Latest News

DOS Releases Interim Final Rule Establishing Different Types of Passports Issued by State Department

  • [Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]

    [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 67156-67158]

    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2016-23568]

    [[Page 67156]]

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    DEPARTMENT OF STATE

    22 CFR Part 51

CBP Announces Additional Details about the Electronic Visa Update System

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced today all People’s Republic of China passport holders carrying a 10-year visa will be required to have a valid Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) enrollment when traveling to the United States beginning on November 29. EVUS is the online system used by nationals of the People’s Republic of China holding a 10-year B1/B2, B1 or B2 (visitor) visa to update basic biographic information to facilitate their travel to the United States.

Temporary Protected Status Benefits Under Designations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone Extended Six Months for Orderly Transition Before Termination in May 2017

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson is extending TPS benefits for beneficiaries of TPS under the designations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone for 6 months for the purpose of orderly transition before the designations terminate, effective May 21, 2017.

When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: October 2016

Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process.

DOS Releases DV-2018 Program Instructions

The Department of State administers the Congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program annually.  Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants,” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.  For fiscal year 2018, 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) will be available.  There is no cost to register for the DV Program.   

 
Please check attached document to see the Diversity Visa Lottery Instructions for the Year 2018.

USCIS Announces that Current Form I-9 valid until Jan. 21, 2017

  • On Aug. 25, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. USCIS must publish a revised form by Nov. 22, 2016. Employers may continue using the current version of Form I-9 with a revision date of 03/08/2013 N until Jan. 21, 2017. After Jan. 21, 2017, all previous versions of Form I-9 will be invalid.

DOL Announces Procedural Change in Submitting Temporary Need Documentation for H-2B Process for Non-Agricultural Employers

ETA is announcing a process change related to the submission of applications for temporary labor certification under the H-2B visa program intended to reduce burdens on employers and streamline the adjudication of temporary need.