Tag: DOS

The Department of State (“DOS”) recently provided an update on its administrative processing progress, stating that it has made significant progress in processing visas more efficiently while maintaining national security measures. DOS has been successful in reducing the time required for “administrative processing,” which includes various additional steps needed before a consular officer can finalize […]

Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has updated when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating a noncitizen’s age in certain situations under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA).  For a “child” to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (also known as a green card) in […]

The Department of State (DOS) recently announced that it is extending its policy to waive in-person consular interviews for certain nonimmigrant applicants through December 31, 2023. Consular officers will have the authority to waive the interview requirement on a case-by-case basis for both first-time and renewing applicants. Individuals who hold the following nonimmigrant visa categories […]

The Department of State (DOS) has recently updated its Visa Appointment Wait Times page to include estimated wait times for nonimmigrant visa applications eligible for an interview waiver. After discussing concerns with members of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA), the DOS confirmed that it would review potential enhancements to provide more visibility to applicants. The additional fields […]

The Department of State (DOS) has determined that the fiscal year (FY) 2022 employment-based visa annual limit is 281,507, which is more than double the typical annual total. This increase is due to COVID-19. The pandemic caused a decrease in the issuance of family-based visas. Immigration law causes unused family-based visas to switch over to […]

On April 21st, President Biden announced a new program known as “Uniting for Ukraine” in order to create a more streamlined and efficient process for Ukrainian refugees seeking safety in the United States. The program kicks off today, Monday, April 25, 2022.  The program has a goal of welcoming as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees […]

A US federal judge has declared it unlawful for the State Department to use travel bans issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as a reason to stop processing visas for otherwise eligible travelers. Find our more here. Senior Associate Attorney Gabriella Agostinelli tells us what this means for your travel plans to the United […]

On October 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a group of non-citizens summary judgment in their suit against the U.S. Department of State (the “Department”), finding the Department acted improperly in suspending visa issuance pursuant to the Regional Ban Proclamations.  Background In response to the ongoing pandemic, both Former-President […]

On April 30, 2021, U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications as DOS works to reduce the backlog of such applications resulting from travel restrictions and operational constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tiered approach focuses on family reunification, prioritizing immediate relative […]

On March 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) shared a briefing with Consular Affairs Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Julie M. Stufft, regarding the status of immigrant visa processing at embassies and consulates around the world. This briefing was conducted in light of the recent recission of Presidential Proclamation 10014, which lifted […]