HIGHLIGHTS
- Trump Administration Appeals Travel Ban Case to the Supreme Court
- New US Visa Application Supplement Released
- New I-94 Expiration Alerts
- Ireland Eases Requirements for Unmarried Partners
- Russia – Address Registration Requirements Tightened for Confederations Cup
Trump Administration Appeals Travel Ban Case to the Supreme Court
On Thursday night, the Trump administration petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse rulings by courts in Hawaii and Maryland that are currently blocking the President’s revised Executive Order, commonly known as the “travel ban”. The Supreme Court will now review the request and decide whether the lower court rulings will stand, whether the block will be removed, and whether the travel ban will be allowed to take force. The Trump Administration has requested the justices make a decision before the Court goes on summer vacation.
If the Supreme Court does nothing, the lower court rulings blocking the travel ban will remain in force as the various legal cases work their way through the courts.
EIG will continue to closely monitor the situation and will provide updates as information becomes available.
New US Visa Application Supplement Released
In its effort to carry through the “extreme vetting” program, which was at the center of President Trump’s campaign, the Department of State (DOS) released this week a supplemental questionnaire that will be required for certain applicants who present a “threat profile”. Officials estimate that only .5% of U.S. visa applicants will be required to complete this supplement.
This new questionnaire solicits details on applicants’ biographic information including details of social media profiles going back as far as 5 years, as well as addresses, employment, and travel history for the prior 15 years.
The official estimated time burden of completing this form is 60 minutes. However, individuals used to providing the normal 5 years of address and employment history may require additional time to gather the extensive details required for this form.
As further information is published on the use and impact of this new questionnaire, EIG attorneys will be sure to provide you with an update and advise our clients appropriately.
New I-94 Expiration Alerts
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has recently implemented a new procedure which will remind travelers of the latest date they can remain in the United States without violating the terms of their admission. These alerts will be sent out via e-mail or can be accessed on the I-94 website. As of now, only Visa Waiver Program travelers can access this information, but these alerts will soon expand to additional nonimmigrant travelers. Eligible travelers would need to provide their name, birth date, passport number and passport country of issuance on the I-94 website to check their last possible departure date.
Ireland Eases Requirements for Unmarried Partners
Unmarried partners of Irish nationals and residents will now be able to obtain status in Ireland after only one year of cohabitation. This is a decrease from the prior two-year cohabitation requirement. A non-EEA national who is the unmarried partner of an Irish national or Irish resident is now required to show evidence of genuine long term relationship and cohabitation with the sponsoring partner for one year immediately prior to the date of application, with exceptions for humanitarian considerations. For detailed information regarding De Facto Partner requirements, see the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service’s “De Facto Relationships with an Irish National or Irish Resident – Guidelines for applicants”.
Russia – Address Registration Requirements Tightened for Confederations Cup
From now until July 12, 2017, during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, foreign nationals arriving in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, and Kazan must register their place of stay within 24 hours of arrival.
A similar measure will be in effect during the 2018 World Cup next year, which will also be hosted in Russia. During the World Cup, foreign nationals arriving in Moscow, Kazan, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, and Saransk will be required to register their place of stay within 24 hours of arrival.
Possible penalties for failing to comply with the address registration requirement include fines of up to 7000 rubles (approximately US$125) and removal from Russia.