The World Health Organization has declared Monkeypox a global emergency as cases increase worldwide. There are currently 6,300 known cases in the United States, with the number growing daily. So, how does this affect US travel?  Cases among tourists are uncommon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, because the disease is spreading, it’s a good idea to take precautions when traveling. What Exactly Is Monkeypox, and How Is It Transmitted? According to WHO, people contract Monkeypox through “close contact” with an infected person or animal. Contact wit ..read more

The September 2022 Visa Bulletin has been released, detailing priority dates for green card applicants for next month. Unfortunately, there was no movement in any priority dates across the board for September’s visa bulletin. A partial explanation of why has been shared by the USCIS, which we will analyze deeper down below. September 2022 Visa Bulletin Results Below are the results from the September 2022 USCIS Visa Bulletin:  Family-Based Final Action Dates Dates for Filing Applications Employment-Based Final Action Dates Dates for Filing Applications September 2022 Visa Bulletin Analy ..read more

With very little movement in August’s 2022 Visa Bulletin, many green card applicants are patiently awaiting the results of the September 2022 Visa Bulletin. Will India EB2 continue to make moves? Or will it regress as India EB3 moves forward? Let’s take a look at our predictions for September and what we can expect to see.  September 2022 Visa Bulletin Predictions The 2022 fiscal year has been a bit hard to predict in terms of priority dates and movements on the visa bulletin each month. There is still a prevalent backlog with green cards as the effects from the pandemic are still felt. I ..read more

When applying for a visa, there can be several reasons why your visa application may be refused or denied. If your visa is denied due to missing information or documentation, your visa application will be ineligible under section 221(g).  If you are refused or denied, you’ll be given a 221(g) form with instructions and further information regarding what is required from you. Follow the instructions given to you on the form and get together all necessary documents or information requested from you. You’ll then typically be required to schedule a follow up appointment with the U.S. consulat ..read more

The USCIS has announced that it will extend its flexibilities in request and notice response delays due to COVID-19 through October 23, 2022. This extension will help petitioners, requestors, and applicants who are required to respond to certain requests and are experiencing delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under the extended flexibility, the USCIS will consider a response to their request received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth before taking any action on the request for notices or requests issued between March 1, 2020 and October 23, 2022.  Requests/n ..read more

One of the most sought-after visa categories is the H1B visa. This article discusses who can file for an H1B visa and also answers the question if one can get an H1B visa without a sponsor? The initial step toward obtaining an H1B visa is to file a petition with the USCIS. But filing a petition is easier said than done. You need a potential employer who will file the petition as a sponsor because they need to hire you. Let’s understand the H-1B visa a little in detail. What is an H-1B Visa? The H-1B visa category permits an employer to petition for a highly educated foreign national to work in ..read more

If your Green Card or permanent resident card is expiring or has already expired and you want to renew it, this complete guide will help you understand everything you need to know on ‘how to renew your green card.’ Should Green Cards Be Renewed? Yes, Green cards must be renewed.  Green cards are valid for 10 years. The holder of the green card must submit a green card renewal application before their green card expires. Green Card Renewal Process – A Complete Guide Fill out an application for green card renewal either online or by mail. Assemble the supporting documentation Pay the fees ..read more

For some EB-1 and EB-2 form i-140 petitions that were previously filed, USCIS will adopt a second phase of premium processing. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced in an official final rule published on May 24, 2022, that it would be implementing premium processing for certain previously filed pending Form I-140 petitions, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, filed under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications in an effort to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall legal immigration system. The backlogs are mostly the effect of the pandemic and the delays it generated ..read more

The August 2022 Visa Bulletin has been released, so let’s dive in and see what priority dates have advanced or regressed for the upcoming month.  An overall review of the August 2022 Visa Bulletin shows little to no movement for most categories, and even a large regression in the family-based category. While many green card applicants are not expecting huge jumps at this point in time, it still comes as a disappointment overall to most.  August 2022 Visa Bulletin Results Below are the results from the August 2022 USCIS Visa Bulletin:  Family-Based Final Action Dates Dates for F ..read more

Students from India who want to apply for a US Student (F-1) Visa have great news! It might not be necessary to arrange an interview in India for a US visa. Students with prior US visas will now have the benefit of skipping the US visa interview process. A new initiative will enable prior holders of US visas to entirely skip the interview stage when applying for student visas, speeding up the process. The US Embassy is taking a number of steps to make applying for student visas more straightforward for Indian students.  One of these measures is exempting people who have previously held a ..read more