The Compass Immigration News to help Employers, Families and Individuals navigate the legal system to successfully achieve their immigration goals.
More Restrictive Rules and Requirements for “Public Charge” Issues
Both the Department of State (DOS) and the Immigration Service (CIS) have issued new requirements for anyone seeking a visa to enter the US or requesting entry at a Port of Entry (POE). The “Public Charge” rules address the question of whether a person can afford to live in the US, even temporarily. Every visa […]
When is a $100,000 Fee Not a $100,000 Fee?
Most of our readers are now well aware of the new $100,000 filing fee for H-1 cases. This fee is the result of an Executive Order from the President. The Order is illegal, and, as discussed in a previous article about how it violates the Administrative Procedures Act, it almost certainly will be invalidated by […]
The End of Third-Country Visas
For many years, and especially during COVID, the State Department (DOS) allowed certain non-immigrants to apply for and obtain a visa at US consulates other than those in countries where they reside and/or hold nationality. Most often this would be an Indian or Chinese applicant applying for a non-immigrant visa at a US consulate in […]
A $100,000 Filing Fee for H-1 Petitions
In the never-ending parody of what is normally a legal, valid and consistent Presidential Administration (herein after the Trump Administration (TA), the President issued an Executive Order which attempts to raise the filing fee for H-1 petitions by the unbelievable amount of $100,000. The first thing to notice in this “Alice in Wonderland” world created […]
Important New Rules for Non-Immigrant Visa Applications
The US State Department (DOS) is in the process of requiring Non-Immigrant visa applications (on Form DS-160) to be filed at least two days before the interview for the visa. Please note that this means two business days. Weekends and holidays (for the US or the country where the DS-160 is filed) are not included. […]
Navigating the Very Confusing “Registration” Process
The Department of Homeland Security and USCIS have issued new “registration” requirements. These are actually very old rules which have never been required in the past. We would, of course, expect the Trump Administration to use any and all opportunities to make life more difficult for foreign nationals. The list of those required to register […]
F-1 Students Losing Status
Across the United States, F-1 students in many cases have been notified by their International Office that their SEVIS registration has been terminated. There are various reasons given for this termination, but the important point is that the student was not permitted to provide any evidence or argument regarding their status before the termination. In […]
A Very Scary Time for F-1 International Students
The Trump Administration continues to expand its list of legal immigrants who it seeks to remove from the US. The newest cases are F-1 International Students who are legally studying in the US, the vast majority of whom have no criminal convictions and nothing on their record that warrants forced removal. The attack on the […]
What to Do While Waiting on an Asylum Case
Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are waiting in the US for their first Asylum interview, or may be at other points in the process. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those cases will be denied. It will take several years, in most cases many years, to get a final decision but everyone should understand the […]