Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who travel frequently outside of the U.S. and spend extended periods of time at a time (during a single trip or through pattern of shorter but frequent trips abroad) are often questioned at the [...]
For applicants with pending I-485 applications, understanding the rules and requirements of international travel is essential in order to avoid denial due to abandonment. This article discusses the rules and requirements that must be [...]
Many nonimmigrants in the U.S. have been eagerly awaiting news about the proposed introduction of a process to allow U.S. visa stamp issuance from within the U.S. On October 17, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) announced that they are planning to lay out more details about the process with possible start date of a [...]
Unlawful presence is defined in Section 212(a)(9)(B)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to mean that an alien is deemed to be unlawfully present in the U.S. if the alien is (1) present after the expiration [...]
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced an update that has introduced a new I-551 stamp mail delivery process, easing the way immigrants receive their lawful permanent resident status while waiting for their physical green cards. This helpful step is designed to streamline the process and reduce in-person appointments at local [...]
U.S. permanent residents (green card holders) who spend extended period of time are likely (or should be) aware that the reentry permit is a document, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) allowing its holder to remain outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time without causing their green card to be [...]
USCIS has recently changed its practices and is no longer issuing the combo EAD/AP card for I-485 applicants who file concurrent I-765 EAD work permit and I-131 AP travel permit applications. Citing efforts to eliminate backlogs in EAD applications, USCIS is approving EAD and AP applications separately -- most often the I-765 EAD application [...]
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) rules require every nonimmigrant visa applicant between ages of 14 and 79 to apply in person and be interviewed by a consular officer (see 9 FAM 403.5-2 , the "FAM"). But there are certain specific exceptions allowing a waiver of the interview requirement. With the current long interview scheduling [...]
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that as of December 1, 2021, citizens of Croatia will be able to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a U.S. visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA Authorization Required Under [...]
The Biden Administration has just announced details about the anticipated rescission of the per-country travel restrictions on international travelers coming into the United States from certain countries. The travel and visa bans for all affected countries are being lifted starting November 8, 2021. The bans are replaced by more stringent vaccination and testing U.S. entry [...]
