-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
In February 2023, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) provided updated guidance that consular officers can now issue an F or M student visa up to 365 days in advance of an international student’s program start date. This new guidance does not change the requirement for issuing Forms I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has announced the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , and wish to request a premium processing upgrade. Online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers , under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Unlike previous phases of the expansion, this phase applies to new (initial) petitions, in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
On Aug. 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. This determination immediately affects two immigration-related student programs: English language study programs, as the programs are required to be accredited under the Accreditation of English Language ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
The Embassy of US in India has announced that it is closing in-person appointments for students after interviewing a record number of applicants for the winter student season, which runs from October 1 to January 15. More than 55,000 Indian students and exchange visitors to the United States were given student visas, an all-time high number in the last season despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The US ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides certain nonimmigrants the opportunity to request a change to a different nonimmigrant classification for which they qualify. USCIS has historically only granted applications to change to F-1 status that fall within 30 days of the program start date listed on the applicant’s Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (Form I20). ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
Studying in the United States can be expensive for American and international students alike. Therefore, obtaining employment opportunities can be extremely beneficial to help reduce college-related expenses. Our Dallas immigration attorneys explain whether foreign nationals can legally work while studying in the United States. If you need legal assistance getting your student visa, contact our ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs, of North Carolina, issued a decision on February 6, 2020, permanently enjoining nationwide the Trump administration’s change in “unlawful presence” policy set forth in a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memorandum, “Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants.” The policy previously was temporarily blocked by the same judge while ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
What’s the Best Visa for Students? When searching for a visa, it can be difficult to know where to start. While there are two main categories of visas in the United States, nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, there are dozens of different types of visas within those categories. So how can you know which visa is best for you? The Visa for Exchange Students There is a specific visa for work and study ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
With the new administration came a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, and America’s education institutions are feeling the changes. Fewer and fewer foreign students are applying for student visas, and universities are receiving fewer international applicants. This trend is particularly worrying for institutions that rely on international students to fill their programs. Students who are applying to ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
A student that wishes to enter the United States will need to obtain a student visa. As there are numerous student visas, it is possible to obtain the wrong one, be denied by the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) due to the error, and potentially miss a semester of schooling or more. If you intend to enter the U.S. for the benefit of your education, it is beneficial to ...
Continue Reading
-
Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
Many foreign students who are studying in the United States with an F-1 nonimmigrant visa do so with the belief that they must return to their residential country upon completion of their studies. While this is indeed an option, it is not uncommon for international students to wish to stay after graduation and pursue employment opportunities in the United States. In situations such as these, the ...
Continue Reading
