Start your visa application early – If you need to obtain a visa at a post abroad, plan ahead. Most consulates are very busy during the summer and holidays, and appointments may not be available on short notice. Visit www.usembassy.gov and familiarize yourself with...
Immigration
New Priority Dates Could Mean Sooner Green Cards
New published priority dates for U.S. immigrant visas may mean waiting applicants from India and China may be able to obtain their permanent residence status sooner than previously expected. A priority date is determined by the application's filing date and...
ICE and FDLE New Partnership
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) are sharing a new fingerprint database to identify foreign nationals, documented or otherwise, taken into custody in Florida. Previously, fingerprints taken from...
United States v. Arizona
Citing violations of the Constitution's Supremacy Clause (which prohibits states from interfering with the federal government's authority to set national policy), the Department of Justice has filed suit to challenge the state of Arizona's immigration law, SB...
Travel Tips for Foreign Nationals
This month, we continue our series of travel tips with some advice dedicated to foreign nationals. For many foreign nationals living and working in the United States, the summer is a popular time to travel back to their native countries and renew their visa...
New Consular Fees for Immigrant Visas and Passports
Following an increase in consular fees for non-immigrant visa applications, the Department of State recently announced changes in fees for immigrant visa applications as well as passport services for U.S. citizens. As before, the new fees will help to cover the true...
Immigration Reform Update
Over the last few months, immigration reform has become a topic of serious debate across the United States. While immigration reform has been a hot button issue for some time, the passage of Arizona's immigration law, scheduled to go into effect July 29, has split...
President Obama on Immigration Reform
President Obama’s recent speech on immigration reform called for bipartisan cooperation in overhauling the current immigration system. He re-stated the need for comprehensive reform and outlined a plan including: Stronger border security, Stronger interior...