Early in 2013, the Illinois became one of the first U.S. states to pass legislation that would permit undocumented immigrant residents to obtain driver’s licenses. Eleven months later, the state is officially ready to start issuing new Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses (example at left) to undocumented immigrants in order to improve the lives and safety of everyone on Illinois roads.
Topics: Deferred Action (DACA) Updates, Immigration Reform Updates, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
The D visa is a non-immigrant (temporary) visa for foreign national crewmembers on ships, cruise liners, and airplanes. Like the C visa, you must intend to depart the U.S. on the same vessel or on another vessel within 29 days. If you are a crewmember traveling to the U.S. to begin passage on a plane or ship, you would apply for the combination C-1/D (transit/crewmember) visa.
Topics: Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
The December 2013 visa bulletin was just released by the U.S. State Department, and the news is a mixed bag for work and family-based green card applicants. The priority dates for the F2A family visa category, which was current in August, continue to stay put. All family-based green card categories besides the F2A and Mexico groups saw advancements in their priority dates.
Topics: Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
This Veteran’s Day, we express our gratitude towards all of those who have served in the United States military, especially those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of the country. Not everyone realizes that many of our nation’s veterans are U.S. immigrants, and they have played crucial roles in our nation’s military efforts since the Declaration of Independence. As we are a nation of immigrants, it should come as no surprise that immigrants and the U.S. military have depended on each other since this country was founded.
Topics: Immigration Reform Updates, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
The C visa or U.S. transit visa is an extremely short-term visa for individuals passing through the United States in immediate and continuous transit. Generally, Like B visas, C visas are not necessary for citizens of member countries of the Visa Waiver Program. Each person traveling regardless of age needs their own C visa. The maximum duration of any C visa is no more than 29 days.
Topics: Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
Did you know that USCIS officially took over immigration service duties of the federal government only on March 1, 2003? On that date, USCIS was formed to “enhance the security and improve the efficiency of national immigration services by exclusively focusing on the administration of benefit applications.” (http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/our-history) In addition to USCIS, you have probably heard of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These elements of the Department of Homeland Security deal with immigration enforcement and carrying out actions in order to ensure border security.
Topics: Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
Did you know that scheduling an appointment for your non-immigrant visa can differ vastly from consulate to consulate?
Topics: Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
At VISANOW, we have revolutionized the legal immigration experience through technology, professional expertise, and innovative thinking. It only makes sense to have a modern, innovative website to match. We have taken our website to the next level with a redesign and restructuring that will continue to improve the overall immigration experience for our visitors and clients.
Topics: For Human Resources Professionals, Work-Based Visas, Personal and Family Visas, Immigration Blog
UPDATE: Following the Boston Marathon bombing, the Washington Post and others reported that the bombers were refugees. Other reports, however, have indicated that the Tsarnaev brothers were not refugees — they arrived in the United States as young children of an asylee. As a State Department official told Bloomberg, their father came to the United States on a tourist visa and applied for asylum.