A Welcome Change: Faster
Employment-Based Green Cards
Good news for foreign nationals trying to obtain an
employment-based green card. On July 31st, the INS announced
that they will now accept simultaneous filings of the I-140, the
underlying petition for an employment-based immigrant visa, and
the I-485, the permanent residence application if the visa
number is available. In addition to new applications, I-140s
that are currently pending fall under the new concurrent filing
rule. However, the alien must include proof of the pending I-140
petition. A copy of their I-797, or Notice of Action, must
accompany the I-485 filing.
Learn More
Slowdown in INS Green Card Processing Likely After New
Security Mandate
On Friday, May 10, 2002, the INS sent out an agency-wide
memo requiring that the names of applicants for green cards and
naturalizations be checked against the Interagency Border
Inspection System (IBIS) database. This database contains
criminal information and immigration histories compiled from the
FBI, the INS, the U.S. Customs Service, and other government
agencies.Learn
More
House Votes to Abolish the INS
As you may have seen, yesterday the U.S. House of
Representatives voted to abolish the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS) and create two new bureaus that
would handle its functions. VisaNow.com feels that this is the
beginning of a long process of restructuring the way that U.S.
immigration is handled by the government. The passage of this
bill in the House may lead to fast approval a parallel bill in
the Senate.
Learn More
Major Changes Pending for Business Visitor, Tourist, and
Student Visas
On April 8, 2002, the INS announced several proposed changes to
the visitor and student visa programs. These new policies are
intended to give the agency more control over the programs that
admit millions of immigrants into the U.S. each year.Learn
More
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