Qualifying U.S. Citizens May Travel with Expired Passports As of May 21, 2021, U.S. citizens will be able to use their expired U.S. passports to return to the United States if they travel before the end of December 31, 2021. U.S. citizens who are overseas whose passport expired on or after January 1, 2020, will […]

USCIS Revives The International Entrepreneur Parole Program This week, the USCIS revived The International Entrepreneur Parole Program (“the IEP”) which grants qualifying foreign nationals permission to remain in the United States for up to five years in order to grow a start-up business that has potential for substantial growth and job creation. The program does not provide […]

DOL Delays Wage Rule Implementation & USCIS Suspends Biometrics Requirement Wage Rule Delayed The Department of Labor (DOL) announced this week that it will further delay the Prevailing Wage Rule that proposes an increase in the prevailing wages for the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and the PERM programs. The rule was set to apply on May 4, 2021 but […]

USCIS Expected to Suspend Biometrics Requirement for Certain Visa Categories The USCIS is expected to soon suspend the biometrics requirement for H-4, L-2, and E-1, E-2, and E-3 visa categories of Form I-539 applications.  The agency announced its intention on May 4, in a hearing of a federal litigation that had challenged the USCIS’ lengthy […]

U.S. Imposes India Travel Ban and Consulates Cancel Appointments On April 30, President Biden issued a Proclamation than bans the entry into the U.S. of foreign nationals traveling from India. This ban will take effect May 4, 2021. The Proclamation will bar entry to those individuals who have been present in India for 14 days […]

USCIS to now give Deference to Prior Decisions in Adjudicating Extension Petitions  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 27 that it will reinstate an earlier 2004 policy that directs officers to give deference to prior decisions when adjudicating extension requests, involving the same parties and facts.  The new guidance takes effect immediately. Under the […]

Consulates in India | Severely Truncated Services and Partial Closures Mumbai:  Due to rising COVID rates and for the safety and protection of our customers and staff, the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai currently is only providing essential services to U.S. citizens and limited and emergency nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services until further notice.  New Delhi:  […]

India Restores Certain Categories of Electronic Visas (e-visas)   The Government of India has restored the electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreign nationals from 156 countries. The following categories of e-visas have been restored: e-business visa; e-conference visa; e-medical visa; and e-medical attendant visa. It is imperative to note that the e-tourist visa still stands suspended. […]