News

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Immigration News

USCIS to Reject Incomplete Form I-129

Starting on August 5, 2019, USCIS will reject any Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker that do not include the Petitioner or Applicant’s name and primary U.S. office address in Part 1 of the form. The petitioner’s or applicant’s…

Jenny ZhanJune 7, 2019

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Immigration News

Five Years of Social Media Information Now Required for Visa Applications

Last week, the U.S. Department of State updated the DS160 and DS260 forms to include a question asking for the applicant’s last 5 years of social media information. The DS160 form is an electronic form used for U.S. nonimmigrant visa…

Jenny ZhanJune 3, 2019

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Immigration News

eProcessing Now Available for Extension of Status

USCIS have announced today that it has began to accelerate USCIS’ transition into a digital business model. Starting today, Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status can now be filed online. Form I-539 is primarily used for dependents of nonimmigrant…

Jenny ZhanMay 22, 2019

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Immigration Immigration Law Changes & New Law

White House Announces New Immigration Plan

The Trump Administration have announced on May 16, 2019 that it has created a plan to reform the U.S. immigration system. Specific details of the plan has not been announced yet, but President Trump described the new system to be…

Jenny ZhanMay 17, 2019

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Immigration Immigration Law Changes & New Law Visa Waivers

Preliminary Injunction Issued on August 2018 Unlawful Presence Memorandum for F, J, and M Visa Holders

On May 18, 2018, USCIS issued a memorandum announcing that it will radically revise how unlawful presence is accrued for students and exchange visitors who fail to maintain their F, J, or M visitor status. For the information on the…

Jenny ZhanMay 7, 2019

Family Immigration H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration News

USCIS Form Request Phone Service to Terminate on June 1

Starting on June 1, 2019, USCIS forms can no longer be requested on the phone. Previously, by calling USCIS’ client services, individuals can request application forms and instructions to be mailed to their address free of charge. The forms by mail service…

Jenny ZhanApril 22, 2019

Immigration News

April 2019 Visa Bulletin

In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced 3 months to April 1, 2016 and India advanced only 3 days to April 12, 2009. EB-3 for the…

Jenny ZhanMarch 28, 2019

Immigration News

New Form I-539 for Change of Status Now in Effect. Biometrics Appointments Required for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants

New Form I-539 for Change of Status Now in Effect. Biometrics Appointments Mandatory for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants As previously reported, the new Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status is now in effect. Starting from March 22, 2019, USCIS will…

Jenny ZhanMarch 12, 2019

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Immigration News

Visa Validity Reduced for Pakistani Nationals

Announced on March 5, 2019, the U.S. State Department has reduced visa validity length for Pakistani nationals. According to the State Department, this decision was made after Pakistan failed to “liberalize its visa regime” and fix the discrepancies between their…

Jenny ZhanMarch 7, 2019

News

Ian E. Scott, Esq. featured on NBC News

Scott Legal's founder Ian Scott was interviewed by NBC news on the current state of immigration and the new visa challenges immigrants face. The article can be found on the NBC News website here. Click on the buttons below in…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 21, 2019

Immigration News

Congress Passes FY 2019 Spending Bill, Avoiding a Second Government Shutdown

Last night Congress passed an appropriations bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and other federal agencies through to September 30, 2019. The President is expected to sign the bill Friday morning. Below is a…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 15, 2019

Immigration News

Biometrics Now Required for Certain Foreign Nationals Seeking a Change or Extension of Nonimmigrant Status

On March 11, USCIS will introduce a new Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. This revised version of the form will be implemented immediately upon release and no older versions of the form will be accepted. If you are…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 14, 2019

News

Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner Speaks at E-2 Visa Question and Answer for Immigration Lawyers

Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner spoke on E-2 visa issues at a Corporate Practice Committee event for AILA’s New York chapter as part of a larger conversation with business immigration practitioners on a variety of current business immigration topics. This committee…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 11, 2019

Immigration News

Canadian Marijuana Investors are Being Barred from Entering the U.S.

Four months after Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana use and certain commercial activities, Canadian travelers who are found to have invested in legal U.S. and Canada marijuana companies are being banned from entering…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 5, 2019

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Immigration News

USCIS to Close Moscow Field Office

Due to low workload, USCIS will permanently close the Moscow field office on March 29, 2019. The last day the field office will accept applications is on February 28, 2019. The USCIS field office in Athens, Greece, will assume jurisdiction…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 5, 2019

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H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration News

State Department Eliminates Two Interview Locations in China for H and L Visas

Starting on March 1, 2019, H visa and L visa interviews in Mainland China will only be conducted at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, the U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, and the U.S. consulate in Shanghai. Interviews for these visas will…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 1, 2019

Immigration News

U.S. State Department Suspends Visa Services in Caracas, Venezuela

Routine visa services at the U.S. mission in Caracas have been suspended indefinitely as tension between the United States and Venezuela rises. Foreign nationals requiring visa services, including immigrant and nonimmigrant, may be able to obtain U.S. visas by traveling…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 28, 2019

Immigration News

Government Reopened for Three Weeks

President Trump announced on Friday, 35 days after the initial shutdown, that a continuing resolutions bill has been tabled to reopen the government for 3 weeks until February 15. This will allow government workers who have missed a month of…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 25, 2019

News

Ian E. Scott to sit on AILA panel at National Conference for E-2 Visas in Orlando

Ian E. Scott will be a speaker on the E-2 panel at the National American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Conference in Orlando this June. Mr. Scott will sit on a panel with 3 other E-2 visa experts and will speak…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 24, 2019

Immigration News

Will the definition of public charge change under the current administration? What does this mean for green card applicants?

On October 10, 2018 a proposed rule was published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), which seeks to change the definition of what immigration officers should consider when determining whether a green card applicant is likely to become…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 18, 2019

Immigration News

February 2019 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances and the Expired EB-5 Program

In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced two months to October 1, 2015 and India advanced 1 week to April 6, 2009. EB-3 for the Philippines…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 14, 2019

Immigration News

Three Weeks into the Government Shutdown: An Update on Immigration Services

We are three weeks into the government shutdown since December 21, 2018 and the following is an update on different immigration agencies and services. Visa Applications Overseas Consulates are still processing visa applications as normal. Consulates and the Department of…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 10, 2019

Immigration News

January 2018 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances for EB-2 and EB-3 for China and India

In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced for one month to August 1, 2015 and India has remained at April 1, 2009. EB-3 for the Philippines…

Jenny ZhanDecember 14, 2018

Immigration News

Potential Government Shutdown

Congress passed a bill on December 7 that funded the U.S. government until December 21. On or before December 21, Republicans and Democrats have to come to an agreement over many issues and programs that have to be funded for…

Jenny ZhanDecember 12, 2018

News

We Attended the PERM (Green Card) AILA Conference in Washington

Our managing attorney Kelly Weiner attended the AILA PERM conference in Washington on December 7th. The full day conference was an advanced session focusing on the employment based green card when an employer requires labor certification. The conference focused on…

Jenny ZhanDecember 10, 2018

USCIS to Reject Incomplete Form I-129

eProcessing Now Available for Extension of Status

White House Announces New Immigration Plan

Preliminary Injunction Issued on August 2018 Unlawful Presence Memorandum for F, J, and M Visa Holders

USCIS Form Request Phone Service to Terminate on June 1

April 2019 Visa Bulletin

New Form I-539 for Change of Status Now in Effect. Biometrics Appointments Required for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicants

Visa Validity Reduced for Pakistani Nationals

Ian E. Scott, Esq. featured on NBC News

Congress Passes FY 2019 Spending Bill, Avoiding a Second Government Shutdown

Biometrics Now Required for Certain Foreign Nationals Seeking a Change or Extension of Nonimmigrant Status

Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner Speaks at E-2 Visa Question and Answer for Immigration Lawyers

Canadian Marijuana Investors are Being Barred from Entering the U.S.

USCIS to Close Moscow Field Office

State Department Eliminates Two Interview Locations in China for H and L Visas

U.S. State Department Suspends Visa Services in Caracas, Venezuela

Government Reopened for Three Weeks

Ian E. Scott to sit on AILA panel at National Conference for E-2 Visas in Orlando

Will the definition of public charge change under the current administration? What does this mean for green card applicants?

February 2019 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances and the Expired EB-5 Program

Three Weeks into the Government Shutdown: An Update on Immigration Services

January 2018 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances for EB-2 and EB-3 for China and India

Potential Government Shutdown

We Attended the PERM (Green Card) AILA Conference in Washington

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