As vacation seasons approach and especially in recent weeks, our office frequently fields inquiries from foreign nationals currently in the U.S. on nonimmigrant status (such as H-1B, L-1, F-1, or O-1) regarding travel to Puerto Rico. We [...]
On September 19, 2025, the President issued a proclamation suspending the adjudication of H-1B petitions for individuals outside the United States and barring their entry into the U.S. unless the employer pays a $100,000 fee per [...]
Effective as of September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) requires all nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule their interview appointments at the U.S. Embassy [...]
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) rules require every nonimmigrant visa applicant between ages of 14 and 79 to apply in person and be interviewed by a consular officer (see 9 FAM 403.5-2 , the “FAM”). But there are certain specific [...]
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who travel frequently outside of the U.S. and spend extended periods of time at a time (during a single trip or through pattern of shorter but frequent trips abroad) are often questioned at the [...]
For applicants with pending I-485 applications, understanding the rules and requirements of international travel is essential in order to avoid denial due to abandonment. This article discusses the rules and requirements that must be [...]
Many nonimmigrants in the U.S. have been eagerly awaiting news about the proposed introduction of a process to allow U.S. visa stamp issuance from within the U.S. On October 17, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) announced that they are planning to lay out more details about the process with possible start date of a [...]
Unlawful presence is defined in Section 212(a)(9)(B)(ii) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to mean that an alien is deemed to be unlawfully present in the U.S. if the alien is (1) present after the expiration [...]
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced an update that has introduced a new I-551 stamp mail delivery process, easing the way immigrants receive their lawful permanent resident status while waiting for their physical green cards. This helpful step is designed to streamline the process and reduce in-person appointments at local [...]
U.S. permanent residents (green card holders) who spend extended period of time are likely (or should be) aware that the reentry permit is a document, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) allowing its holder to remain outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time without causing their green card to be [...]
