Posts Categorized: Non-Immigrant Visas

03
October 2017

Premium Processing Now Available for All Petitioners Seeking H-1B Visas

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa extension of stay petitions. Premium processing is now available for all types of H-1B petitions.

H-1B visas provide skilled workers for a wide range of specialty occupations, including information technology, engineering, and mathematics. When a petitioner requests the agency’s premium processing service, USCIS guarantees a 15-calendar day processing time. If that time is not met, the agency will refund the petitioner’s premium processing service fee and continue with expedited processing of the application.

In addition to today’s resumption of premium processing for H-1B visa extension of stay petitions, USCIS had previously resumed premium processing for H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap, petitions filed on behalf of physicians under the Conrad 30 waiver program, as well as interested government agency waivers and certain H-1B petitions that are not subject to the cap.

For more information on how the H-1B visa program is being used, visit the Buy American, Hire American: Putting American Workers First page. This page provides data and information about the hiring practices of employers who use H-1B visas to hire foreign workers.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov.

We serve the following localities: San Diego County including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Escondido; Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Whittier, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach; Santa Clara County including San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; Alameda County including Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley; Sacramento County including Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom; and Orange County including Santa Ana and Anaheim.

 

02
October 2017

New USCIS Form Streamlines Process to Obtain a Work Authorization Document and Social Security Number Simultaneously

WASHINGTON – Based on a new information-sharing partnership between U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), foreign nationals in certain categories or classifications can now apply for work authorization and a social security number using a single form – the updated Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

To lawfully work in the United States, foreign workers in some categories and classifications need both an employment authorization document (EAD) from USCIS, and a Social Security number (SSN) from the SSA. Previously, applicants needed to submit a Form I-765 to USCIS for an EAD, and then submit additional paperwork in-person at their local Social Security office to obtain an SSN.

The revised USCIS form includes additional questions that allow applicants to apply for an SSN or replacement card without visiting a Social Security office. Starting today, USCIS will transmit the additional data collected on the form to the SSA for processing. Moving forward, applicants who receive their approved EADs from USCIS should receive their Social Security card from SSA within the following two weeks.

EADs serve as documentation to show employers that an individual is authorized to work in the U.S. for a specific time period. SSNs are used to report wages to the government, and to determine an individual’s eligibility for certain benefits. USCIS encourages all U.S. employers to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires through E-Verify.

For additional information on applying for employment authorization, visit USCIS’ EAD page or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center.

For more information on applying for a Social Security card, see this fact sheet.

For more information about USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov.

We serve the following localities: San Diego County including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Escondido; Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Whittier, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach; Santa Clara County including San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; Alameda County including Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley; Sacramento County including Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom; and Orange County including Santa Ana and Anaheim.

 

26
January 2017

Oh, Boy! Is this what Trump is planning? Limiting legal immigration: “Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs”

Limiting legal immigration: “Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs”

On Tuesday, Vox was given six documents that purported to be draft executive orders under consideration by the Trump administration. The source noted that “all of these documents are still going through formal review” in the Executive Office of the President and “have not yet been cleared by the [the Department of Justice or the Office of Legal Counsel].”

Read the draft order here, https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7872567/Protecting_American_Jobs_and_Workers_by_Strengthening_the_Integrity_of_Foreign_Worker_Visa_Programs.0.pdf.

A sweeping proposed order would, essentially, reduce the scope of legal immigration to the United States. It also begins to lay the administrative and policy groundwork for further legislation altering the scope of legal immigration into one that, in the words of the cover memo, “prioritizes the interests of American workers.

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One provision would reverse Obama’s extension of the duration of Optional Practical Training work visas and decision to allow the spouses of H1 guest workers to also have work permits. Another provision would undo relief Obama has granted to people eligible for green cards but unable to apply for them due to what’s known as the “three- and ten-year bars.”

Another provision calls on the Department of Homeland Security to begin “site visits” at places that employ guest workers with L-1 visas and then to expand the site-visit program to cover all employment-based visa programs within two years.

It calls on the Secretary of Labor to commission a report investigating “the extent of any injury to US workers” caused by the employment of foreign workers, on DHS to report regularly on the number of foreigners working in the United States, and to “immediately restart work on regular benefit fraud assessments for all immigration benefits categories.

27
August 2016

How to Submit I-94 Correction Requests by Email

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deferred Inspection sites will correct errors recorded by CBP officers on arrival documents issued at the time of entry to the U.S., such as an improper nonimmigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information, or an incorrect period of admission. See https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/deferred-inspection-sites#)

Generally, corrections must be requested by the individual appearing in-person at a local Deferred Inspection office. However, if you entered the U.S. through certain designated ports of entry/Deferred Inspection sites, or are currently located within the area served by a designated site, it may be possible to bypass the in-person appearance and obtain corrected documents via email.

The following is a sample list of documents and information that may be requested:

 Details regarding your most recent entry: date of admission, class of admission, and port of entry;

 I-94 record showing most recent admission;

 Copy of the applicant’s passport biographical page;

 Copy of the applicant’s visa stamp AND admission/entry stamp for last admission into the U.S.;

 Form I-797 / Notice of Approval or Receipt from USCIS; and/or

 Form G-28 signed by the applicant/beneficiary.

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24
August 2016

H-1B and L-1 Site Visits-The Basics

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began its Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (ASVVP) in 2009. Under the program, site visits are conducted by the Fraud Detection and National Security directorate (FDNS) of USCIS. FDNS conducts site visits for religious worker petitions, H-1B petitions, and since 2014, L-1 petitions. (Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (updated 10/30/14), USCIS, https://www.uscis.gov/aboutus/directorates-and-program-offices/fraud-detection-and-national-security/administrative-site-visit-and-verificationprogram.)

An employer that signs Form I-129 agrees that “any supporting evidence submitted may be verified by USCIS through any means determined appropriate by USCIS, including but not limited to, on-site compliance reviews.” FDNS site visits are voluntary, but it is strongly recommended that employers cooperate should one occur. Employers should also be advised to contact their immigration attorney immediately should an FDNS investigation take place. Though most site visits are unannounced and FDNS will not reschedule a visit to accommodate counsel, counsel is permitted to be present if logistically possible and might be permitted to participate via telephone.

Common Red Flags for FDNS Site Investigators:

 

• The beneficiary’s salary in pay statements does not match the amount stated in the petition.

• Reported income on the beneficiary’s Form1040 does not match the beneficiary’s salary, or the beneficiary reports as “self-employed.”

• The address of the beneficiary’s work location in the petition is not an actual work site.

• Virtual offices or empty offices without equipment are listed as the beneficiary’s place of employment.

• The beneficiary lacks a work email or work phone number.

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21
July 2016

Who qualifies for the E3 visa?

The E-3 visa classification applies only to nationals of Australia as well as their spouses and children. E-3 principal applicants must be going to the United States solely to work in a specialty occupation. The spouse and children need not be Australian citizens. However the U.S. does not recognize De Facto relationships for the purposes of immigration, and to qualify as a spouse you will need a marriage certificate.

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In addition to the Electronic Visa Application Form DS-160, completed online (https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ ) you may need to provide the following documentary evidence with your application for an E-3 Visa:

  • An approved Labor Condition Application (LCA), which the U.S. employer obtains from the Department of Labor. You are advised not to book an interview appointment until you have received this form.
  • Evidence of academic or other qualifying credentials as required under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 214(i)(1), and a job offer letter from the employer.
  • If your degree and higher-level qualifications are from an Australian institution, you do not usually need to provide certified copies or evidence of their U.S. equivalent, but please bring to your visa interview a copy of any certificates, and if possible, transcripts for the course of study. If your qualification(s) are not from an Australian institution, a certified copy of the foreign degree and evidence that it is equivalent to the required U.S. degree could be used to satisfy the “qualifying credentials” requirement, but you may prefer to wait until your visa interview to confirm whether this is necessary. You should take a copy of any certificates and transcripts to your visa interview, and if it is also necessary to produce certified copies of certificates and evidence of U.S. equivalence, you can send these to the Consulate after the interview, although your visa will not be approved until this is received. Likewise, a certified copy of a U.S. baccalaureate or higher degree, as required by the specialty occupation, would meet the minimum evidentiary standard.
  • In the absence of an academic or other qualifying credential(s), evidence of education and experience that is equivalent to the required U.S. degree.
  • A certified copy of any required license or other official permission to practice the occupation in the state of intended employment if so required or, where licensure is not necessary to commence immediately the intended specialty occupation employment upon admission, evidence that the alien will be obtaining the required license within a reasonable time after admission.

 

 

 

 

 

15
July 2016

What is Port Parole?

Port Parole is a unique authority reserved to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry. This authority is given to CBP by INA §212(d)(5), which allows CBP to “parole [individuals] into the United States temporarily and under such conditions as [DHS] may prescribe only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit…” This authority is used very sparingly where the applicant for admission is otherwise inadmissible to the United States but presents a compelling emergent reason for needing to come to the United States.

Port Paroles are not approved in advance of the person’s entry to the U.S. but a decision is made at the time of the applicant’s request for admission. However, applicants or their attorneys may call the port of entry in advance of making the formal request for a Port Parole to outline the basis for the parole request in writing, with any relevant supporting documents. The ports often appreciate this advance notice because it allows time for deliberation while the person is not waiting in the CBP office, and also permits the port to run the request up the chain of command to the relevant CBP Field Office for higher authorization, if needed.

Port parole is wholly discretionary; if it is denied, there is no formal appeals process.

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The only form used to document approval of the Port Parole is the I-94 Form issued to the applicant at the time of entry. The fee for the request is $65, but may be waived.

In short, Port Parole is a discretionary authority reserved for CBP with no appeals process; determinations are made on a case by case basis; and this remedy should be used only as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07
June 2016

U.S. Consulate Colombia and Visa Preparation for Colombia versus Paraguay

Colombia team Coach Jose Pekerman is being more cautious, making it unlikely Rodriguez will play in Tuesday’s game with Paraguay at the Rose Bowl (7:30 p.m. PDT, FS1, UniMas, UDN). Organizers expect a crowd of more than 40,000.

“I want to be optimistic. James is very important for Colombia,” Pekerman said after Friday’s game. “We also know he has a lot of desire to play. But I think the medical professionals know to what extent he’ll be running a risk.”

The U.S. Consulate in Bogota, Colombia is available to process non-immigrant visas including visas for artists, athletes, coaches, soccer players, trainers, nurses, physical therapists, tourists, visitors, business visitors, entrepreneurs and many others.

Check out the full schedule here.

U.S. Consulate Colombia, the Visa Section!

The Visa Section of the United States Embassy in Bogota processes applications for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the U.S. Click on the links below or on the left side of the page to learn more about the Visa Section.

Public Service Statement

The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States and they are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known. Travel to the United States is welcomed and encouraged.

Nonimmigrant visas

Nonimmigrant visas are for people visiting the U.S. temporarily for tourism, business, education, medical treatment, or petition-based employment. The type of visa required depends on your purpose of travel.

Immigrant visas

Immigrant visas are for applicants planning to permanently relocate to the United States for either family or employment reasons.

Fraud Prevention Unit

The Fraud Prevention Unit investigates any incidents of fraud in visa applications and provides information to visa applicants about possible fraudulent scams.

News and Announcements

Recent announcements regarding the visa application process.

Contact Information

How to contact the visa section regarding your visa applications.

Consular Calendar

View holiday and administrative closures.

Temporary visitors to the United States must apply for and obtain a nonimmigrant visa before beginning their journey. Our operation is one of the largest in the world - this past fiscal year we adjudicated more than a half million applications!

Many people apply for tourist visas (or B1/B2 visas), but we also adjudicate more than 20 other types of nonimmigrant visas, including student visas, work visas, exchange visas, and investor visas. We encourage applicants to use this website to learn as much as they can about the laws, regulations and policies involved in processing a nonimmigrant visa application.

We recommend that you do not purchase your airline ticket or incur non-reimbursable expenses until you have received your visa.

The information in this website is designed to help you to understand the process and, if a visa interview is required, to come to the interview prepared.

The following documents are required for all categories of nonimmigrant visas:

The following documents are highly recommended to ensure speedy processing on the day of your interview:

  • A Colombian national identity card.
  • For an applicant under the age of 14, a copy of his or her birth certificate (folio del Registro Civil de Nacimiento).

Certain categories of visas, such as work and student visas, require additional documentation. Please visit the Visa Categories page for more information on these required documents. The CSC Visa Information Servicealso has additional instructions.

You may choose to bring additional documentation to your interview in order to support your situation here in Colombia and your motive for travel. This additional documentation is not required by the consular officer nor the U.S. Embassy.

The consular officer often determines an applicant’s visa eligibility based on information provided orally during the interview and on the DS-160 application forms, without referring to the supporting documents you bring.

Important Note: Please do not make travel plans or purchase nonrefundable airplane tickets until your visa is approved. Please see the information regarding visa refusals and administrative processing. If your application must undergo administrative processing, it will take significantly longer for you to receive your visa.

We serve the following localities: San Diego County including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Escondido; Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Whittier, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach; Santa Clara County including San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; Alameda County including Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley; Sacramento County including Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom; and Orange County including Santa Ana and Anaheim.

07
June 2016

U.S. Consulate Colombia-Need to Know for Getting a Visa

Colombia assistant manager Nestor Lorenzo says no decision has been made on whether to include captain James Rodriguez in the side to face Paraguay in the Copa America on Tuesday. James scored his country’s second goal before he was forced off by a dislocated shoulder in Colombia’s opening game of the tournament, a 2-0 win over host the United States in Santa Clara.

Check out the full schedule here.

 

U.S. Consulate Colombia, the Visa Section!

The Visa Section of the United States Embassy in Bogota processes applications for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the U.S. Click on the links below or on the left side of the page to learn more about the Visa Section.

Public Service Statement

The Department of State manages the visa process strictly but fairly in order to best protect the United States and they are committed to the essential openness for which the United States has always been known. Travel to the United States is welcomed and encouraged.

Nonimmigrant visas

Nonimmigrant visas are for people visiting the U.S. temporarily for tourism, business, education, medical treatment, or petition-based employment. The type of visa required depends on your purpose of travel.

Immigrant visas

Immigrant visas are for applicants planning to permanently relocate to the United States for either family or employment reasons.

Fraud Prevention Unit

The Fraud Prevention Unit investigates any incidents of fraud in visa applications and provides information to visa applicants about possible fraudulent scams.

News and Announcements

Recent announcements regarding the visa application process.

Contact Information

How to contact the visa section regarding your visa applications.

Consular Calendar

View holiday and administrative closures.

 

 

Temporary visitors to the United States must apply for and obtain a nonimmigrant visa before beginning their journey. Our operation is one of the largest in the world - this past fiscal year we adjudicated more than a half million applications!

Many people apply for tourist visas (or B1/B2 visas), but we also adjudicate more than 20 other types of nonimmigrant visas, including student visas, work visas, exchange visas, and investor visas. We encourage applicants to use this website to learn as much as they can about the laws, regulations and policies involved in processing a nonimmigrant visa application.

We recommend that you do not purchase your airline ticket or incur non-reimbursable expenses until you have received your visa.

The information in this website is designed to help you to understand the process and, if a visa interview is required, to come to the interview prepared.

The following documents are required for all categories of nonimmigrant visas:

The following documents are highly recommended to ensure speedy processing on the day of your interview:

  • A Colombian national identity card.
  • For an applicant under the age of 14, a copy of his or her birth certificate (folio del Registro Civil de Nacimiento).

Certain categories of visas, such as work and student visas, require additional documentation. Please visit the Visa Categories page for more information on these required documents. The CSC Visa Information Servicealso has additional instructions.

You may choose to bring additional documentation to your interview in order to support your situation here in Colombia and your motive for travel. This additional documentation is not required by the consular officer nor the U.S. Embassy.

The consular officer often determines an applicant’s visa eligibility based on information provided orally during the interview and on the DS-160 application forms, without referring to the supporting documents you bring.

Important Note: Please do not make travel plans or purchase nonrefundable airplane tickets until your visa is approved. Please see the information regarding visa refusals and administrative processing. If your application must undergo administrative processing, it will take significantly longer for you to receive your visa.

 

 

We serve the following localities: San Diego County including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Escondido; Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Whittier, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach; Santa Clara County including San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; Alameda County including Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley; Sacramento County including Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom; and Orange County including Santa Ana and Anaheim.

06
June 2016

Bolivia versus Panama and Information about Getting a Visa at the U.S. Consulate in La Paz, Bolivia

Panama, ranked 56th in the world, and No. 82 Bolivia play their first Copa match at 7 p.m. Monday at Camping World Stadium. It will be the first time in history that Panama will compete in the tournament. “We’ll leave everything on the playing field,” Bolivia coach Julio César Baldivieso said through a translator. “The Bolivians are something special, they have something inside and when they know how to use it, they can be very successful.”

 

Bolivia, also known as La Verde, has faced many hurdles leading up to the tournament, including the departure of last year’s leading scorer in the Copa, Marcelo Martins, and former captain Ronald Raldes.

Visa Unit | La Paz, Bolivia - Embassy of the United States

The Consular Section in Bolivia priorities are to provide immigrant and non-immigrant visa services, including boarding foils, returning residents, and visa renewals. For detailed information. Please refer to the following website:

https://bolivia.usvisa-info.com

The Non-Immigrant Visa Unit is committed to providing a courteous and professional service to all applicants. For detailed information, please use the links on the left margin of this page to select the appropriate visa classification and to schedule an interview.

Location, open hours, and contact information

  • The Consular Section of the Embassy is located at 2780 de la Avenida Arce in La Paz, Bolivia.

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U.S. Visas for Same-Sex Spouses

  • U.S. embassies and consulates now adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that we adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses.

Fraud Prevention Unit | La Paz, Bolivia - Embassy of the United States

 

 

The Fraud Prevention Unit of the U.S. Embassy in La Paz principal mission is to safeguard U.S. borders by detecting and stopping fraud in applications for U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, Immigrant visas and Nonimmigrant visas.
The consequences of fraud are extremely serious. If you commit fraud, not only will you lose the benefit that you are seeking, but you may also have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and you may even go to jail. The Fraud Prevention Unit aggressively pursues fraud cases, referring individuals as appropriate for prosecution under U.S. and/or Bolivian law.

The Fraud Prevention Unit, because of the nature of anti-fraud work, is not open to the public. If you have a tip concerning fraud that you wish to share with us, you may contact the Fraud Prevention Unit by e-mailing us at lapazfpm@state.gov

 

 

 

 

We serve the following localities: San Diego County including San Diego, Carlsbad, and Escondido; Los Angeles County including Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Burbank, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Whittier, Woodland Hills, and Long Beach; Santa Clara County including San Jose, Milpitas, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale; Alameda County including Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley; Sacramento County including Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Folsom; and Orange County including Santa Ana and Anaheim.