Posts Tagged ‘passport’
Anti-Fraud Enhancements Added to E-Verify
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded the E-Verify program to include U.S. passport photo matching, which allows employers participating in E-Verify to automatically check the validity and authenticity of all U.S. passports and passport cards presented for employment verification. The goal of this addition is to prevent and detect the use of fraudulent documents.
The E-Verify program allows employers and businesses to check the work authorization of their employees online for purposes of completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Vertification. Originally, the E-Verify system cross-checked background information in the DHS and Social Security databases. With the addition of passport photo matching, employers are now able to compare the data presented with Department of State records.
Enrollment in the E-Verify program is voluntary for most and mandatory for employers holding Federal contracts or Federal subcontracts.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you have questions about the E-Verify program.
Tags: E-verify, employment eligibility, fraud, I-9, passport
Posted in Alerts, Employment Verification | Read More »
VISA FEES TO INCREASE JULY 13, 2010
This is an update to a previous post on June 3, 2010, regarding passport and visa fee increases. The Department of State (DOS) is in the process of developing a final rule regarding its current passport and visa fee structure. The first proposed rule in March 2010 received over 1700 comments from individuals, businesses, advocates and attorneys. As a result, the DOS has developed an interim rule effective July 13, 2010, that will increase various passport and visa fees while they figure out the final rule’s parameters.
The interim rule changes the fees as follows:
1. The application fee for a U.S. passport book for an adult (age 16 and older) is increased from $55 to $70. The application fee for a passport book for a minor (under age 16) will remain at $40.
2. The passport book security surcharge is increased from $20 to $40
3. There will be an $82 fee for adding extra pages to an existing passport (this used to be a free service)
4. The adult passport card application fee is increased from $20 to $30 and the minor passport card application fee from $10 to $15
5. The fee for verifying U.S. citizenship when no evidence is presented is increased from $60 to $150
6. The fee for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (U.S. citizen birth in foreign country) is increased from $65 to $100
7. The application fee for a family-based visa (processed on the basis of an I-130, I-600 or I-800 petition) will be $330
8. The application fee for an employment-based visa (processed on the basis of an I-140 petition) will be $720
9. Other immigrant visa applications (including for diversity visa applicants, I-360 self- petitioners, special immigrant visa applicants, and all others) will have a processing fee of $305
10. The immigrant visa security surcharge will increase from $45 to $74
Please refer to our June 3, 2010 post for the nonimmigrant fee changes currently in effect. Please also stay-tuned for an update on the final rule to be implemented. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact our immigration law firm with any questions.
Tags: consulate, Department of State, embassy, immigrant, nonimmigrant, passport, visa fees
Posted in Alerts, Immigrant Visas, Nonimmigrant Visas | Read More »
