On April 11, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin enforcing the newly created requirement....more
OVERVIEW- •The goal of this alert is to provide general information regarding entry into the United States as well as applicable information for various employment-based visa categories. •Given the current climate in the...more
UPDATE - •We previously reported on the 2025 ETIAS launch and requirement to obtain approval prior to travelling to Europe. •It was recently announced that due to additional technical issues, the new roll out for the...more
Foreign nationals and employers should plan all international travel more carefully and further in advance. President Trump issued an executive order (EO) directing various federal agencies to coordinate their efforts to...more
Michigan employers received some good news on the wage and hour front when the state legislature passed amendments to the new paid sick leave and minimum wage laws at the 11th hour. Although employers did not get complete...more
The United States has announced that Qatar will soon be officially admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing visa-free travel to the United States by Qatari citizens for up to 90 days. Per the Final...more
The European Union (“EU”) has announced that rules of travel to member countries of the EU will change in mid-2025, impacting close to 1.4 billion people from visa-exempt countries, including U.S. citizens. Under a program...more
In a major decision issued Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Court reinstated both the Earned Sick Time Leave Act (ESTA) and the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act (IWOWA). As discussed further below, the Mothering Justice...more
October 2023 not only provided amazing Halloween costumes but big updates to the United States and global immigration. The Cozen O’Connor catch-up this month highlights these changes and provides the details you need to...more
Eligible Israeli citizens and nationals who have a biometrically enabled passport book can begin applying for authorization to travel to the United States through the US Customs and Border Protection’s Electronic System for...more
September 2023 saw major changes and updates in the United States and around the world. The Cozen O’Connor Immigration Catch-Up this month highlights these changes and provides the details you need to determine how or if...more
The United States offers arguably the best opportunities in the world for artists and musicians from every country to express their talents, including on stage, on screen, and in recorded performances. However, the U.S. also...more
The launch date of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) has been delayed to 2024, as reflected on the official ETIAS website. The date of entry into operation of ETIAS is not yet known, but it is...more
On July 6, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) updated the existing Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application to add questions focusing on an applicant’s travel and connection to Cuba,...more
On June 21, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the launch of a mobile app that will allow travelers from forty countries to apply for visa-free travel authorization directly on their handheld devices....more
By the end of 2023, it is anticipated that visitors to the European Union (EU) who do not require a visa will have to apply for authorisation through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This new...more
Effective May 2, 2022, eligible noncitizen visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) through land ports of entry will no longer be required to complete a paper Form I-94W upon arrival and instead, as they have...more
Recognizing “the positive impact of temporary work visa holders on the U.S. economy,” the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced an expansion of its previous policy permitting waivers of the interview requirement for...more
The U.S. secretary of state, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has authorized consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants through the end of...more
On Monday, September 20, 2021, the White House announced that beginning in early November the Administration will be putting strict protocols in place to require foreign nationals travelling to the United States by air to be...more
On June 29, 2021, the U.S. Department of State extended the period of validity for national interest exceptions (NIE) for travelers entering the United States from an area subject to ongoing COVID-related travel bans. ...more
On March 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of State provided guidance regarding the issuance of National Interest Exception (NIE) waivers for travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland. This guidance will...more
U.S. agencies are rapidly adapting immigration policy to respond to shifting developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our immigration lawyers provide information on the unprecedented range of revised policies. U.S. Entry...more
U.S. Entry Restrictions- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and their immediate family members are not subject to the COVID-19 Entry Restrictions (“Entry Restrictions”). The same exemption...more
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) now allows travelers admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”)/ Electronic System for Travel Authorization (“ESTA”) to make Satisfactory...more