Breaking News

US entry: US tightens controls starting January 2004 Big brother is watching you - at least he is at the US borders. Starting January, new equipment at all ports and airports will take fingerprints and digital photos of millions of travelers entering the US. The personal data will be compared to international wanted persons lists within a matter of minutes. Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security explained that the new measures will help them identify those who violate visa regulations or stay in the country after their visas expire. In a report by the general accounting office, the system has recently been criticized as being very risky. The goals could hardly be realized, the costs were too high, the details not fully developed and the consequences for tourism devastating, they said. The tourism industry is afraid there will be long lines at the checkpoints of ports and airports and that the new system will weaken the sector. This will affect roughly 24 million business travelers, tourists and students every year. Hutchinson dismissed these fears. The checks would only take a few minutes and improve security significantly, she said. For more information, please refer to chapter 6 "Visa and More."

Interns/trainees in the US: only one J-1 available As we have already briefly mentioned in our last issue, the US Department of State has pointed out that J-1 Visa holders cannot participate in different trainee programs several times in a row. The same applies to internships in the US. Up to now it was possible to stay for a few months several times until the maximum validity was reached depending on the individual internship program (e.g. three 6-months stays to reach the maximum period of stay of 18 months). PLEASE NOTE: The new regulation does NOT apply to trainees at airlines, students, or au pairs with a J-1 Visa.

Form DS-156 now available as electronic version The well-known form DS-156, necessary for a tourist visa, for example, is now also available as "E-filing" version. The advantage of this new offer is that there is a menu that will help you fill out the application correctly. Please note that the form is only available in English and you still have to print it out and bring it along for your interview. You cannot just send it to the consulate online as a substitute for a personal interview. Find the form on evisaforms.state.gov

Family-based immigration: new application procedure in the US In the future, applications for family-based applications will no longer be sent to the local immigration service offices but to the so-called National Benefits Centers (NBC, previously known as Missouri Service Center) to be registered and initially processed there. This also includes applications for an Employment Authorization Card (e.g. for E, L or K3 visas) as well as "advance paroles" (applications for re-entry in the case of a pending green card process through marriage to a US citizen). Applications for the adjustment of status (e.g. for H-1B or L-1 to green card status) will be forwarded to the local authorities after initial processing.

However, for now all applications should still be sent to the local offices until it is officially stated in the federal register that all applications are being handled by the National Benefit Center.

US Visa: Questions and consulting Do you have any questions concerning application processes at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services or the US consulates? Or do you need individual consultation? Our experts of our visa and consular service offer fast and comfortable advice via our hotline. Or use our free contact form on our website.