U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced a Temporary Final Rule extending the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal applicants from up to 180 days...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a final rule on the upcoming H-1B cap registration, creating a beneficiary-centric selection process, starting this FY 2025 H-1B cap registration...more
2/5/2024
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employees ,
Final Rules ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Registration Requirement ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective April 1, USCIS will implement significant filing fee increases, in particular for petition and applications related to employment-based benefits....more
2/2/2024
/ Filing Fees ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-129 ,
Form I-140 Petitions ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Registration Requirement ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: Department of State expects to start the stateside visa renewal pilot in early 2024....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration...
1. Government Shutdown Avoided – For Now -
On September 30, 2023, Congress passed a stopgap bill to keep the government...more
10/4/2023
/ DACA ,
E-Verify ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Foreign Workers ,
Government Shutdown ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
SEVP ,
Temporary Protected Status ,
USCIS ,
Visa Waiver Program ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: If Congress cannot resolve funding issues by 11:59 pm EST on September 30, 2023, resulting in a federal government shutdown, it will have a ripple effect on employers, both large and small, with an impact...more
9/27/2023
/ Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
E-Verify ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Federal Funding ,
Foreign Workers ,
Government Shutdown ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Labor Condition Applications ,
OFLC ,
PERM ,
Popular ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: Previously scheduled to expire on December 31, 2020, Proclamations 10052 and 10014 have been extended by President Trump until March 31, 2021. These visa bans will continue to restrict the issuance of...more
1/5/2021
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
On December 1, 2020, a U.S. Federal District Court in California set aside the two Interim Final Rules announced in October by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) and the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). ...more
12/3/2020
/ Chamber of Commerce ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Domestic Hiring Policy ,
E-3 ,
Foreign Workers ,
Good Cause ,
H-1B ,
H-1B1 ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Motion to Set Aside the Verdict ,
PERM ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: President Trump issued a new order restricting travel to the United States by certain nonimmigrants, including those in H-1B, H-2B, J-1 and L-1 status. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: U.S. District Court in New York issued a nationwide injunction blocking the implementation of USCIS’ final rule on inadmissibility on public charge grounds, which rule resulted in significant changes to...more
10/14/2019
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Affidavits ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employees ,
Final Rules ,
Form I-129 ,
Green Cards ,
Hiring & Firing ,
I-485 Applications ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Injunctions ,
Job Applicants ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Public Benefits ,
Required Forms ,
Time Extensions ,
Trump Administration ,
Updated Forms ,
USCIS
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS confirms FY 2020 H-1B petition selection is complete.
On April 10, 2019, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) received sufficient H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa...more
On April 5, 2019, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it received sufficient H-1B petitions to meet the regular H-1B quota (or "cap") for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins on October 1, 2019....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 3, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately it would resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 18, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately it would resume premium processing for H-1B petitions filed subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018...more
9/19/2017
/ F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
"Congress, get ready to do your job - DACA," tweets President Trump on Tuesday morning. ...more
9/6/2017
/ 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
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 24, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would resume premium processing for H-1B petitions for certain cap-exempt employers effective immediately....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS released a revised version of Form I-9 that employers must use to verify identity and employment authorization of new hires effective September 18, 2017. There are no substantive changes from the...more
7/19/2017
/ E-Verify ,
Electronic Filing ,
Eligibility ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-9 ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Required Forms ,
USCIS ,
Verification Requirements ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Canadian government instituted a new, immediately effective Global Skills Strategy to facilitate entry of skilled workers....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS completes the lottery process and receives 199,000 H-1B cap petitions.
On April 17, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it received 199,000 H-1B...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS announced today that it has reached the FY 2018 H-1B Cap.
On April 7, 2017, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it received sufficient H-1B petitions to meet...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS recently announced that the agency will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions beginning on April 3, 2017. USCIS indicates the purpose of the suspension is to process H-1B...more
3/9/2017
/ Driver's Licenses ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS releases new Form I-9, which employers must begin using no later than January 22, 2017.
On November 14, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised Form I-9,...more