On January 1, 2008, the fee to apply for any non-immigrantan alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and NationalityThe country of a person’s citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state. Act (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens.) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. categories (INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. section 101(a)(15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INAThe Act (INA), which, along with other immigration laws, treaties, and conventions of the United States, relates to the immigration, temporary admission, naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth., and removalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. of aliens. but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the United States. visavisa allows the bearer to apply for entry to the U.S. in a certain classification (e.g. student (F), visitor (B), temporary worker (H)). A visa does not grant the bearer the right to enter the United States. The Department of State (DOS) is responsible for visa adjudication at U.S. Embassies and Consulates outside of the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspectors determine admissionEntry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS Internet web site to learn more. into, length of stay and conditions of stay in, the U.S. at a port of entry. The information on a nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. visa only relates to when an individual may apply for entry into the U.S. DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information. immigration inspectors will record the terms of your admissionEntry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS Internet web site to learn more. on your Arrival/Departure Record (I-94 white or I-94W green) and in your passport.A visavisa allows the bearer to apply for entry to the U.S. in a certain classification (e.g. student (F), visitor (B), temporary worker (H)). A visa does not grant the bearer the right to enter the United States. The Department of State (DOS) is responsible for visa adjudication at U.S. Embassies and Consulates outside of the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immigration inspectors determine admissionEntry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS Internet web site to learn more. into, length of stay and conditions of stay in, the U.S. at a port of entry. The information on a nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. visa only relates to when an individual may apply for entry into the U.S. DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information. immigration inspectors will record the terms of your admissionEntry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS Internet web site to learn more. on your Arrival/Departure Record (I-94 white or I-94W green) and in your passport. for a person who plans to live indefinitely and permanently in the United States. to enter the United States, including tourist, business, studentAs a nonimmigrantAn alien who seeks temporary entry to the United States for a specific purpose. The alien must have a permanent residence abroad (for most classes of admission) and qualify for the nonimmigrant classification sought. The nonimmigrant classifications include: foreign government officials, visitors for business and for pleasure, aliens in transit through the United States, treaty traders and investors, students, international representatives, temporary workers and trainees, representatives of foreign information media, exchange visitors, fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens, intracompany transferees, NATO officials, religious workers, and some others. Most nonimmigrants can be accompanied or joined by spouses and unmarried minor (or dependent) children. class of admissionEntry to the United States, authorized by a U.S. immigration inspector, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHSThe mission of the Department of Homeland Security -The many men and women who daily protect our borders and secure our country are committed to the safety of our homeland. DHS is now responsible for immigration and naturalizationThe conferring, by any means, of citizenship upon a person after birth.. Visit the DHS web site for more information.). When you come from abroad and first arrive in the U.S, the visa allows you to travel to the port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Admission or entering the U.S., by non-United States citizens must be authorized by a U.S. Immigration inspector at the port-of- entry, who determines whether you can enter and how long you can stay here, on any particular visit. If you are allowed to enter, how long you can stay is and the immigration classification you are given, is shown as a recorded date or Duration of Status (D/S) on Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, or Form I-94W, if arriving on the Visa Waiver Program. If you want to stay longer than the date authorized, you must request permission of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS Internet web site to learn more. , an alienAny person not a citizen or nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state of the United States. coming temporarily to the United States to pursue a full course of study in an approved program in either an academic (college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, other institution, or language training program) or a vocational or other recognized nonacademic institution. and other visas, will increase to $131 world-wide.  This increase will also apply to Border Crossing Cards.  To read more, please go to THIS LINK.

The Department of Laborcabinet level unit/ministry of United States Government that has responsibility for labor issues. It has responsibility for deciding whether certain foreign workers can work in the United States. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor web site. Backlog Elimination Center issued Round 8 of its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). To read the entire FAQ, please go to THIS LINK.

Speaking of labor certifications, the PERM system started relatively smoothly but it looks like the Department of Laborcabinet level unit/ministry of United States Government that has responsibility for labor issues. It has responsibility for deciding whether certain foreign workers can work in the United States. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Labor web site. is starting to change the rules in the middle of the game. As a result, it is important that law firms and employers adapt accordingly, and that expectations are realistic given this ever-evolving process.