On April 11, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new registration requirement goes into effect. The new registration requires, with limited exceptions, that all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) H-1B lottery for both regular H-1B cap beneficiaries, as well as advanced degree (master’s) cap beneficiaries. Those registrants who...more
On February 5, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2026 H-1B Cap Lottery will open at noon Eastern Time (EST) on March 7, 2025, and run through noon...more
2/11/2025
/ Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Lottery ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On January 22, 2025, USCIS posted an alert pertaining to the I-693 immigration medical exam required for most individuals applying to become lawful permanent residents. USCIS indicates that they now “waive[s] any and all...more
1/24/2025
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Policy Updates ,
Popular ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
On January 2, 2025, the most recent Form I-9 Fine Matrix outlining the costs for Form I-9 compliance violations was published in the Federal Register. After a government audit of an employer’s Forms I-9, Employment...more
1/15/2025
/ Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Fines ,
Form I-9 ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Inspections ,
Penalties ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Requirements
Cozen O'Connor will host Health Care & Life Sciences 2025, our annual in-person seminar exploring critical issues impacting health care and life sciences businesses. Join attorneys and professionals from our Health Care &...more
11/1/2024
/ Best Practices ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Chevron Deference ,
Chief Legal Officers ,
Continuing Legal Education ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Deadlines ,
Delaware ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Events ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Life Sciences ,
New Jersey ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Pennsylvania ,
Private Equity ,
State Attorneys General ,
Workplace Violence
On Monday, September 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), working in close collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced publicly that all available immigrant visas in the...more
On January 30, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2025 H-1B Cap Lottery will open at noon Eastern Time (EST) on March 6, 2024, and run through noon...more
The Department of State announced last month that it would unveil a domestic visa renewal pilot program for some H-1B holders. Currently, all visa holders are required to travel to consulates abroad to renew the visa stamps...more
The State Department (DOS) recently announced a new pilot program for H-1B visa holders, allowing them to renew their H-1B visa stamps while remaining in the United States. Currently, H-1B visa holders must apply at a U.S....more
On Friday, October 20, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance clarifying the two following points with respect to the L-1 petition for intracompany transferees:
A sole proprietorship...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that the online registration period for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), also known as the Green Card Lottery, will begin on...more
On Monday, August 21, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has launched a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at...more
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-765, Application for Employment...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently shared some key takeaways regarding the new Form ETA9089. The new Form ETA9089 is created in the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) implemented by DOL on June 1, 2023. Some of...more
On June 28, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors and their attorneys and accredited representatives to reschedule most biometric appointments...more
On May 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that employers will have 30 days to reach compliance with Form I-9 requirements after the COVID-19...more
On March 27, 2023, USCIS received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption, also known as the...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the temporary suspension of the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,...more
On Friday, March 31, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will be issuing policy guidance to remove the requirement that the civil surgeon’s signature on the Form I-693, Report of Immigration...more
On March 31, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it is revising the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that benefit requestors may select their gender on USCIS forms (or change a prior gender...more
On Wednesday, March 29, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be updating the USCIS Policy Manual to address situations when the last day to file a benefit request or respond to a...more
On Monday, March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023.
Applicants must respond to any notices or...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced a new process for lawful permanent residents to receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail rather than physically visiting...more