The U.S. Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) has granted certiorari to hear Department of State v. Muñoz, at the request of the Biden Administration. The stakes are high. It challenges the longstanding “doctrine of consular...more
The U.S. embassy in Israel announced, on October 16, 2023, that it would cease immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services due to the country’s unpredictable security situation. Shortly after the U.S. embassy made this...more
The U.S. Department of State recently announced that it is developing the capability to issue digital visa authorizations (DVA) instead of the traditional visas that are printed and placed in applicants’ passports. This...more
On August 3, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) replaced the endorsed Form I-129S for L-1 blanket petitions with an I-129S approval notice that will now serve as the endorsement....more
In 2020, Japan imposed strict COVID-19 measures which, among other things, has since prevented most Americans from entering Japan. Japan’s border closings created a dilemma for litigators who needed to depose a witness in...more
On March 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of State published final adjustments to the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services for several nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees and the fee for border crossing cards...more
Newly released data from the U.S. Department of State shows that U.S. consular posts abroad have made significant progress in reaching pre-pandemic levels of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance during fiscal year (FY)...more
On December 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that the secretary of state has extended consular officers’ authority to waive the in-person visa interview requirement through December 31, 2023. This extension of...more
The U.S. Department of State announced on May 16, 2022, a series of measures aimed at supporting the Cuban people and independent Cuban entrepreneurs and loosening Trump-era restrictions that largely isolated the island and...more
The Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain non-immigrant visa applicants with approved...more
The U.S. secretary of state, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has authorized consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants through the end of...more
Join us on Thursday, October 7, 2021, for the next installment of “HR Legalist Live,” where Obermayer attorneys bring their popular blog to life. This virtual presentation will include: LABOR LAW UPDATE: WHAT TO EXPECT...more
As the summer kicks in and the global pandemic begins to shift in some countries, people are ready to travel, no matter the obstacles in the way. Curiously, while travel and visa rules are usually bilateral in nature, that is...more
It’s been 14 months since COVID changed the way we travel across borders, and our ability to do so worldwide. As the pandemic continues to impact countries across the globe, the United States is seeing its lowest numbers of...more
U.S. Embassy Moscow recently announced plans to reduce its consular workforce by 75 percent and significantly reduce its consular services. The announcement comes in response to the Russian government’s move to ban the U.S....more
On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of State announced further tightening of its COVID-19 restrictions for foreign nationals present in the Schengen areas of Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Anthony Blinken, the...more
I often remind readers – government prosecutors regularly tell you what they plan to do in advance, and then they do it. So do not be surprised when the government does something they told you they would do....more
The Department of State has recently announced that U.S. Embassies and Consulates will begin a phased resumption of processing routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Such cases will include travelers with urgent travel...more
On July 14th, the U.S. Department of State announced plans to reopen consular posts for routine visa services. DOS indicates that consulates will reopen on a phased post-by-post basis, depending on local conditions concerning...more
On July 14, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced that U.S. consulates and embassies around the world have begun a phased resumption of routine visa services. The Department of State did not provide a specific timeline...more
On July 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced that certain U.S. embassies and consulates around the world will soon resume visa services. This worldwide suspension of U.S. visas has been one of several ways the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Department of State has suspended routine visa services in most countries worldwide. Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments...more
The current National Emergency is resulting in rapid changes to US immigration law and policy. We are monitoring those changes and will continue to update these FAQs with new developments...more
The U.S. Department of State announced on March 18, 2020, that it has suspended all routine visa services, including immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments, in most countries worldwide. It is not yet known how long the...more
In an effort to allay concerns and to enable our clients to adjust plans relevant to nonimmigrant or immigrant visa status in light of the current unprecedented situation, we are providing you with this update regarding...more