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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the US originating from China (PRC), Hong Kong and Macau effective 0001 ET, January 5, 2023. more »
On August 23, 2017, the US will suspend nonimmigrant visa (NIV) operations in Russia. This is due to the personnel cap that Russia has imposed on US operations. Visa operations will resume in September 2017 on a greatly reduced scale. On September 1, 2017, the US will begin conducting nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interviews only at the US Embassy Moscow. The US has suspended NIV interviews at US Consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Vladivostok until further notice. more »
Travelers arriving at US land border ports of entry can speed up US entry with an online I-94 application. The online I-94 application process involves providing biographic and travel information and paying a $6 fee up to seven days prior to entry. more »
Nonimmigrant visa wait times to obtain interview appointments at US Consular Posts in India have become extraordinarily long–some more then 90 days, according to AILA. Given this situation and the likelihood that it will continue indefinitely, nonimmigrant visa applicants in India may wish to consider visa processing in a third country. more »
Congress placed new restrictions on access to the US Visa Waiver Program on December 18, 2015. Dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan may no longer use the Visa Wavier Program. Nor can individuals who have traveled to one of those countries since March 1, 2011 use the VWP.
Those in the above categories must obtain a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa at a US consulate before travel to the US. On February 18, 2016, DHS added Libya, Somalia, and Yemen to the list of “countries of concern.” Those who have traveled to Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 1, 2011, may no longer travel to the US on the VWP. However, VWP travel restrictions do not apply to dual nationals of Libya, Somalia or Yemen at this time.
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Effective May 26, 2015, USCIS will begin accepting applications for H-4 employment authorization (EAD) from certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B workers who are currently seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the US. more »
Beginning on November 12, 2014, the US and China will increase validity of short-term business and tourist visas (B-1 and B-2 visas). They will also increase validity terms for student and exchange visas (F, M, J visas).
DHS announced proposals for H4 spouse work authorization on May 6, 2014. On May 12, 2014, the DHS published two proposed rules. The first was extension of employment authorization to H4 spouses of certain H1B workers. The second was enhancing opportunities for highly-skilled workers by removing obstacles to their remaining in the US. more »
On February 28, 2014, DHS designated Chile into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Certain Chilean passport holders may enter the US without obtaining a US visa as of May 1, 2014. Requirements for participation include an approved ESTA. more »
Same-sex couples are now eligible for marriage-based green cards and dependent visas on the same basis as opposite-sex couples. On June 26, 2013, in United States v. Windsor, the US Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This prohibited the government from providing federal benefits to same-sex couples. Since US immigration law is federal (national), prior to Windsor, DOMA prevented same-sex couples from receiving marriage-based US immigration benefits. more »