Serotte Reich, LLP – Immigration Law

The Department of State recently announced that it has extended visa validity periods for Chinese citizens visiting the U.S. under certain visa classifications. Chinese applicants for a B-category non-immigrant visa may now be issued multiple-entry visas for up to 10 years for business and travel. Qualified Chinese students and exchange visitors who qualify for F, […]Read More >

The U.S. Department of State has announced changes in the issuance and admission dates for F, M and J Visas: • Initial F-1 & F-2 / M-1 & M-2 Visas – Individuals may now be issued these visas up to 120 days before the program start date as listed on their I-20s. However, these individuals […]Read More >

USCBP has informed NASFA that it will no longer stamp F-1 visa holders’ I-20 forms when F-1 students enter the U.S. This change may result in some F-1 visa students having difficulty in establishing their F-1 visa status in order to receive certain benefits from state agencies. Students experiencing these types of problems should contact […]Read More >

During a recent liaison meeting between AILA and USCBP’s Chicago Field Office, the question was raised whether an F-1 visa student who had transferred to a new school required a new F-1 visa stamp with the new school’s name in order to re-enter the U.S. after travel abroad. The Chicago Field Office stated that as […]Read More >

The Senate has recently introduced a proposed law called the SMART Jobs Act (S. 3192), which would create a new F-4 visa classification for individuals pursuing Masters and PhD programs in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Individuals under an F-4 visa would be eligible for 1-year of employment authorization following completion of their […]Read More >