Due to the time-sensitive nature of agricultural work, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expedites all H-2A “temporary or seasonal agricultural worker” petitions. However, some recent H-2A petitions have experienced unexpected delays due to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) resulting from the use of the Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE).
USCIS policy memo on how USCIS processes requests to expedite the adjudication of Forms I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, filed by individuals outside of the U.S.
To view the memo please see the attachment.
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC
May 25, 2011
Also available in Russian
On June 1 the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will launch a new J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website.
USCIS inviting visitors to the new Citizenship and Resource Center, a Web portal that has information and resources on U.S. citizenship.
Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC
May 20, 2011
[Also available in Persian]
As of May 20, 2011, qualified Iranian applicants for visas in the F, J, and M categories for non-sensitive, non-technical fields of study and research and their dependents will be eligible to receive two-year, multiple-entry visas. This is an increase in the current visa validity of three months, single entry.
On April 12, 2010, Director Mayorkas introduced the Request for Evidence (RFE) Project, an initiative that engages stakeholders in the review and revision of RFE templates used at the Service Centers to ensure they are:
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced the launch of a federal initiative to raise awareness about the rights, responsibilities and importance of U.S. citizenship. The Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative will provide new opportunities for immigrants to learn about USCIS’s free citizenship education resources available to eligible lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and immigrant-serving organizations.
USCIS announces proposed changes to USCIS’s processing of EB-5 cases, including an accelerated adjudication process, the creation of specialized intake teams for I-924 applications, and an expert board to render decisions on EB-5 Regional Center applications.