US Implements Limits to Hungarian Nationals’ ESTA Authorizations

On August 1, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the validity period for travel to the US offered to citizens or nationals of Hungary under the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”) utilizing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (“ESTA”) has been reduced from two years to one year. Additionally, only single visits will be allowed under each ESTA application, as opposed to multiple entries.  According to the US Embassy in Budapest, the reduction of ESTA validity is due to the “Hungarian Government’s inaction” to meet VWP security requirements in line with its “simplified naturalization process” granting Hungarian citizenship “to nearly one million people between 2011 and 2020 without adequate security measures in place to verify their identities.” The reduction in ESTA validity will affect new ESTA applications received after the implementation of the regulation on August 1, 2023 and is not retroactive. All ESTA approvals granted before August 1, 2023 remain valid for two years and more than one entry. 

"Summer for the City" at Lincoln Center

Photos by Lauren Smith

As the temperatures rise and we all daydream of escaping our routine for the great outdoors, Lincoln Center is once again inviting us to the second annual “Summer for the City”, where vanguard artist Clint Ramos, has ensured every inch of the campus has been transformed and delights the senses. Mr. Ramos, a TONY Award Winning artist who was born and raised in the Philippines, is a creative force who has graced over two hundred theater, opera, and dance productions with his vision. With Mr. Ramos’ eye catching designs as the backdrop, ongoing concerts and dances complete with a mega disco ball, Lincoln Center welcomes us all to “come together, see yourselves, and find your home away from home.” 

As summer gets under way, we will be taking a holiday from our regular postings for summer until Labor Day, but please check in with us for any significant immigration developments. Wishing you a splendid summer!

"A Wild Life for Wildlife" by Gillie and Marc

Photos by Sophie Singh

Contemporary artists Gillie and Marc, known as “eco warriors, with a deep respect for the close spiritual bond between humans and animals” are taking us to the wild side at The World Trade Center with their latest exhibition “A Wild Life For Wildlife”.  Rabbitwoman and Dogman, Gillie and Marc’s best known and beloved characters, take us on a journey with endangered animals who ride in tandem in hopes for a better tomorrow. Gillie and Marc invite the public to join the beautiful, endangered creatures in a quest to educate the public about each animal’s “life, needs, and threats..putting wildlife conservation at the center of people’s cities and lives.” With a sister exhibition running alongside in London, we can help share endangered species’ stories through the hashtag #LoveTheLast.

"Play The Hand That's Dealt You" by Yvonne Wells

Crafting quilts dates back to the seventeenth century and the art of quilting, which was championed by enslaved females, became a way to preserve Black History, culture, and oral storytelling. Yvonne Wells, an African-American folk artist and quilter hailing from Tuscaloosa, Alabama is known for her beautifully crafted narrative quilts which tell stories of US history, cultural icons, and religious subject matter. A self-taught artist, Ms. Wells weaves heritage techniques in her work, yet “she embraces an intuitive approach, sewing together fragments of fabric by hand into the compositions she envisions in her mind.” As the artist has remarked, “the materials I use have their own stories and histories… the quilts talk to me, and I listen.” Ms. Wells’ fascinatingly crafted works speak to us all and you can catch the exhibit “Play The Hand That’s Dealt You” at The Fort Gansevoort Gallery until August 12th.