Business Immigration Insights

On August 11, 2010, the State Department published its final revised rule on J-1 Interns and Trainees.  The revised rule makes 3 key changes.  First, host companies no longer must provide a Dun & Bradstreet report  Second, program sponsors may interview candidates by phone rather than only in person or by videoconference.  And third, both interns and trainees may participate in unlimited J-1 programs as long as they will develop more advanced skills or train in a different field of expertise in each new program.  Interns must still be enrolled full-time in a foreign college or university or ...

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton has enjoined the state of Arizona from implementing key provisions of its anti-immigrant law, which is set to take effect at midnight tonight.  Calling it a "substantial likelihood" that the law would lead to "wrongful arrest" of legal resident aliens, Judge Bolton ruled the State may not require police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop for other violations until courts decide whether the provision is permissible.  She also ruled the State may not require immigrants to carry immigration documentation or prohibit ...

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced that, as of June 4, 2010, nonimmigrant visa fees have increased at its U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.  In the Federal Register notice announcing the move, DOS explained that increases are necessary because an independent study from August 2007 to June 2009 concluded the agency "is not fully covering its costs ... under the current cost structure."  Petition-based visa fees for temporary workers -- such as H-1B, L-1 and O-1 -- increased from $131 to $150.  E-1 (treaty trader) and E-2 (treaty investor) visa fees increased almost ...