Us visa news today
Here are the latest updates on US visa news:
Recent Developments:
- New Public Charge Rule: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new public charge rule, effective February 24, 2020. The rule aims to ensure that immigrants who are granted a visa or green card are self-sufficient and not likely to become a public charge.
- Travel Ban Update: The US Supreme Court has upheld the Trump administration's travel ban, which restricts travel to the US from several countries with high levels of terrorism or instability.
- Visa Interview Waiver Program: The US Department of State has expanded its Visa Interview Waiver Program, allowing certain applicants to skip the in-person interview process for non-immigrant visas.
- Premium Processing Fee Increase: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has increased the premium processing fee for H-1B, H-2B, L-1, and O-1 petitions from $1,410 to $1,440.
- New Visa Categories: The US Department of State has introduced new visa categories, including the "U" visa for victims of human trafficking and the "T" visa for victims of severe forms of trafficking.
Upcoming Changes:
- Public Charge Rule Effective Date: The new public charge rule is set to take effect on February 24, 2020.
- H-1B Visa Lottery: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct the H-1B visa lottery for the 2021 fiscal year in March 2020.
- Green Card Backlog Reduction: The US Department of State has announced plans to reduce the backlog of green card applications by increasing the number of visas available and improving processing times.
Recent Policy Changes:
- Asylum Policy: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a new asylum policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed.
- Migrant Protection Protocols: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its Migrant Protection Protocols, which require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed.
- Travel Restrictions: The US Department of State has imposed travel restrictions on several countries, including Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, due to concerns over terrorism, instability, and human rights abuses.
Recent Court Decisions:
- Travel Ban Ruling: A federal appeals court has upheld the Trump administration's travel ban, which restricts travel to the US from several countries with high levels of terrorism or instability.
- Asylum Ruling: A federal court has blocked the Trump administration's asylum policy, which requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed.
Please note that these updates are subject to change and may not be comprehensive. It's always best to check with the US Department of State, USCIS, or a qualified immigration attorney for the most up-to-date information on US visa news.