Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Category: NIV


USCIS Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule to Change Certain Employment-Based Visa Programs

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) seeks public comments on a proposed rule published (PDF) on December 31, 2015, “Retention of EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers,” that would change certain aspects of employment-based visa programs. USCIS is also proposing regulatory amendments “to better enable U.S. employers to hire… Read More

State Dept. Revises Reciprocity Schedules for Several Countries

In recent months, the Department of State has revised visa reciprocity schedules for Armenia, Brazil, Albania, and China, among others. For temporary visitors (nonimmigrants) to the United States, reciprocity tables show applicable visa issuance fees by country and by visa classification type, and the maximum period of visa validity and number of applications, or entries,… Read More

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance on H-3 Nonimmigrant Trainees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on September 9, 2014, that it is issuing comprehensive policy guidance on H-3 nonimmigrant trainees in the USCIS Policy Manual. The new guidance consolidates all previous H-3 guidance addressing circumstances under which a temporary worker may come to the United States as a trainee or as a participant… Read More

House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill Adding Israel to Nonimmigrant Investor Visa Eligibility List

On February 28, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary approved legislation that would add Israel to the E-2 nonimmigrant visa eligibility list of countries. The bill would allow Israelis to apply for E-2 visas if similarly situated U.S. nationals are eligible for such visas in Israel. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Cal.), said… Read More

USCIS Suddenly Redirects I-797 ‘Notice of Action’ Receipts, Approvals To Petitioners

On September 30, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent out a notice to its e-mail list of “stakeholders” stating that, effective September 12, 2011, the agency began sending original Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt and approval notices directly to applicants and petitioners. USCIS said that copies of the notices are being sent… Read More