April 2003

Mexico & US Renew Immigration Talks

Mexico renewed its call for the United States to grant amnesty to some 4 million undocumented Mexicans inside U.S. territory, this time arguing that U.S. security is at stake.

Ciudad Juarez to Resume Some Third Country Processing

The U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez has advised AILA’s State Department Liaison Committee that it plans to resume processing of some nonimmigrant visas for third country nationals (“TCNs”).

May Visa Bulletin Now Available

The Department of State has released the new Visa Bulletin for May 2003. Click the "Visa Bulletin" link on the left to see the new bulletin.

Visa Restrictions Against Belarus Lifted

The United States Government has decided in tandem with fourteen member countries of the European Union to rescind visa restrictions relating to Belarus.

BCIS Reports on FY 2002 H-1B Usage

The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) announced the statistics for the number of H-1B petitions filed and approved during fiscal year 2002, which ended on September 30.

Telephone Inquiries to Move From Service Centers to National Number

AILA has been advised that BCIS intends to close the Information Officer telephone lines at the service centers and move the function to the BCIS 800 Customer Service Line. This change is projected to begin June 1, 2003.

Mexican National Arrested on Charges of Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud

A former seller of U.S. visas in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, was arrested Wednesday in Laredo, Texas, on charges of conspiring with former U.S. Consulate employees to commit visa fraud.