Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
The Department of State has delayed the effective date of the increase in consular fees from May 30, 2023, to June 17, 2023 (to provide a 60-day delay after the final rule was received by Congress).
The most relevant fee increases remain:
| Visa Type | Current Fee | Revised Fee |
| Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas: B/1-B/2, F, M |
As of July 1, 2023, all private employers in Florida with 25 or more employees will be required to use E-Verify, the federal government’s database for verifying work authorization. Enforcement of this new E-Verify requirement will begin one year after enactment on July 1, 2024.
These employers also must:
On May 30, 2023, fees for nonimmigrant visas at all consulates abroad will increase. The increase can be avoided if the visa fee is paid on or after October 1, 2022, and before May 30, 2023, and an interview is scheduled within 365 days of payment. The interview need not take place during the 365…
The last-standing COVID-19-related travel restrictions will soon expire. Bringing the United States in line with most countries around the world, after May 11, 2023, non-citizen, nonimmigrant air passengers need not show proof of being fully vaccinated to board a flight to the United States.
Until May 12, nonimmigrants must still document having a bivalent or…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced that employers will have 30 days to comply with Form I-9 employment eligibility verification physical document examination requirements when COVID-19 flexibility sunsets on July 31, 2023.
This answers two pressing questions employers and attorneys have been asking:
USCIS has announced that the total number of eligible registrations submitted for FY 2024 was 758,994 (up from 474,421 eligible registrations submitted for FY 2023). Of the 758,994 eligible registrations submitted, USCIS said it made 110,791 selections to fill the 85,000 available H-1B visa slots.
The significant increase in submitted registrations yielded a relatively low…
USCIS announced that it is no longer necessary to provide supporting documentation to change or update a prior gender selection on immigration forms. The intention is to “reduce barriers to travel, employment, services, and benefits by eliminating delays and preventing discrimination and harassment due to inconsistent identity documents.”
USCIS will be changing its forms to…
On Equal Pay Day, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced three bills, including a national pay transparency bill, that she believes would help to close the pay gap between men and women.
She chose Equal Pay Day for the introduction of these bills because it marks the additional days women must work to earn what…
USCIS has expanded premium processing for F-1 students to pending Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) applications based on Optional Practice Training (OPT) and STEM OPT. On April 3, 2023, the same will be extended to new EAD applications for OPT and STEM OPT. The cost for this premium processing will be $1,500 and the timeframe will…
U.S. passport renewals are taking longer. Applying for renewals well in advance of travel abroad may be particularly important if you also need a visa in the new passport.
Moreover, many countries require that your passport be valid for at least 3 months, or even 6 months, beyond the period of your intended stay abroad.
