It’s official, almost. Implementation of the new H-1B filing process for 2020 is fast approaching and more details have been released. DHS published a notice in the Federal Register on January 9, 2020, which officially...more
1/29/2020
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
New Regulations ,
USCIS ,
Visas
As 2019 draws to a close and millions of people contemplate their resolutions for the new year, USCIS made good on their promise (discussed in our prior article) and announced the implementation of a new H-1B filing process...more
12/10/2019
/ Diversity Lottery ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
New Regulations ,
Registration Requirement ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Employers who file I-129 petitions to sponsor foreign nationals for work visas make a number of representations to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about the terms of the foreign national’s employment,...more
11/20/2019
/ Buy America ,
Domestic Hiring Policy ,
E-1 ,
E-2 ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Executive Orders ,
FDNS ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Fraud and Abuse ,
Hiring & Firing ,
I-129 ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Investigations ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Often times, the first question asked by employment-based Green Card beneficiaries during an initial strategy consultation is, “How long until I have my Green Card in hand?” While the answer varies depending on the particular...more
8/24/2019
/ EB-1 ,
EB-2 ,
EB-3 ,
EB-4 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
PERM ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visa Bulletins ,
Visas
PERM can be one of the most confusing and frustrating portions of the employment-based Green Card process for employers. PERM is driven by numerous regulatory requirements and the slightest mistake can doom a Green Card...more
7/11/2019
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Filing Requirements ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Certifications ,
PERM ,
Prevailing Wages ,
Recruitment Policies ,
USCIS ,
Visas ,
Wage and Hour
Now that the April 1, 2019 H-1B visa deadline has passed, thousands of employers may find themselves looking for an alternative to employ valuable foreign workers. While not receiving as much media popularity as the H-1B...more
4/16/2019
/ E-2 ,
Foreign Investment ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Investors ,
L-Visas ,
USCIS ,
Visas
When you apply for visas for your employees, the employees will probably be required to appear at a U.S. Consulate in his or her home country to finish the visa application. President Trump’s directive that U.S. Consulates...more
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order today that granted the Trump Administration’s petitions for certiorari and partially granted the Administration’s motions to stay injunctions of the so-called “travel ban.” This means...more
6/28/2017
/ Bona Fide Relationship Test ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
National Security ,
Refugees ,
SCOTUS ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
The first months of President Trump’s administration have been a whirlwind of activity, and certainly immigration has been the subject of several executive orders and much controversy. The natural question that arises from...more
5/18/2017
/ Buy American Act ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Domestic Hiring Policy ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Form I-9 ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
NAFTA ,
Popular ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
US Trade Policies ,
Visas
If you have heard rumors that additional countries will be added to the Executive Order banning entry and suspending visa processing for seven countries, DON’T BELIEVE THEM. A story is circulating that the travel ban has...more
2/3/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Iran ,
Iraq ,
Libya ,
Refugees ,
Somalia ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas ,
Yemen
Here is what we know about the Executive Orders the Trump Administration has been signing and enforcing since late last week. More detailed updates will become available as the situation unfolds.
What...more
1/31/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Iran ,
Iraq ,
Libya ,
Somalia ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas ,
Yemen
With all the talk about billions of dollars of investment in infrastructure and sweeping reversal of prior executive orders affecting construction labor and federal contracts, it should come as no surprise that President...more
1/31/2017
/ Construction Industry ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Iran ,
Iraq ,
Libya ,
Somalia ,
Sudan ,
Syria ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas ,
Yemen
Last Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced a proposal that would allow foreign entrepreneurs to enter the United States to operate high-growth, job-creating startup enterprises. As with other...more
8/31/2016
/ Business Development ,
Business Formation ,
Comment Period ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Immigration Reform ,
Investment ,
Investors ,
Job Creation ,
Popular ,
Small Business ,
Small Business Formation ,
Startups ,
Visas
Many of our clients employ international students in a status known as "F-1/OPT," which is "Optional Practical Training," a program similar to an internship that allows international students to get practical work experience...more
Many of our clients rely on temporary labor solutions and outsourcing of certain functions to contractors to make their businesses work. While these workers are not your direct employees, their presence on your site doing...more
In a recent Policy Memorandum, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("the Service") acknowledged some trends and changes in the nursing profession and offered some updated guidance to its officers who review...more
USCIS’s Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) Directorate is expected to begin full-scale implementation of an L-1 site inspection program in the near future. FDNS conducts unannounced administrative site visits...more
In This Presentation:
- A Look Back at 2013
- Where Do We Go From Here?
- What Is This H-1B Cap Stuff?
- Why Immigration Reform Is Not Imminent
- What About Form I-9 And E-Verify?
- Enforcement On The...more
On October 29, 2013, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) published a settlement agreement reached with the State of Alabama to end its challenge of HB 56, Alabama’s immigration law in exchange for a court order permanently...more
Here is some preliminary information about what to expect while the government shutdown is in effect:
E-VERIFY -
The E-Verify system is not accepting cases and will cease processing pending cases for the...more
10/2/2013
/ Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
E-Verify ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Form I-9 ,
Government Shutdown ,
Immigrants ,
Social Security Administration (SSA) ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS
The U.S. immigration system often is not conducive to short visits for tourism, making the U.S. a less than attractive vacation destination for international travelers. The State Department, which administers the processes...more
Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a hot topic in Congress and in the news media. While the debate continues to rage over issues pertaining to legal status for undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S., don’t lose sight...more
Employers seeking to hire foreign professionals may be out of luck this year. On April 5, 2013, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the statutory cap on H-1B petitions for FY 2014 has...more
4/10/2013
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 7, 2013, that it is releasing a revised Form I-9 effective March 8, 2013. The form, which must be used to verify the work authorization of all...more