008. Changes include: fee hikes of SEVIS
I-901, initial certification, and site visit fees; rules for
recertification of F and M schools; and new I-17 and maintenance of
school certification rules. On September 25, SEVP sent a broadcast
message to SEVIS users with additional information about the
recertification process, including timelines.
Read more...
Chemical Engineering is Back on STEM
Designated Degree List
After inadvertently omitting Chemical Engineering from the previous
STEM Designated Degree List, SEVP has again included CIP code
14.0701 for Chemical Engineering in the updated
STEM Designated Degree List. In a broadcast message to SEVIS
users on September 25, 2008, SEVP outlined steps that can be taken
if an application for STEM OPT extension was
denied by USCIS due to the inadvertent omission of Chemical
Engineering (code 14.0701) from the previous DHS STEM Designated
Degree List.
Read more...
Non-citizen
scholarships
http://www.maldef.org/pdf/Scholarships.pdf
Canada
Announces New Immigration Category that Could Benefit Foreign
Students
Canada, in an effort to attract and retain foreign students, has
recently made changes to its immigration policies. A new immigration
category would offer a new opportunity for foreign graduates of
Canadian universities to establish permanent residency.
Read more...
U.S. Embassy in Iraq Now Accepts
Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Applications
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad reports that on August 5 it began
accepting applications for F student and J exchange visitor visas.
Prior to this, Iraqi applicants had to seek a visa at a U.S.
consulate elsewhere in the world. The Web site advises, however,
that "these visa applications require administrative processing that
is performed in Washington, DC," and asks that "applications be
submitted at least 90 days prior to the estimated date of departure
in order to complete administrative processing," noting that
administrative processing can take even longer than 90 days,
especially during the summer travel season.
Read more...
Resources on Interest-Free Student Loan
Applications accepted year-round. The Rowe Fund is the
student loan program of the Organization of American States. It
awards interest-free loans to qualified persons from Latin American
and Caribbean countries to help finance graduate, postgraduate, and
the final two years of undergraduate studies at accredited
universities within the United States.
Read more...
SEVP Policy Guidance: Updates to
Post-Completion Optional Practical Training
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a 30-page
policy guidance for DSOs regarding the April 8, 2008, interim final
rule on optional practical training.
Read more...
US-VISIT to Collect Biometrics at
Air/Sea Ports Upon Exit
On April 24, 2008, DHS published a proposed rule to establish an
exit program at all air and sea ports of departure. The proposed
rule would require most aliens to provide biometric information to
commercial air and vessel carriers before departing from the United
States.
Read more...
DHS Proposes Rule on SEVIS Fees and
Recertification
On April 11, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted
an advance copy of a proposed rule with an effective date of October
1, 2008 that would raise the SEVIS I-901 fee for F-1, M-1, and most
J-1 nonimmigrants, as well as the fee for initial SEVIS school
certification for F/M schools. The rule also specifies basic
requirements for recertification and amends school reporting and
recordkeeping requirements. DHS has indicated that the rule will be
published in the Federal Register sometime this week. Stay tuned to
www.nafsa.org/sevisfeerule
for updates.
Read more...
OPT Rule to Become Effective April 8,
2008
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an interim final
rule today, April 8, 2008, regarding OPT. The rule is effective
immediately, although DHS has allowed 60 days for public comment due
by June 7, 2008. The rule contains provisions regarding a 29-month
extension for STEM graduates, a "cap gap" provision to extend status
and employment authorization for F-1 students with pending H-1B
petitions, an extended filing window for I-765 for OPT applications,
limited periods of unemployment while on OPT, and additional
reporting requirements. Additional information is available on the
Web at
www.nafsa.org/OPT29.
Read more...
Update on Optional Practical Training
(OPT) Data Validation Project
Following comments from NAFSA leaders and staff, Student and
Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has delayed the project deadline to
June 15, 2008, limited the project to students whose OPT duration
extends past June 30, 2008, and simplified the process for
completing the project. Last week, SEVP began sending instructions
to schools with any students on OPT last week and plans to finish by
April 14, 2008. On March 31, 2008, SEVP also responded to questions
related to the spreadsheets with student information.
Read more...
Updates on OPT Data Validation Project
On March 13, 2008, SEVP officials met with NAFSA Regulatory
Ombudspersons, the chair of NAFSA's SEVIS Subcommittee, and NAFSA
staff during the annual Regulatory Ombudsperson training in
Washington, D.C. SEVP provided more information regarding the
proposed project and is considering some of the concerns of NAFSAns.
Read more...
Practice Advisory on New I-539 Form
USCIS has updated Form I-539 (Rev. 12/31/2007). New features include
a new checkbox for "Reinstatement to student status," a stronger
statement on providing information on prior participation as a J-1
or J-2 nonimmigrant, greatly expanded applicant background
questions, and language competency statements.
Read more...
Fines for I-9 Violations To Be Raised
March 27, 2008
A Department of Homeland Security rule will raise by approximately
25 percent the fines levied on employers who violate IRCA's employer
sanctions. The new fines will become effective March 27, 2008.
Read more...
DHS Publishes Final Rule To Implement
REAL ID
(2/5/08)
A DHS final rule effective March 31, 2008 establishes minimum
standards under the REAL ID Act for state-issued driver's licenses
and identification cards that federal agencies would accept for
entering federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial
aircraft, or entering nuclear power plants on or after May 11, 2008.
The final rule continues to present serious obstacles to many
nonimmigrants who will seek to obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or
ID, including limited duration and requirements for specific
documents establishing identity and lawful presence.
Read more...
Nonimmigrant Visa Fee to Increase
Jan. 1, 2008
(1/2/08)
The Department of State (DOS) announced that effective January 1,
2008, the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee charged to nonimmigrant
visa applicants will increase from $100 to $131.
Read more...
New Employment Start Date Restrictions
on F-1 and M-1 SSN Applications
(12/12/07)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) published new guidance on
evidence requirements for F-1 and M-1 students applying for a Social
Security Number.
Read more...
Alert: New
December Date for UK Biometrics Requirement
(11/28/07)
In a change from last week's announcement, all applications for UK
visas needing prior entry clearance, including student visas,
submitted on or after December 3, 2007 will require
'biometric' information as part of the visa application process.
Visa applications will not be processed until the applicant has
provided the necessary biometric information.
Since the online visa application,
including the prompt to submit biometric information, is expected to
go live on Monday, December 3, 2007, NAFSA recommends that students
requiring a visa for the spring semester apply online, or ensure
that paper applications are received, on or before this Friday,
November 30, 2007.
The required biometric information consists of digital scans of all
10 fingers and a full-face digital photograph. Applicants will be
required to submit biometric information at one of 129 Application
Support Centers (ASC) located across the United States. While the
actual process will take no more than 10 minutes to complete,
students will need to plan accordingly for travel to the ASC.
The UK government has contracted with the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) to collect biometric information at USCIS
Application Support Centers (ASC). To find the closest ASC by zip
code or state, see the
USCIS Service and Office Locator.
If a visa application is submitted online, the applicant will be
automatically directed to another Web site to make a biometrics
appointment. All applicants must make appointments through the
UKVisas online appointment booking system. The applicant should
not contact USCIS directly to make a biometrics appointment. If you
are not automatically redirected to the online appointment booking
system, or if you have submitted a paper application, the online
appointment booking system will be available on the
UKVisas online system
from December 1, 2007.
For more information and links, see
UK Student Visa Requires New Form & Biometrics.
OS Posts DV-2009 Greencard Lottery
Instructions
(10/2/07)
DOS will accept online entries for the 2009 Diversity Visa Greencard
Lottery (DV-2009) from Noon EDT on October 3, 2007 until Noon EST on
December 2, 2007.
read more...
July
2007 Effective Date Reminders
(7/23/07)
A reminder of four important July 2007 effective dates:
1)
New USCIS filing fees go into effect July 30;
2)
New J trainee and intern regulations go into effect July 19;
3)
New Department of Labor rules on labor certification validity
and payment of employer attorney fees went into effect July 16;
4)
New Direct Filing addresses for Forms I-485, I-131, I-140,
I-765, and I-907 go into effect July 30.
USCIS Fee Hikes Effective July 30, 2007
(6/12/07)
The filing fees of many USCIS applications and petitions will be
substantially raised effective July 30, 2007.
Read more...
DOS Discontinues "Application Received"
Stamp
(5/9/07)
DOS says modern technology makes the old stamp signaling visa
refusal obsolete. Read more...