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Hot Topics
 Drop
in F-1 Student Visas Issued in India
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
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...
New Direct Filing Rules for Forms I-129 and
I-539
Beginning April 2, 2007, Forms I-129 and I-539 must be filed
according to new bispecialization filing rules for those forms.
Read NAFSA's advisory...
UK Cuts Fees for International Student
Visas
The United Kingdom has reduced the visa fees it charges to
international students.
Read more...
DHS Launches Traveler Redress Inquiry
Program
(2/27/07)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched its new Traveler
Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) . DHS TRIP can be used by
individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties
they experienced during their U.S. entry or exit.
Resources on Interest-Free Student Loans
(2/6/07)
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...
Passports Required for U.S., Canadian,
Mexican, and Bermudan Air Travelers Starting January
(12/5/06)
The U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection published a final rule to implement Phase One of the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). The rule, effective January 23,
2007, will require valid passports of all U.S. citizens as well as all
nonimmigrant aliens with citizenship in Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico,
departing from or entering the United States from within the Western
Hemisphere at air ports-of-entry. A separate, future rulemaking will
address land and sea travelers.
Read the rule...
DOS Announces 2008 DV Lottery Rules
(9/26/06)
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that applications for the
2008 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will be accepted between 12 p.m.
(E.D.T.) Wednesday, October 4, 2006 and 12 p.m. (E.S.T.) Sunday,
December 3, 2006. Applicants must submit their DV entry form online.
Read the DOS announcement...
Homeland Security Department Unveils IMAGE
Program
(8/1/06)
DHS has announced its new IMAGE program (ICE Mutual Agreement
between Government and Employers), which is designed to help employers
build a legal workforce through voluntary partnerships with the
government and the implementation of best hiring practices to reduce
instances of unlawful employment.
Read more...
DOS Issues Final Rule on Review of Visa
Issuances and Denials
(7/31/06)
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a final rule that requires all
visa issuances to be reviewed by a consular supervisor, while reducing
the instances in which visa refusals are automatically reviewed.
Currently, visa issuances are only reviewed on a “spot-check” basis.
This rule will require all visa issuances to be reviewed “on the day of
issuance or as soon as is administratively possible,” effective June 30,
2006.
Read the DOS rule...
Local USCIS Offices To Stop Processing and
Producing EADs (7/31/06)
USCIS announced that it is discontinuing local production of Form
I-688B Employment Authorization Card (EAC) in favor of Form I-765
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) produced at one central location
using national systems.
Read more...
Experts advise vaccination checks as mumps outbreak spreads
(5/16/06)
Parents are being advised to verify that their children have received
two MMR vaccinations, and adults should consider getting them now if
they haven't, as an outbreak of mumps that started in the Midwest
spreads east. The outbreak of 2,869 cases so far is said to be the worst
in 20 years and is expected to continue spreading.
Read more...
COC SNAC Club
(5/16/06)
Hi Everyone,
Do you know of any students who are interested in a career in
health/nutrition/fitness/wellness? If so, then SNAC is a GREAT
club for students to get experience in planning/implementing health &
wellness programs for the campus and SCV community!
Read more...
Temporary Position in the ISP Application Deadline (5/16/06)
We would like to inform you that the
deadline to apply for the temporary summer position at the ISP office
(see below) is this Wednesday, May 17.
Please come to the ISP office and fill
out an application if you are interested.
Temporary Position in the ISP office Summer 2006 (5/8/06)
We are looking to hire one of our ISP students in the ISP office during
July and August, 2006. Please come to our office for an
application if you are a student in our program and interested in this
part-time work and feel you have appropriate English language skills to
answer phones, give directions to persons who walk into our office, etc.
Compensation and hours will be discussed with those who have been called
for an interview. Please come to the ISP office and fill out an
application if you are interested.
NEW – AUTOMATED WAITLIST
Move from the waitlist into the class before the term begins!
(5/8/06)
This summer we are showcasing a new registration feature
that we think students will love. It is called an automated
waitlist and it means even though a class you are interested in may have
no seats when you first attempt to register, if you put yourself on the
waitlist, we will enroll you in the class as seats become available.
Read more...
Measures Taken to Address U.S. Visa Appointment Backlog in France
The U.S. Embassy in Paris has announced that due to increased demand,
French citizens who need a visa now face at least a nine-week wait to
obtain a visa interview appointment. To address this, the Paris embassy
has reorganized its resources to process more visas, and the U.S.
embassies in Berlin, Bern, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, and Madrid have
agreed to accept visa applications from French citizens.
DOS Extends Initial F and M Visa Filing Window to 120 Days
A February 9, 2006 U.S. Department of State (DOS) cable instructs
consular posts that persons applying for initial-entry F-1, F-2, M-1,
and M-2 visas may now be issued these visas up to 120 days before the
program start date as listed on their Form I-20. The prior policy was to
issue these visas no more than 90 days prior to the F or M program start
date.
Read the cable...
Cable Discusses Validity of F/M Visas after Break in Study
A recent U.S. Department of State (DOS) cable discusses whether F/M
visas continue to be valid after a break in studies longer than five
months.
Read more...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Raises Filing Fees
USCIS announced it will increase fees for immigration benefit
applications and petitions. The fee increases (approximately $10) apply
to forms filed on or after October 26, 2005. This Federal Register
notice was issued September 26, 2005.
Read the notice...
Diversity Visa Lottery to Begin October 5
The Department of State's 2007 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will begin at
noon on October 5, 2005. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program
must register online at
www.dvlottery.state.gov. The site will be available noon October 5,
2005 through noon December 4, 2005.
Read more...
DOS Extends Visa Validity for Chinese Students, Exchange Visitors
The Department of State has announced it will extend visa validity for
Chinese students, exchange visitors, and vocational students (F, J and M
visas).
Read more...
Machine-Readable Passport Exemption Nears End
As of June 26, the Department of
Homeland Security will stop granting exemptions to Visa Waiver Program
travelers that do not have machine-readable passports.
Read more...
Funding for Asian Students With Summer
Internships Deadline April 15
The Institute of International Education (IIE), a NAFSA Global Partner,
is accepting applications for Freeman ASSIST, which funds students from
East and Southeast Asia in the United States who have secured
internships with U.S. nonprofits for summer 2005.
Read more...
VWP Travelers Subject to
US-VISIT, New Passport Requirements
Visa Waiver Program (VWP)
travelers became subject to the US-VISIT program's entry and exit
procedures as of September 30. In addition, beginning October 26, VWP
travelers from all 27 VWP countries will have to present
machine-readable passports (MRPs) to be admitted under the VWP. The MRP
requirement applies only to travelers from VWP countries who wish to
enter the United States visa-free as business or tourist visitors under
the VWP; it does not apply to travelers that enter the United States on
the basis of a nonimmigrant visa. For information on both changes,
access:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_novisa_waiver.html.
Wait Times for Visa
Interviews Now Available Online
DOS is now publishing on
its Web site the average wait times for nonimmigrant visa interviews and
for the processing of nonimmigrant visa applications. The wait times are
listed by post. To access the wait-time site, go to:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php.
New USCIS Photo
Specifications
On August 2, the Department
of Homeland Security's (DHS) Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) announced that, after September 1, applications
requiring photos filed must include the new-style full-face photo. To
read the practice advisory, access:
http://www.nafsa.org/practice.
DOS Announces Change in
Visa Validity for Chinese Tourist, Business Travelers
DOS announced that
beginning January 15, eligible Chinese nationals who wish to visit the
United States temporarily for business or tourism will be issued visas
that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. In turn, U.S.
citizens visiting China temporarily for business or tourism are also
eligible for visas valid for 12 months and multiple entries. The
previous maximum validity for U.S. visas issued for these purposes was
six months and for multiple entries. DOS reports that it is continuing
to negotiate with China to increase visa validity for Chinese and U.S.
students. To view the DOS press release, access:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/40818.htm.
NAFSA Practice Advisory
Discusses New OPT Travel Restriction
New DHS interpretations of
travel while on postcompletion OPT, discusses the Student and Exchange
Visitor Program (SEVP) office's recent operating instruction that states
a student traveling with a post-completion OPT EAD card must have a job
or job offer to be readmitted to the United States after a temporary
absence abroad. To view the advisory, access:
http://www.nafsa.org/practice.
[PDF file]
Posted: January 26, 2005
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