The Department of State (DOS) has launched the anticipated new version of the Form DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application. The form’s new version clarifies, in no uncertain terms, that the applicant – and no one else – must electronically sign and submit the DS-160 form. As part of a newly formatted…
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), together with six other Democratic Senators, introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011. The bill, which would overhaul the country’s immigration system, proposes a mandatory employment verification system, a federal commission on immigration, and an earned path to citizenship for those undocumented immigrants already in…
The Work & Travel Program is part of the J-1 visa category of the U.S. government’s Exchange Visitor program. If you are a university student from outside the United States and are not a U.S. citizen, you may experience life in the U.S. as a temporary employee and tourist by…
USCIS open forum, designed to encourage open communication between USCIS representatives and AILA practitioners, was held at AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) Annual Conference on June 17, 2011. USCIS Director, Alejandro Mayorkas, was present to answer the questions of immigration practitioners regarding the current issues in USCIS adjudication procedures. Attorney…
In line with what we heard at the National Immigration Law Conference Last week, John Morton, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the deportation program would continue to expand as planned in order to be operating nationwide by 2013, despite criticism from many police chiefs and from the…
It was a mostly sunny day here in San Diego as the AILA conference entered its second Day. Lots of meetings with government officials and several open forums. I will provide a few points from the DOL open forum head by Bill Carlson, Dept. of Labor, Foreign Labor Certification. This…
This year the American Immigration Lawyers Association National conference is being held in San Diego. Just a few blocks from our down town office, you can see thousands of Immigration lawyers gather to socialize, learn and advance our profession. This morning, ICE head John Morton, opened with an discussion about…
Today Senate and House champions of refugees introduced the “Refugee Protection Act of 2011. More than thirty years ago, Congress passed the Refugee Act, a landmark law intended to codify the United States’ obligations under the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention. Over the years, the country has fallen short of fulfilling…
The Biggest Immigration Conference in the US is taking place in San Diego June 15- June 18. Our lawyers will be attending sessions on recent Immigration law developments so we can better serve our clients with the most up to date information in the field. The American Immigration Lawyers Association…