Department of State

Energy And Environment Update -- May 6, 2013

by Jordan Collins, David Leiter, Neal Martin, Bryan M. Stockton | Mintz Levin - Environmental Law on 5/8/2013

In This Issue: Energy & Climate Debate; Congress; Administration; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Interior; Department of Defense; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Federal Energy...more

Incorrectly Filed I-601As Are Being Rejected

by Jennifer Roeper | Fowler White Boggs P.A. on 5/2/2013

Since March 4, 2013, USCIS has been accepting applications for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers (“Form I-601A”). Many of these applications have been rejected, however, because customers did not provide proof that the...more

Immigration Alert: April 2013

by Patrick Brady, Robert Groban, Jang Hyuk Im, Greta Ravitsky | Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. on 5/2/2013

In This Issue: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Debate Begins! USCIS Reports That H-1B Cap Is Reached in First Week; New Form I-9 Becomes Effective on May 7, 2013; CBP Announces Form I-94 Automation; DOS Permits Access to...more

Department of State Releases May 2013 Visa Bulletin

by Eric S. Bord, Lisa Stephanian Burton, Tracy Evlogidis, Malcolm K. Goeschl, Eleanor Pelta, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri | Morgan Lewis on 4/12/2013

EB-2 category for all chargeable areas other than China and India remains current, with some considerable forward movement but continued backlog in the EB-3 category....more

Energy And Environment Update -- April 1, 2013

by Jordan Collins, David Leiter, Neal Martin, Bryan M. Stockton | Mintz Levin - Environmental Law on 4/2/2013

In This Issue: Congress; Administration; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Interior Department; Department of Homeland Security; Department of State; Department of Treasury; Government...more

State Department Announce $6 Billion for Geothermal in Southeast Asia

by Jordan Collins, David Leiter | Mintz Levin - Energy & Clean Technology on 3/15/2013

As you may have read in last week’s Energy & Environment Newsletter, the State Department has announced a new $6 billion initiative to promote and finance the development of 12 GW of geothermal resources in Indonesia. The...more

State Department: Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline Would Have Little Environmental Impact

by Dena E. Wiggins | Ballard Spahr LLP on 3/14/2013

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have no significant environmental impact on most resources along its planned route, according to a draft supplementary environmental impact statement (SEIS) released earlier this month...more

Looming Budget Cuts Could Delay Travel

by Ronald Shapiro on 3/13/2013

According to published reports, the Department of State (“DOS”) has warned that sequestration-related spending cuts could result in “major setbacks” for visa processing and travel screening delays at ports of entry. ...more

Department of State Releases April 2013 Visa Bulletin

by Eric S. Bord, Lisa Stephanian Burton, Tracy Evlogidis, Malcolm K. Goeschl, Eleanor Pelta, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri | Morgan Lewis on 3/13/2013

EB-2 category for all chargeable areas other than China and India remains current, with minor forward movement in the EB-3 category. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its April 2013 Visa Bulletin. The...more

Sequestration Likely to Affect Immigration Services

by Justin S. Coffey, Andrew W. Merrills | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on 3/8/2013

On March 1, 2013, the Budget Control Act, including sections mandating across-the-board budget cuts to federal agencies (known as “sequestration”), went into effect. The sequester is likely to negatively impact immigration...more

Impact of Sequester on Immigration-Related Government Services

by Eric S. Bord, Lisa Stephanian Burton, Tracy Evlogidis, Malcolm K. Goeschl, Eleanor Pelta, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri | Morgan Lewis on 3/6/2013

The automatic spending cutback is expected to result in diminished immigration-related services. It is anticipated that the sequester (the automatic spending cutback that went into effect on March 1, 2013) may result...more

Sequester to Affect Consular Services

by Florian Dauny | Fowler White Boggs P.A. on 3/6/2013

Although the exact impact cannot be predicted, it appears all but certain that sequestration will result in diminished consular services, including visa adjudications. ...more

Energy And Environment Update -- March 4, 2013

by Jordan Collins, David Leiter, Neal Martin, Bryan M. Stockton | Mintz Levin - Environmental Law on 3/5/2013

In This Issue: Energy and Climate Debate; Congress; Administration; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Interior Department; Department of Agriculture; Department of State; Treasury Department;...more

Sequestration To Delay Consular Visa Processing & Other Effects

by Marcy Stras | Cozen O'Connor on 3/4/2013

According to the Department of State, sequestration will likely reduce the number of officers processing visa applications, which will negatively impact wait times at U.S. consulates....more

Department of State Releases March 2013 Visa Bulletin

by Eric S. Bord, Lisa Stephanian Burton, Tracy Evlogidis, Malcolm K. Goeschl, Eleanor Pelta, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri | Morgan Lewis on 2/14/2013

EB-2 category for all chargeable areas other than China and India remains current, with minor forward movement in the EB-3 category. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its March 2013 Visa Bulletin. The Visa...more

Debunking the Current "Rift" in the Executive Branch: 3-Point Bulletin

by Howard Schweitzer | Cozen O'Connor on 2/8/2013

Much is being made in the media about the "rift" between the White House and the Departments of State and Defense and the CIA regarding arming Syrian rebels. There no doubt were strongly held views on both sides of this...more

New SEVIS Release will Address Student and Exchange Visitor Visa Overstays

by William Flynn | Fowler White Boggs P.A. on 2/7/2013

A new version of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is scheduled to release this spring. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a faction of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),...more

New Immigrant Visa Fee Imposed

by Florian Dauny | Fowler White Boggs P.A. on 2/7/2013

Effective February 1, 2013, individuals applying for immigrant visas through a U.S. Consulate abroad will be required to pay an immigrant visa fee of $165. This fee is in addition to the Department of State’s application...more

DOS Announces Mexico-US Business Facilitation Program

by Jennifer Roeper | Fowler White Boggs P.A. on 1/22/2013

The Business Facilitation Program (BFP) is designed to facilitate business travel for employees of participating companies. Qualifying firms will have access to expedited visa processing for employees traveling to the U.S. on...more

USCIS Implements New Immigrant Fee Starting February 1, 2013

by Justin S. Coffey, Andrew W. Merrills | Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on 1/18/2013

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, beginning February 1, 2013, the agency will collect a $165 Immigrant Visa Department of Homeland Security Domestic Processing Fee (USCIS Immigrant Fee)...more

Monitoring Evolving Changes in the Department of State’s Administration of the J-1 Trainee and Intern Visa Programs

by Mintz Levin - Immigration on 1/17/2013

U.S. companies that offer appropriate internships or traineeships to junior-level foreign employees who come to the U.S. to gain on-the-job training often utilize J-1 exchange visitor visa programs for interns and trainees....more

Department of State Releases February 2013 Visa Bulletin

by Eric S. Bord, Lisa Stephanian Burton, Tracy Evlogidis, Malcolm K. Goeschl, Eleanor Pelta, A. James Vázquez-Azpiri | Morgan Lewis on 1/14/2013

EB-2 category for all chargeable areas other than China and India remains current; minor forward movement in the EB-3 category. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its February 2013 Visa Bulletin. The Visa...more

State Department Introduces Online Visa Status Check

by Marcy Stras | Cozen O'Connor on 1/9/2013

DOS has introduced the online “Visa Status Check,” which allows both immigrant and nonimmigrant applicants to check the status of their cases at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC)....more

This Week in Washington - January 4, 2013

by Patton Boggs LLP on 1/9/2013

In This Issue: - DOMESTIC POLICY MATTERS - The Fiscal Cliff Compromise. With Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) stepping in over the weekend to lead negotiations, a...more

DHS Starts New Provisional Waiver Process for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens March 4

by Cox Smith on 1/4/2013

On January 2, 2013, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that allows certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are physically...more

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