On June 18, 2024, President Biden announced new pathways to legal immigration status for two groups: college-educated “Dreamers” and certain American family units....more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced that a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification will be available starting August 1, 2023. The current version can be used through...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that employers will have 30 days to reach compliance with Form I-9 requirements after the COVID-19 flexibilities sunset on July 31, 2023.
Effective since...more
On January 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced implementation of the final phase of premium processing expansion for employment-based first and second preference I-140 petitions. Beginning on...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced a Temporary Final Rule that will automatically extend the period of employment authorization up to 540 days beyond the expiration date of the Employment...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough FY2023 H-1B electronic registrations to reach the cap and that it has notified petitioners whose registrations were selected that they...more
On March 16, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, based on continued armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary...more
In November 2021 DHS announced a new policy recognizing E and L dependent spouses as having employment authorized incident to their status, meaning they do not need to apply for a separate employment authorization document...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants through the end of 2022. This authorization applies to temporary...more
On November 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued policy guidance to automatically extend employment authorization (“EAD”) for H-4, E, and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses under certain...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to a settlement in the case of Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, resulting in important policy changes immediately affecting L-2 and H-4 visa holders’ work authorization...more
11/12/2021
/ Adjudicatory Process ,
Biden Administration ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Immigration Procedures ,
L-2 Visas ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Settlement ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Time Extensions
The White House has announced that it will lift COVID-19 travel restrictions starting November 8, 2021 for international visitors who are fully vaccinated. Only vaccines that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration...more
How are immigration benefits impacted if Congress is unable to agree on a spending bill and the U.S. government shuts down? The general rule is that those services that are essential or fee-funded continue without...more
10/1/2021
/ Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
E-Verify ,
Federal Budget ,
Government Shutdown ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Social Security Administration (SSA) ,
US State Departments ,
USCIS
The Biden Administration announced on Monday, September 20, 2021 that it plans to rescind travel bans beginning November 2021 and will instead require proof of vaccination for international travelers. This refined directive,...more