Published by: The Economic Times - Date: April 04, 2025
Synopsis
The State Department's new social media screening measures affect F-1, M-1, and J-1 visa applicants, requiring mandatory reviews under certain conditions. These include broad interpretations of terrorist support and criteria for hostile attitudes toward U.S. institutions, potentially leading to visa revocations.
For more information on this article, please see the attachment below.
My H-1B to B2 status change (I-539) was approved, and the I-94 expiry date on my B2 approval notice is 21 April 2025.
Now, if I apply for a B2 extension or F-1 change of status, then can I stay in the USA after 21-Apr-2025 while my decision is pending?
Yes, you can generally stay in the US while your B-2 extension or F-1 change of status application is pending, provided you file it before your current status expires. This applies to most applications filed while still in status (e.g., H-1, B-1, B-2, L-1, E-1, E-2). If your I-94 expires on April 21st and you apply for a B-2 extension or F-1 change of status before that date, you can stay in the US while your application is pending because you filed it timely.
FAQs: New 5% remittance tax bill for non-US citizens: Will it pass and are non-citizens eligible for tax credit?|| Will admitting to an unsuccessful job search affect my B-2 visa extension approval?
I believe there was a proposal to include social media handles as part of certain visa/immigration applications. Do you know what the consequences of that are?
If one has deleted social media accounts they don't have access to or accounts they don't remember the details for would that negatively impact the application? Also, is it just public posts that get reviewed or do private messages/dms get reviewed also?
As of June 24, 2025, the US Consulates have updated their policies for F (academic student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants. The key requirements are:
Public Privacy Settings: All your social media accounts must have their privacy settings adjusted to "public" so that the consulate can review them.
Disclosure of Usernames: You are required to list all social media usernames or handles from every platform you have used for the last 5 years. This includes accounts, even if they have since been deleted.
Failing to comply with these requirements, including omitting social media information or keeping accounts private, could lead to visa denial. The new policy aims to facilitate vetting to establish identity and admissibility to the United States.
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.businesstoday.in/nri/visa/story/major-us-student-visa-overh…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Times Now - July 02, 2025
https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/another-blow-to-internati…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: The Times of India - July 02, 2025
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/us-plans-fixed-stay-…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Mathrubhumi English - July 02, 2025
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/us-may-limit-student-visas-t…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Moneycontrol - July 02, 2025
https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/us-eyes-fixed-visa-term-for-foreign-…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Business Today- July 02, 2025
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/us-time-limit-rule-stay-foreign-st…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: NewsBytes - July 02, 2025
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-proposes-fixed-duration-visa…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Published by: Upstox- July 02, 2025
https://upstox.com/news/business-news/latest-updates/trump-s-fresh-visa…
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Community members and our lawyer colleagues have shared their stories. It appears:
1. The NTAs are getting resolved quickly, where you are still in the grace period and/or have a B-type petition pending. Motions to terminate are working.
2. The hearing dates are also being given in a few days or weeks.
3. The percentage of NTAs is relatively small.
Can I receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) for deportation even if I have legal immigration status or a pending application?
This question is particularly important because continued accrual of unlawful presence during removal proceedings can trigger the three-year or ten-year bars, severely limiting future immigration options.
General Rule: Yes, Unlawful Presence Continues
If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas.
You may enter in the F-1 or M-1 visa category provided you meet the following criteria:
I had applied for an EAD for a L2 Visa. Although I entered the information correctly, USCIS rejected the application stating that I applied under a wrong category. I called them multiple times to explain this and there was no proper response. Some even suggested me to reapply and start all over again. I sent a mail to Rajiv and he suggested contacting the local Congressman's office. I explained these details to a member of my local congressman's office and she was able to contact USCIS and get the EAD approved.
On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez today announced the release of an updated policy memorandum on the L-1B nonimmigrant visa classification for workers with specialized knowledge.
The United States will begin issuing visas in accordance with a new reciprocal arrangement on November 12, 2014. Chinese applicants who qualify for a B-category nonimmigrant visa (NIV) may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and tourist travel. Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors and their dependents who qualify for F, M, or J-category visas are now eligible for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years or the length of their program. U.S.
Note:
If the case is likely to be complicated, we may charge higher amounts for legal fees.
For governmental Requests For Evidence (RFEs), we charge extra based upon the complexity of the issue(s).
L-1 A CLASSIFICATIONS
The fee schedule for L-1A classification (USCIS requires all filing fees to be paid EITHER via ACH Transaction or Credit card) is as follows: