J-1 Visa

On October 1, 2020, a federal district court in National Association of Manufacturers v. Department of Homeland Security (NAM) enjoined the government from enforcing section 2 of Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10052 against named plaintiffs and members of the plaintiff associations. The named plaintiffs include: the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, TechNet, and Intrax, Inc. Therefore, any J-1, H-1B, H-2B, or L-1 applicant who is either sponsored (as an exchange visitor) by, petitioned by, or whose petitioner is a member of, one of the above named organizations is no longer subject to PP 10052’s entry restrictions
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The U.S. has come to rely upon physicians from other countries coming here to practice medicine. In fact, the U.S.
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On August 12, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance regarding the June 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamation. This Presidential Proclamation restricted issuance of visas for H, L, and certain J nonimmigrants. Almost two months later, the Department of State issued updated guidance regarding these restrictions.
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On July 24, 2020, ICE issued an update on the Federal guidance for the Fall 2020 semester students which states that the F and M students and schools certified by SEVP should abide by guidance issued in March 2020.

The guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency generated by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9 and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the U.S. or abroad. SEVP will not issue a temporary final rule impacting nonimmigrant students for the fall school term.
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The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced modifications Monday to temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online classes due to the pandemic for the fall 2020 semester. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to publish the procedures and responsibilities in the Federal Register as a Temporary Final Rule.

Temporary exemptions for the fall 2020 semester include:
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The coronavirus pandemic has affected day-to-day life for everyone, including foreign nationals who planned to participate in the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program. These programs use on-the-job training and are often planned months in advanced.
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What visa do I need to attend an American college?

The United States has some of the greatest colleges and universities in the nation. The U.S. is considered the top country of choice by the largest number of international students. At present, at least one million international students are enrolled in U.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to adjust fees charged by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to individuals and organizations. DHS proposes to raise the fee for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Form I-901, Fee Remittance for Certain F, J, and M Nonimmigrants, for nonimmigrants seeking to become academic (F visa) or vocational (M visa) students from $200 to $350.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a policy memorandum changing how the agency will calculate unlawful presence for students and exchange visitors in F, J, and M nonimmigrant status, including F-2, J-2, or M-2 dependents, who fail to maintain their status in the United States.
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How can I obtain an academic visa to come to the United States?

The United States has some of the greatest academic programs and institutions in the world.  Foreign students desiring to come to the U.S. to study can apply for an F-1 visa.  Thousands of schools across the nation are approved to accept foreign students as full time students.

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United States immigration polices are often complex and can be very confusing. If you are an international student who is looking to come to the United States to study or work, there are several different academic visas that you might be able to obtain.
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