Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

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Update on ‘Visagate’ Filing Date Fiasco: Temporary Restraining Order Denied

On October 7, 2015, a judge rejected a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in a class action challenging a new change to the October Visa Bulletin. By moving many filing dates back, the update to the bulletin radically restricted a previously announced benefit offered by a revised procedure for determining immigrant visa availability… Read More

Congress Extends Four Immigration Programs Until December 11

Congress has extended the EB-5, E-Verify, Conrad state 30 (physician J-1 waiver), and religious workers programs until December 11, 2015, as part of congressional passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government. Members of Congress hope to reauthorize and reform the EB-5 program in the interim, although the outcome is uncertain due to political… Read More

DHS Submits New Proposed Rule on Expanding F-1 STEM OPT

On October 2, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a new proposed rule on expanding F-1 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT). The rule awaits OMB approval before it can be published for public comment. Among other developments, in November 2014, DHS… Read More

Registration Opens for Diversity Visa 2017 Program

The 2017 diversity visa (DV) program opened for electronic registrations opened on October 1, 2015, and closes at noon, eastern time, Tuesday, November 3, 2015. For DV-2017, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:… Read More

USCIS Announces New Direct Filing Address for Certain I-140 Petitions, Workload Rebalancing

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting on October 19, 2015, the direct filing address has changed for Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) petitions submitted together with Form I-907 (Request for Premium Processing) petitions with a worksite location in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania. Those who are filing an… Read More