Category : Green Cards


Green Cards Don’t Always Have Signatures, USCIS Reminds
Posted on 06/19/2015 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued a reminder that green cards (Permanent Resident Cards) do not always include the holder’s signature. In limited cases, USCIS may waive the… Read More

USCIS Begins Transferring Some Casework From Vermont to California
Posted on 11/19/2014 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently began transferring some casework from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center to balance workloads. Affected casework so far includes Form… Read More

State Dept. Releases Instructions on Applying for DV-2016 Program
Posted on 10/02/2014 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

On September 24, 2014, the Department of State (DOS) released instructions on how to apply for the diversity visa (DV) 2016 program. Entries for the DV-2016 DV program must be… Read More

Reminder: New Fee for Permanent Residence Takes Effect February 1
Posted on 02/09/2013 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

As of February 1, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun collecting a new immigrant fee of $165 from foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the United States.… Read More

DV-2014 Lottery Program Begins on October 2; DV-2013 Entrants Should Keep Confirmation Numbers
Posted on 09/16/2012 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

Online registration for the DV-2014 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at noon EDT, and will conclude on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at noon EDT. Instructions for the… Read More

Second Circuit Finds New York Law Prohibiting Nonimmigrant Pharmacists Unconstitutional
Posted on 08/22/2012 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

In Paidi v. Mills, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found unconstitutional New York Education Law § 6805(1)(6), which stated that only U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents… Read More

Posted in Green Cards,
Diversity Visa 2013 Registration Begins
Posted on 09/30/2011 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

The online registration period for the 2013 diversity visa program (DV-2013) begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at noon (EDT) and ends on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon (EDT).… Read More

ABIL Webinar Series: U.S. Investment Visas and Green Cards for Foreign Nationals
Posted on 07/12/2011 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

Many foreign entrepreneurs want to start businesses or invest in the United States. Other wealthy individuals want green cards to live in the United States, but may be hesitant because… Read More

How to Protect Personal Data in Redesigned Green Card
Posted on 06/16/2011 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

One of USCIS’s recent improvements to the green card is an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports of entry… Read More

USCIS Issues Policy Memo Disallowing Concurrent Filings for Special Immigrant Religious Workers
Posted on 01/13/2011 by Mark A. Ivener, A Law Corporation

Any Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) where the underlying basis for adjustment is an I-360 petition for a special immigrant religious worker must be filed based on an approved I-360 petition.