Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Category: Visas


State Dept. Announces End to Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program, Seeks Extension

The Department of State has announced that it expects to finish issuing all 3,000 visas for fiscal year 2014 under a special program for Afghans by July 2014. The agency’s authority to issue special immigrant visas (SIVs) to Afghan nationals under the Afghan Allies Protection Act, as amended, is limited to 3,000 visas for Afghan… Read More

Dept. of State Releases DV-2015 Results

The Department of State’s Kentucky Consular Center has registered and notified those selected in the DV-2015 diversity visa lottery. Approximately 125,514 applicants have been registered and notified, and may now apply for an immigrant visa. The Department said it is likely that not all of those registered will pursue their cases to visa issuance. Therefore,… Read More

Government Agency Links

Follow these links to access current processing times of the USCIS Service Centers and the Department of Labor, or the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin with the most recent cut-off dates for visa numbers: USCIS Service Center processing times online Department of Labor processing times and information on backlogs Department of State Visa Bulletin… Read More

State Dept. Predicts Visa Availability in the Coming Months; Visa Bulletin Moved

Visa availability In the Visa Bulletin for March 2014, the Department of State’s Visa Office makes the following estimates of visa availability in the coming months: EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement) Employment First: Current Employment Second: Worldwide: Current China: Three to five weeks India: No forward movement Employment Third: Worldwide. This cut-off date has been… Read More

Visa Bulletin Shows Advancement in Several Categories

The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for February 2014 shows advancement in priority dates for several employment-based categories. The employment-based third preference “Worldwide” and “Other Workers” categories both advanced two months, from April 1, 2012, to June 1, 2012. The China-mainland born employment-based second preference category moved ahead one month, from December 8, 2008, to… Read More