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 4, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Notice of Prospective Rulemaking proposing a sweeping fee hike for immigration services across the board. The proposed fee increases range between...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 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
On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the Modification of H-1B Cap Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions Rule. Should it be implemented,...more
The courts dealt another blow to the Trump administration's continued efforts to restrict immigration this week, providing relief for companies looking to fill and retain critical positions with foreign talent. On Tuesday,...more
12/4/2020
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
At 11:01 am Eastern on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, the United States will suspend entry of certain nonimmigrants pursuant to Presidential Proclamation. The suspension will last until December 31, 2020, but may be continued or...more
6/23/2020
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
EB-2 ,
EB-3 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations
Q. I entered the U.S. using ESTA (the visa waiver program), and my I-94 Arrival/Departure Record will expire before I am able to depart the U.S. Can I apply for an extension of stay?
A. U.S. immigration law does not permit...more
The following are some immigration enforcement and compliance trends we are watching closely heading into the New Year—as well as some steps employers can take to stay a step ahead of these fast-moving regulatory and...more
1/8/2020
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Form I-9 ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
L-1 Visas ,
No-Match Letters ,
Social Security Administration (SSA) ,
Trump Administration ,
Undocumented Immigrants
On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed the Buy American and Hire American (BAHA) Presidential Executive Order. The mandate is designed to create higher wages and employment rates for U.S. workers by administering and...more
9/7/2018
/ Buy American Act ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Immigration Reform ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian benefit available to foreign nationals who are unable to return to their home countries because of certain temporary conditions including ongoing armed conflict such as civil...more
Best Practices for Managing U.S. Border Searches of Electronic Devices -
Effective October 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration & Customs...more
11/8/2017
/ Border Searches ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Data Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Electronic Devices ,
Electronically Stored Information ,
Fourth Amendment ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
New Regulations ,
Port of Entry ,
Search & Seizure ,
USCIS
In immigration news, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 that it has resumed its premium processing program for all H-1B visa petitions. USCIS had previously suspended...more
10/6/2017
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Delays ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
EB-6 ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) ,
H-1B ,
International Entrepreneur Rule ,
Notice and Comment ,
Trump Administration ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Today, the Trump Administration announced rescission of the Obama Administration’s 2012 Executive Order which created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. As of March 5, 2018, DACA will fully end with...more
9/6/2017
/ DACA ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Executive Orders ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Obama Administration ,
Rescission ,
Students ,
Temporary Work Visas ,
Trump Administration ,
Universities ,
USCIS