Tag: DOS

The US Department of State is launching a pilot program that will allow H1B visa holders to renew their visas in the US, eliminating the need to travel abroad for an in-person visa interview. The program will begin in January 2024 and is limited to 20,000 H1B visa holders. This is a positive change that […]

When applying for a visa or a green card, sometimes it can take longer than the processing times recommended by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Many people do not know that they can contact their congressional representative to speed up their visa processing time. Members of Congress usually have one or more staffers liaising […]

In the U.S., friends and family gather from all over to spend time together for Thanksgiving. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you are planning to travel over this holiday.  U.S. Citizens For U.S. citizens, Thanksgiving weekend might be the perfect opportunity to travel abroad. First, you should ensure that your […]

U.S. Consulates all over the world such as India, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and others have recently switched to a new visa appointment scheduling system. Previously, consulates used U.S. Traveldocs. Now, some are starting to use a new appointment scheduling system called U.S. Visa Scheduling.  Unfortunately, the change in platforms has caused some issues for […]

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced that a stateside renewal program is returning for H-1B visas after almost 20 years. The stateside visa renewal program will allow certain H-1B visa holders to renew their visas without having to leave the United States.  Overview of the Stateside Pilot Program The stateside visa renewal program […]

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 […]