USCIS Expands Acceptance of Credit Card Payments
On February 14, 2018, USCIS announced that it will accept credit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) for 41 additional forms, including the I-485
Read More »H-1B CAP: When to File as a Change of Status VS. Consular Processing
Foreign nationals with H-1B Cap petitions often have questions regarding travel while filing. While the answer may seem straightforward, it depends on the type of H petition
Read More »Albania Cooperates with European Union to Assist with Immigration Operations
This week Albania and the European Union (EU) police reached a draft agreement, allowing EU police to enter Albania to regulate and enforce immigration matters. The
Read More »New Australian Skilling Fund and Temporary Skill Shortage Visa to Replace Former System
Effective March 2018, the Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457 visa) will be abolished and replaced with the new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. Employers
Read More »Public Benefits for Immigrants May Become a Factor in Visa Adjudication
The Trump administration is drafting new regulations that would allow the government to expand its definition of “public charge.” The potential rule allows the
Read More »National Vetting Center Proposed
On February 6, 2018, President Trump signed a memorandum establishing a “National Vetting Center” aimed at increasing background checks performed of those seeking
Read More »Changes to Refugee Vetting Process.
On February 1, 2018, USCIS and the Department of State implemented new procedures that standardize all refugee vetting processes to ensure principals, accompanying family
Read More »Government Shutdown Ends; Countdown Begins Again with Immigration Push in the Senate
In last Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Trump urged Congress to turn the White House’s framework into a bill. President Trump emphasized the “Four
Read More »Thailand Targets the “S-Curve” with New Visa Program.
Effective February 1, Thailand’s SMART Visa now offers a four-year validity to highly-skilled foreign workers, executives, and investors in 10 targeted industries. The
Read More »UK Doubles Healthcare Fees for Foreign Nationals
The United Kingdom requires foreign nationals to pay for healthcare as a requirement for immigration applications. The government has announced a plan to double the upfront
Read More »China Extends Visa Validity for Foreign Nationals with Chinese Heritage
China has recently introduced a new 5-year visa program available to foreigners of Chinese ethnicity. The Ministry of Public Security announced that the visa allows
Read More »Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Extended for Syrians
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security announced January 31 that TPS would be extended for Syrians who entered the U.S. prior to August 1, 2016. This exempts almost
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