Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Category: F Visas


ICE Approves Special Relief for Certain F-1 Haitian Students

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved special relief for certain F-1 Haitian students who have suffered severe economic hardship as result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti. This relief applies only to students who were lawfully present in the United States in F-1 status on January 12, and enrolled in an… Read More

USCIS Discusses Extension of Post-Completion Optional Practical Training and F-1 Status for Students Under H-1B Cap-Gap Regulations

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a Q&A (questions and answers) document on April 2, 2010, that addresses the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the United States for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date… Read More

State Dept. Withdraws Proposed Rule on Secondary School Students Under Exchange Visitor Program

On December 23, 2009, the State Department published a proposed rule on secondary school students under the Exchange Visitor Program. The Department revised existing regulations “to provide greater specificity and clarity to sponsors of the Secondary School Student category with respect to the execution of sponsor oversight responsibilities under the exchange visitor program.” The Department… Read More

USCIS Issues Q&A on Cap Gap Extension of Post-Completion Practical Training and F-1 Status for Eligible Students

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued questions and answers addressing the automatic extension of F-1 student status in the U.S. for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions (indicating a request for change of status from F-1 to H-1B) for an employment start date of October 1, 2009, under the FY 2010… Read More

SEVIS Fees Increasing October 27, ICE Clarifies Procedures

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement published a final rule effective October 27, 2008, that increases the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) school certification petition fees and the application fees for nonimmigrants seeking to become academic (F visa) or vocational (M visa) students, or exchange visitors (J visa).