Employment Authorization Policy for Nonimmigrant Dependent Spouses On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in a landmark case, which provided structural changes for...more
11/17/2021
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Form I-9 ,
Form I-94 ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Immigration Procedures ,
L-Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Spouses ,
Time Extensions ,
USCIS ,
Visas
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that the online registration period for the 2023 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV lottery program) began on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 12:00 p.m....more
On August 24, 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new policy that will require foreign nationals applying for a U.S. permanent resident card (green card) to be fully vaccinated against...more
8/31/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Permanent Residence Cards ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
On July 28, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will no longer accept written requests to reschedule biometric services appointments at application support centers. If an applicant needs...more
On June 9, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new policy updates to the USCIS Policy Manual that will clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve the existing request...more
On May 25, 2021, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of State (DOS) announced that U.S. citizens will be able to return to the United States on an expired U.S. passport from May 21, 2021 through December...more
On May 13, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will temporarily suspend the biometrics requirements for certain I-539 applicants for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021. ...more
5/18/2021
/ Biometric Information ,
Foreign Nationals ,
H-4 ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
L-2 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
On April 27, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new policy guidance, to take effect immediately, to address the issue of deference to prior approvals when adjudicating a request for an...more
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation revoking the Trump administration’s orders preventing foreign nationals from moving to the United States on new permanent resident cards (or “green...more
On February 24, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that E-3 visa petitions will now be eligible for premium processing. Beginning on February 24, 2021, petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition...more
As we approach April 1, 2021, employers should be aware of the ever-changing policies and procedures surrounding their requirements to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (and E-Verify if they have...more
On Friday, February 5, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2022 H-1B Cap Lottery will begin on March 9, 2021. ...more
2/9/2021
/ E-2 ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On Thursday, January 28, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be extending deadlines for responding to specific requests from the agency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more
2/2/2021
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Notice of Intent ,
Relief Measures ,
Requests for Evidence ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications
On Friday, October 16, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will increase fees for premium processing, to take effect Monday, October 19, 2020, as required by the Continuing Appropriations...more
Two Interim Final Rules (IFRs) are to be published on Thursday, October 8, 2020 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The DHS “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa...more
10/9/2020
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-3 ,
H-1B ,
H-1B1 ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
PERM ,
Specialty Occupations ,
Trump Administration ,
Wage and Hour
On August 3, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a Final Rule that alters the USCIS filing Fee Schedule. On average, the filing fees were increased overall by approximately 20%....more
9/9/2020
/ Filing Fees ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-140 Petitions ,
Form I-765 ,
H-1B ,
I-129 ,
I-485 Applications ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
L-1 Visas ,
Naturalization ,
Required Forms ,
USCIS ,
Visas
On July 14, 2020, the Trump administration agreed to rescind a July 6, 2020, directive that planned to bar foreign students from the United States if their colleges canceled in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic....more
7/16/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Students ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
M-1 Visa ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
SEVP ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
On July 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced that certain U.S. embassies and consulates around the world will soon resume visa services. This worldwide suspension of U.S. visas has been one of several ways the...more
I have an appointment at the local USCIS office. What should I do? All USCIS offices have been closed to the public at least until June 4, 2020. USCIS is preparing to reopen its offices on or after June 4, 2020. USCIS will...more
7/4/2020
/ Administrative Hearings ,
Administrative Procedure ,
Consulate ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Court Closures ,
E-3 ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Furloughs ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
L-1 Visas ,
Layoffs ,
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability ,
Popular ,
USCIS ,
Visa Waiver Program ,
Visas
On June 22, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation continuing Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, and suspending and limiting the entry of any individual seeking entry into the U.S. in any of the following...more
6/24/2020
/ Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
On May 29, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will resume offering premium processing services for cases involving Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140,...more
President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of certain categories of immigrants (i.e. those seeking permanent residence)....more
On Tuesday March 17, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a statement indicating that the agency will be canceling all face-to-face appointments, interviews, and events, including asylum interviews...more
On December 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it successfully completed the pilot testing for its online registration system that will be implemented in the 2020 H-1B lottery. This will...more