The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk.…
Blog Archives
Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTAs)
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA, Visa Waiver Program
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
The New Form I-9
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), which is effective immediately. Employers may continue to use the current Form I-9 through January 21, 2017, but after that…
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, Form I-9, USCIS
Posted in USCIS New Policies/Procedures
Posted in USCIS New Policies/Procedures
DHS Finalizes Rule to Increase Fees
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule that will increase immigration fees. The proposed rule was issued on May 4, 2016, and the final rule will go into effect on December 23, 2016 (60 days after publication). The fees…
DHS Expands the Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Today, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a rule that expands eligibility for provisional waivers of inadmissibility based on the accrual of unlawful presence. The provisional unlawful presence waiver (“provisional waiver”) process allows certain individuals who are present…
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, USCIS
Posted in Immigrant Visas, USCIS New Policies/Procedures
Posted in Immigrant Visas, USCIS New Policies/Procedures
Report Shows Better Oversight Needed for DHS Fee-Collecting Programs
Last week, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report after examining the way the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages the billions of dollars it collects from its various programs. In FY 2014, DHS received $15 billion…
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, GAO, U.S. Government Accountability Office
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
DHS Extends OPT Period to Improve Opportunities for F-1 Visa STEM Students
The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule in the Federal Register on March 11, 2016 that will allow certain international students to stay and work in the United States on their student visas as long as three years…
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, F-1 Visa, Optional Practical Training, STEM
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Posted in In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
DOS and DHS Announce Changes to the Visa Waiver Program
The Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint statement on January 21, 2016 on the implementation of certain changes under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The Visa Waiver Program…
Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Eligibility, New Regulations, Visa Waiver Program
Posted in In The News
Posted in In The News
DHS Announces Final Rule Improving Certain Programs for Highly Skilled Workers
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule that improves the programs for the H-1B1 (specialty occupations from Chile, Singapore), E-3 (specialty occupations from Australia) and CW-1 (CNMI-Only Transitional Worker) nonimmigrant classifications and the EB-1 (employment-based first…
Tagged with: Amended Regulations, CW-1, Department of Homeland Security, E-3, EB-1, H-1B1
Posted in Immigrant Visas, In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
Posted in Immigrant Visas, In The News, Nonimmigrant Visas
