Immigration Newsletter

Controlling Alien Admission - Nonimmigrants - Visa Types - Exchange Visitors, "J" and "Q" Visas

Under United States immigration law, there are two types of exchange visitors to the U.S. The visas issued to those visitors are designated by the letters "J" and "Q." J visas are designed to allow those participating in educational and cultural exchange programs designated by the Department of State (DOS) to visit the U.S. temporarily. Because the aim of these programs is to share knowledge and skills in the arts, sciences, and education, typical participants include students, employees in training, teachers and professors, and researchers.More...

Waivers as a Form of Relief from Exclusion or Removal

Exclusion and removal from the United States can be a drastic fate for aliens. One form of relief from the consequences of exclusion or removal is a "waiver." More...

Controlling Alien Admission - Humanitarian Parole

Parole is a procedure whereby an inadmissible alien is permitted to enter the United States for a temporary period due to some type of emergency situation. Humanitarian parole is authorized by § 212 of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), which gives discretionary authority to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to parole aliens into the United States on a case-by-case basis for "urgent humanitarian reasons" or "significant public benefit." Humanitarian parole is only available to aliens who are outside the United States. More...

Controlling Alien Admission-Immigrants - Administrative-Consul Issuance and Validity of Immigrant Visas

A United States consul is authorized to issue an immigrant visa after an applicant has met all of the prerequisites for issuance and after the consul is satisfied that the applicant is eligible for admission to the U.S.More...

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM)

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) is a federal law proposed in the United States Senate that would change current immigration laws to be more favorable to aliens who were minors and who have been educated in the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed a bill along the same lines, and it is called the Student Adjustment Act. More...