Will Your Immigration Case Be Impacted by the New Rule that Went into Effect on Jan. 17th?

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Immigrant Visas, Non-Immigrant Visas

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule “Retention of EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers” took effect on January 17, 2017. The rule amends regulations related to certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visa programs, so you may be wondering if you will be impacted.

If your case is adjudicated after January 17th, 2017, it will be subject to the new rule.

Immigration Success Story: Employment-Based EB-2

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EB-2, Green Card, Immigrant Visas, PERM

Employment-Based Green Card for Physical Therapist

We regularly help clients in petitioning for permanent resident status (“green card”) for their employees with specialized knowledge and advanced degrees. This month, we are highlighting the success story of a Doctor of Physical Therapy who was able to obtain a green card.

Previously, we worked to prepare H-1B petitions for him on behalf of his employer. We were very happy to learn that his employer, a highly successful sports organization, decided to petition for an employment-based green card for him so that he could stay on a permanent basis in the United States.

New Consular Fees for Immigrant Visas and Passports

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Immigrant Visas, Travel and Passports

Following an increase in consular fees for non-immigrant visa applications, the Department of State recently announced changes in fees for immigrant visa applications as well as passport services for U.S. citizens.

As before, the new fees will help to cover the true cost of processing visa and passport applications and the operating costs for consular posts overseas, domestic passport agencies and other service centers.

The prior fee for immigrant visa applications was $355.  The new fees are as follows:

• Family Based Preference Visas – Fee lowered to $330.
• Employment Based Preference visas – Fee increased to $720.
• Other immigrant visas – Fee lowered to $305.

Additional charges for immigrant visas, like the security surcharge, the diversity visa lottery surcharge, the fees for reviews of affidavits of support and determining returning resident status will also see changes in their cost.

U.S. citizens wishing to apply for or renew their passports will see fee hike as well.  Fees for Adult passport applications will rise from $100 to $135 and minor passport applications will see an increase from $85 to $105.  Adult passport renewals will now cost $110, up from $75.  Those wishing to obtain a passport card, which allows for easy travel in the western hemisphere, will see a slight increase from $45 to $55 for adults and $35 to $40 for minors.

For more information on the new processing fees, click here.