Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Updated Information from DOS on Visa Bulletin Expectations for FY 2015

From the Council for Global Immigration, 08/21/2014

Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the Department of State, has provided updated information regarding what to expect for India EB-2, Philippines EB-3, China EB-3 and China EB-5 in Fiscal Year 2015.
  • India EB-2 is expected to retrogress in FY 2015, possibly as early as November 2014.  
  • Philippines EB-3 is expected to follow the worldwide cutoff date for EB-3s over the next several months.
  • China EB-3 is not expected to advance in the October Visa Bulletin.
  • China EB-5 is expected to retrogress around June 2015.  This would affect China EB-2 and EB-3 cutoff dates as well, as unused EB-5 numbers migrate to EB-1, unused EB-1 numbers migrate to EB-2, and unused EB-2 numbers migrate to EB-3.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

English Courses for Spouses

The Language Institute offers six-week courses designed for spouses of Georgia Tech employees, students and visiting scholars.

Everyday Conversation
Beginning-Low Intermediate Classes
  • Aug. 26 – Oct. 2, Tuesdays and Thursdays,10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn and practice vocabulary and idiomatic phrases needed to communicate in everyday life. 
  • Meeting Dates: Aug. 26, 28; Sept. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; Oct. 2
American Pronunciation
Intermediate to Advanced Classes
  • Aug. 26 – Oct. 2, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Noon to 1:30 p.m. Learn what aspects of your pronunciation may be interfering with how well your listeners understand you. You will learn strategies and techniques that you can use to make your pronunciation more comprehensible to listeners who may not be familiar with international accents. 
  • Meeting Dates: Aug. 26, 28; Sept. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30; Oct. 2
For more information and to register, click here: GT | Georgia Institute of Technology :: Campus Calendar - English Courses for Spouses of Tech Students


Monday, August 18, 2014

Notification Required for Russian Citizens Residing Overseas

From Fragomen.com, 08/18/2014

Notification Requirements for Russian Citizens Abroad: What Individuals Need to Know



On August 4, 2014, new notification requirements took effect for Russian citizens obtaining a permanent residence permit or citizenship overseas. Russian officials have now released standard notification forms, provided additional information on exemptions, and clarified filing deadlines. 


Russia is imposing the notification requirement to address concerns that individuals may be using dual citizenship or permanent residence abroad to avoid Russian taxes. 



The following Frequently Asked Questions address the latest developments for the new notification requirements. 

1. Who is covered by the notification requirements? 

All Russian citizens must notify the Federal Migration Service (FMS) using a prescribed form if they obtain a permanent residence permit or citizenship overseas. This includes those living in Russia and abroad as well as individuals who already held dual citizenship on August 4. 
Russian citizens on temporary work assignments overseas, including short- and long-term assignments, are not required to notify the FMS. Also exempt are Russian citizens who demonstrate that they will permanently reside abroad by either obtaining a de-registration stamp in their Russian passport or by confirming their address abroad as their formal address (using a document known as Listok Ubitia). 

2. What is the notification process? 

The required notification is completed using a standard form that is now available from the FMS. 
Completed forms must be submitted in person at either a post office or the FMS office with jurisdiction over the individual’s place of official registration in Russia. Third-parties, including legal counsel or immigration service providers, may not submit the notification form on an individual’s behalf, though they can assist in preparing the form for submission. In practice, this means that the notification can only be filed from within Russia. 
The standard form has a detachable receipt coupon that will be removed, stamped and signed by either the post office or a FMS officer and given to the individual as proof of filing. 
The FMS has yet to provide filing requirements and procedures for Russian citizens who were already residing abroad on August 4. These individuals will likely be required to complete the notification upon their next return entry to Russia, but there is no official guidance at this time. 

3. What are the filing deadlines? 

For individuals who are currently in Russia, the notification must be filed within 60 calendar days of obtaining the foreign permanent residence permit or citizenship. Individuals who already held a foreign citizenship or permanent residence as of August 4 and who are currently in Russia have until October 3 to file their notification. 
The FMS has stated informally that individuals who were already residing abroad as of August 4 will have to submit the notification within 60 days of their next entry to Russia. However, as noted above, the FMS has yet to provide official guidance on filing procedures and requirements for Russian citizens who already reside abroad. 

4. What are the penalties for failing to timely file the notification? 

Russian citizens who fail to notify the FMS within 60 days of obtaining a residence permit or citizenship in another country will be subject to criminal fines between RUB 200,000 and one-year’s salary or up to 400 hours of compulsory labor. 
Administrative fines between RUB 500 and 1,000 may be imposed for paperwork violations. 



                                                          ____________________


From Fragomen.com, 06/18/2014


Russian citizens will be required to notify the Federal Migration Service (FMS) if they obtain a residence permit or citizenship overseas, effective August 4, 2014. 

The notification requirement will apply to all Russian citizens, including those living in Russia and abroad, except those who demonstrate that they will permanently reside abroad by either obtaining a de-registration stamp in their Russian passport or by confirming their address abroad as their formal address (using a document known as Listok Ubitia). 

Russian citizens will complete the required notification using a prescribed form, which must be submitted to the FMS office with jurisdiction over the individual’s place of official registration in Russia. 

Russian citizens who fail to notify the FMS within 60 days of obtaining a residence permit or citizenship in another country will be subject to criminal fines between RUB 200,000 and one-year’s salary and up to 400 hours of compulsory labor. Administrative fines between RUB 500-1,000 may be imposed for paperwork violations. 


____________________

From Federal Migration Service, 05/28/2014


The Federation Council approved a bill requiring report on dual citizenship

Law "On Amending the Federal Law" On Citizenship of the Russian Federation "and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation" establishes the obligation of a citizen of the Russian Federation to report the presence of his foreign citizenship or the right of permanent residence in a foreign country. Russians will have to notify the Federal Migration Service of this within 60 days from the date of acquisition of another citizenship. The same period (from the date of entry into force of the Federal Law) is set for those who have acquired citizenship of another state, or the right of permanent residence in a foreign country before.
Notice of the established sample served personally to the territorial subdivision FMS of Russia or sent by mail.
For late submission of evidence of citizenship or other document confirming the right of permanent residence in a foreign country, or providing incomplete information administrative responsibility fines of up to 1 thousand rubles.
Not filed a notice face criminal liable to a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles, or compulsory labor for up to 400 hours.
This innovation will not affect those who reside outside of Russia.*
____________________

*This conflicts with the report from Fragomen.com 

Friday, August 15, 2014

Consular Consolidated Database: Updates on Operational Status

From travel.state.gov

We have made significant progress and issued most of the worldwide backlog of nonimmigrant visa cases. We are working to bring the Consular Consolidated Database back to full operational capacity. We continue to prioritize immigrant visas, adoption cases, and emergency nonimmigrant visa cases. We are printing visas for these cases and all cases with very few delays. Please check with the embassy or consulate where you will apply for additional information. Please see our FAQs for more information.


IRS "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" Now Available in 6 Languages

From the IRS Newswire, 08/12/2014

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced today that its cornerstone "Taxpayer Bill of Rights“ document is now available in six languages.

Newly-revised versions of Publication 1, "Your Rights as a Taxpayer,” are now posted on IRS.gov in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese. By making this important publication available in multiple languages, the IRS hopes to increase the number of Americans who know and understand their rights under the tax law.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights takes the multiple existing rights embedded in the tax code and groups them into 10 broad categories, making them easier to find and understand.

“We believe that these rights are critically important for people to know and understand, and translating them into additional languages helps us reach even more taxpayers,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “We encourage people to take a moment to read the Bill of Rights.”

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights contains 10 provisions. They are:
1. The Right to Be Informed
2. The Right to Quality Service
3. The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
4. The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
5. The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
6. The Right to Finality
7. The Right to Privacy
8. The Right to Confidentiality
9. The Right to Retain Representation

10. The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System

Monday, August 4, 2014

State Department Announces Longer Delay in Visa Processing Times

From OgletreeDeakins, 07/31/2014

Last week, the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) visa processing database, which controls the issuance of visas and passports at the U.S. consulates abroad, experienced system performance issues (including outages) leading to worldwide delays in visa issuances for individuals seeking entry into the United States. The malfunction in the Consular Consolidated Database stalled the processing of U.S. visas for foreign nationals at consulates around the world, and was not limited to one consulate or country.
Although the consular database is back online, travelers should expect lengthy delays in obtaining U.S. visas. As confirmed by DOS officials, consular systems are not fully operational and priority is being given to immigrant visa cases over nonimmigrant visa issuances, which are further delayed as a result of backlogs that have lengthened visa wait times. In a July 30 update, DOS acknowledged that it anticipates that “it will take weeks to resume full visa processing capacity.” Visa applicants will be notified by the consulate when their passports and visas are ready to be collected.

TCN Visa Processing in Canada “Extremely Limited” Over the Summer


U.S. visa processing posts in Canada are urging third-country national (TCN) applicants to seek appointments at other U.S. Embassies and Consulates, such as those located in the applicants’ home countries. A TCN is an individual who applies for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a country where the individual is not a citizen or national.

The U.S. Department of State has reported that, as a result of heavy demand by Canada-based visa applicants during June, July, and August, the seven Canadian posts are extremely limited in their ability to accept TCN cases during these peak demand months. Canadian posts will offer increased appointment availability for TCNs during non-peak processing times, namely October and November, and January through May. In the event of emergency cases during the peak demand period, applicants may seek consideration for scheduling an interview at a Canadian post by visiting canada.usembassy.gov.