Effective October 1, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is replacing the GOES (global online enrollment system) website with the new cloud based Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) system website. Users of the various...more
On September 5, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the unfortunate Memo to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program (Memo). DHS Acting Secretary, Elaine C. Duke, noted that...more
9/7/2017
/ DACA ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Executive Orders ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Obama Administration ,
Path To Citizenship ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS
On August 28, 2017, the USCIS announced that beginning October 1st, the USCIS will begin to phase-in “in-person” interviews for Employment-Based, Adjustment of Status applicants (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent...more
On August 8, 2017, the Department of State (DOS) updated its Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to modify instructions to consular officers considering F-1 student visas. The modified instructions address how a consular officer...more
8/31/2017
/ Buy America ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
OPT ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Trump Administration ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
On July 17, 2017 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the availability of a new version of the Form I-9. The new version has a revision date of 07/17/17....more
In connection with the Trump Administration’s desire to crack-down on its perceived misuse of the H-1B visa category, various U.S. government agencies have announced a coordinated effort in re-interpreting regulations as well...more
4/17/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Labor Condition Applications ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
International travelers have been reporting that cell phones, computers, and other communication devices are being seized by Officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“USCBP”) branch of the U.S. Department of...more
3/20/2017
/ Confidential Information ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Electronic Devices ,
Executive Orders ,
Fourth Amendment ,
Information Technology ,
International Travel ,
Mobile Devices ,
Search & Seizure ,
Social Networks ,
Telecommunications ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration
The USCIS announced on March 3, 2017 that beginning April 3, 2017, it will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. According to the USCIS, the suspension may last up to 6 months. While H-1B premium...more
3/9/2017
/ F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published new regulations effective January 17, 2017 which modernize and improve aspects of certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs. The...more
12/27/2016
/ Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Extensions ,
H-1B ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Popular ,
USCIS
On November 14, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (“Form I-9”). Employers can continue to use the most recent version dated...more
Effective November, 2016, Chinese nationals, including nationals from People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau will be required to use an on-line enrollment system, referred to as EVUS to update biographic...more
7/15/2016
/ B-1 ,
B-2 ,
China ,
Electronic Data Transmissions ,
EVUS ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Hong Kong ,
Macau ,
Passports ,
Taiwan ,
Travelers ,
Visas
The U.S. government never gives without getting something in return, and the same is true with the new STEM 24-month, Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program. On March 11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published...more
Multinational companies wishing to transfer foreign national employees to the U.S. under the L-1B program will have to show the employee’s “specialized knowledge” by a “preponderance of evidence” under new guidance published...more
Bill C-290 is a private member’s bill which would alter the Canadian Criminal Code to allow for provincial lottery corporations to offer single-game sports betting.
Despite passing through the House of Commons...more
BEYOND THE SLOT MACHINE: NEW BILL DIRECTS NEVADA’S GAMING REGULATORS TO CRAFT REGULATIONS TO ALLOW “HYBRID” GAMES -
Nevada is the world’s preeminent gaming destination. Not by chance, but by being a leader in...more
5/27/2015
/ Background Checks ,
Bill C-290 ,
Canada ,
Criminal Code ,
Gaming ,
Gaming Control Boards ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Hybrid Games ,
Lottery ,
Pending Legislation ,
Slot Machines ,
Sports Betting
Pursuant to the Canadian Criminal Code, only provincial governments may conduct and manage Internet gaming. Eight provinces currently conduct and manage Internet gaming, the most recent of which, Ontario, launched its...more
IS GAMING IN THE CARDS FOR THE VOLUNTEER STATE?
Dickinson Wright has learned that Tennessee House Representative Jason Powell has submitted a proposed constitutional amendment that could permit casino gaming in...more
3/27/2015
/ Canada ,
Casinos ,
Constitutional Amendment ,
Gaming ,
Gaming Commissions ,
Gaming Tax ,
Online Gaming ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Request For Information ,
Tax Revenues ,
Vendors
In October, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2), 2014 (“Bill 4”). Bill 4 amends a number of statutes, including section 69 of the Gaming Control Act of that...more
Last month, the Government of Québec released its long-awaited report on online gaming (“iGaming”). The Working Group on Online Gambling was struck in February 2010 to analyze the social impact of iGaming in Québec, and...more
AMENDMENTS TO BRITISH COLUMBIA GAMING CONTROL ACT – SUSPENSION AND CANCELLATION OF GAMING REGISTRATIONS -
On October 23, 2014, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 4, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act...more
In April, the office of the Auditor General of Ontario released a special report criticizing the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Modernization Plan as “overly ambitious” and “overly optimistic”.
The...more
In This Issue:
- AUDITOR GENERAL CALLS OLG’S MODERNIZATION PLAN “OVERLY AMBITIOUS” AND “OVERLY OPTIMISTIC”:
On April 28, 2014, the office of the Auditor General of Ontario released a special report criticizing...more
On February 11, 2014, the Canadian Federal Government released its 2014 Budget. In the 2014 Budget, the Federal Government pledged to introduce legislative amendments to strengthen Canada’s anti-money laundering and terrorist...more
When the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced its plans to modernize gaming in Ontario on March 12, 2012, one of the most controversial aspects of its plan was the development of a casino in the Greater...more
In This Issue:
- ONTARIO LOTTERY & GAMING CORPORATION RELEASES REQUESTS FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION:
When the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) announced its plans to modernize gaming in Ontario on March...more