On August 17, 2011, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum regarding B-2 Visa Status changes and extensions for cohabitating partners, including same-sex partners and same-sex spouses, and other nonimmigrant household members. more »

On May 13, 2011, USCIS launched I-9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to the most frequently accessed form on USCIS.gov, Form I-9, Employee Eligibility Verification. This free website provides one-click access to various resources, tips and guidance on the completion of Form I-9 and on the Form I-9 process. more »

On April 28, 2011, DHS announced removal of several countries from the Special Registration procedures under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, known as NSEERS.  more »

USCIS has proposed a new H-1B visa registration system for cap-subject H-1B visa petitions. The H-1B registration system will require H-1B employers to file a registration for each H-1B visa petition with USCIS. Only registered employers may file H-1B petitions. Employers may only file for  registered H-1B Visa Beneficiaries. USCIS will set aside a 2 week H-1B registration period in March of each fiscal year. They will provide public notice of that H-1B visa registration period well in advance. more »

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a self-checking version of their E-Verify Employment Verification System tool. DHS created the E-Verify Self Check (SORN DHS/USCIS—013 E-Verify Self Check System of Records) to assist US individuals in verifying legal US work authorization. more »

The questions and answers below contain a summary of the US Department of State Q and A on the removal of the HIV Travel Ban, i.e., the change in law made by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removing HIV infection from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance. The lifting of the HIV Travel Ban means that HIV+ individuals will no longer be inadmissible for admission to the United States solely based on their HIV status. more »

On January 04, 2010, the HIV Travel Ban prohibiting HIV positive individuals from visiting, working or living in the United States ended.

HIV+ positive individuals will no longer be inadmissible to the US solely based on HIV status. The US is therefore no longer on the list of a dozen countries (Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sudan) that deny or restrict entry based on HIV status.

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The new revised 2009 J-1 Skills List, effective June 28, 2009, removes several countries (see below) from the J-1 Skills List. This may significantly impact some who have held J-1 visas. more »

A proposed HHS-CDC Rule seeks to lift the HIV Travel Ban by removing HIV infection from the List of Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance. The Proposed Rule will be published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2009. It will eliminate HIV from the List of Communicable Diseases of Public Health Significance. In addition, it will remove the HIV testing requirement from required medical examinations. more »

In the next few days, we expect the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publish in the Federal Register a new proposed rule to eliminate the HIV Travel Ban, which currently places heavy restrictions on HIV positive persons who wish to enter and/or reside permanently in the US. Once the US lifts the HIV Travel Ban, HIV positive individuals will no longer be inadmissible. more »