H-1B visas from third country nationals are now accepted
The U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver, Canada has announced that it will accept applications for nonimmigrant visas for third country nationals (TCN). This applies to those applying for H-1B visas for the first time. TCNs are foreign nationals who have the legal right to stay in the U.S. but are filing applications for nonimmigrant visas. Earlier, TCNs were banned from applying for H-1B visas in Vancouver. This new ruling puts an end to that ban.
Cost increases on USCIS applications
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a series of increases in the filing fees for most of the immigration and naturalization applications. USCIS fee increase will soon be implemented. Read more.
Rise in worldwide immigrants heading for the US
According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the number of people from foreign countries trying to illegally get into the U.S. is on the increase. This is in addition to those coming from Latin America. The number of immigrants from Mexico crossing the U.S. border illegally has reduced. But many from China and India are now being apprehended at the border while attempting to illegally get into the U.S.
Three necessary immigration reforms
The Presidential candidate who wins presidency will be under pressure to introduce immigration reform. Implementing a comprehensive immigration reform may not be possible but there are few changes that the President can make that would make a difference to the immigration system. Read on to know what changes the President can make to the immigration system.
Expansion of family detention facilities by immigration agency
Immigration advocates who are against the family detention centers are also against the expansion of the Obama administration’s family detention centers to the South of San Antonio. Read more.
Registration for the green card lottery ends
The U.S. Department of State started accepting applications for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery for 2018 last month. Registrations for the lottery came to a close on Monday.
US Army soldiers charged with people smuggling
Marco Antonio Nava Jr., 19, and Joseph Edmond Cleveland, 25, two U.S. army soldiers from El Paso on active duty, have been charged with smuggling two undocumented immigrants into the U.S. If convicted, the soldiers could face up to ten years in a federal prison.