Foreign nationals often plan international travel during the holidays. As a result, it is one of the busiest times of year for visa processing at U.S. Consulates and Embassies. Here are a few helpful considerations to make...more
In implementing its first new COVID-19 travel restriction in months, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued guidance requiring all persons traveling from mainland China, Hong Kong, and...more
2/22/2023
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Health and Safety ,
Hong Kong ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Macau ,
Popular ,
Public Health ,
Screening Procedures ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Virus Testing
On January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began requiring all non-U.S. individuals entering the United States by land or ferry across the U.S./Mexico or U.S./Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against...more
Effective December 31, 2021, the United States began permitting noncitizen arrivals from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. A Presidential Proclamation went into effect on...more
Resources -
South Carolina Business License Reforms Go Into Effect January 1, 2022 -
South Carolina businesses have historically been subject to business license taxes on their gross income that vary widely from...more
12/16/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Business Licenses ,
Contract Management ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Minimum Wage ,
Online Contracts ,
Tax Liability ,
Tax Reform ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Travel Ban ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour
On October 25, 2021, President Biden announced plans to revoke the current country-by-country travel restrictions to the United States which have been in place since January 2020....more
11/1/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
International Travel ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports
Resources -
COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Federal Contractors -
On September 24, 2021, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force released guidance detailing COVID-19 vaccination and other pandemic-related workplace...more
10/8/2021
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Construction Project ,
Construction Workers ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Mandates ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) ,
Federal Contractors ,
Federal Employees ,
Foreign Workers ,
I-94 Cards ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Real Estate Development ,
Safety Programs ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Beginning October 1, 2021, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all applicants applying for lawful permanent residence (i.e. green card) with some exceptions. ...more
9/22/2021
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Individual Mandate ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Guidance ,
Permanent Residence Cards ,
Request for Evidence (RFEs) ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
Department of State Extends Validity of National Interest Exceptions to Regional COVID-19 Travel Restrictions -
On July 6, 2021, the Department of State updated its National Interest Exception (NIE) guidelines. Going...more
8/31/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Policies ,
Food Service Workers ,
Foreign Workers ,
Franchises ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
National Interest Waiver ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Tax Reform ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
Over the past year, several Presidential Proclamations have restricted travel to the United States by foreign nationals physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Region, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South...more
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Effective Date Announced for New COVID-19 Safety Rule for Healthcare Providers -
OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard imposes new COVID-19 requirements on healthcare providers. Employers must comply with...more
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DOL Issues New COVID-19 Safety Rule for Healthcare Providers -
OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard imposes new COVID-19 requirements on healthcare providers. Most of the new requirements go into effect...more
6/23/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cyber Crimes ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Independent Contractors ,
Infectious Diseases ,
IRS ,
Misclassification ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Travel Ban ,
Workplace Safety
While the United States has seen a drastic drop in COVID-19 cases as vaccinations become more prevalent, other countries continue to see significant infection rates. Travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of...more
6/8/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
E-2 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
H-1B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Reform ,
Infectious Diseases ,
L-Visas ,
National Interest Waiver ,
O Visa Petitions ,
Travel Ban
Updated CDC COVID-19 Guidance -
The CDC has updated its guidance regarding masking and physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals. Once fully vaccinated, people can resume activities without wearing masks or...more
6/2/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Gender Identity ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Infectious Diseases ,
LGBTQ ,
Masks ,
Patient Access ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Sex Discrimination ,
Sexual Orientation ,
Social Distancing ,
Title IX ,
Vaccinations
Spotlight -
U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Burr's Petition for the South Carolina Election Commission: South Carolina's Witness Requirement on Absentee Ballots is Here to Stay -
On October 5th, the Supreme Court...more
10/30/2020
/ Absentee Voting ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
H-1B ,
Health Care Providers ,
Immigration Reform ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Political Campaigns ,
Presidential Elections ,
Retirement Plan ,
Right to Vote ,
SCOTUS ,
Wage and Hour ,
Witnesses ,
Workplace Safety
Earlier this year, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation restricting foreign nationals from entering the United States on certain temporary work visas through at least December 31, 2020 (“the Proclamation”). On...more
10/6/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Injunctions ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Temporary Work Visas ,
Trump Administration
Spotlight -
Wrongfully Convicted of Murder, Tennessee Board of Parole Recommends Adam Braseel to be Exonerated -
On June 24, 2020, The Tennessee Board of Parole voted unanimously to recommend that Gov. Bill Lee...more
7/24/2020
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Contraceptive Coverage Mandate ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Exonerate ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v Pennsylvania ,
Loan Forgiveness ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Private Equity ,
Religious Exemption ,
SCOTUS ,
Trump Administration ,
Work Visas
The Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced July 6, 2020 that the flexibility granted to nonimmigrant students in F-1 or M-1 status to continue their studies online due to the COVID-19 crisis will be modified for...more
As discussed in our previous post, the White House recently issued a Presidential Proclamation restricting foreign nationals from entering the United States on certain temporary work visas. The original Proclamation provided...more
7/7/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
On May 24, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting travel from Brazil, which now has the second-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases after the United States. The restrictions mirror those already in...more
There are many COVID-19 challenges facing employers in the current environment, including how to properly handle H-1B employees working from home or another remote work location. There are special notice and posting...more
Effective March 20, 2020, USCIS announced it has suspended all I-129 and I-140 Premium Processing requests. Petitions not receipted in by March 20th will have the I-907 Premium Processing application and $1,440.00 fee...more
Additional Restrictions: The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have been added to the list of countries subject to travel restrictions....more
3/19/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
ESTA ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Ireland ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Trump Administration ,
UK ,
Visas
Last Wednesday night, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting direct travel from the European “Schengen” Region to the United States. There has been some confusion about the nature of the restrictions and who is...more
3/18/2020
/ China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
EU ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigrants ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Screening Procedures ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
Trump Administration