Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective September 11, 2018, USCIS will suspend Premium Processing for all H-1B petitions filed at the Vermont and California Service Centers until February 19, 2019 (excluding filings by cap-exempt...more
Nonimmigrants in F, J, and M visa status should ensure that they take no actions to violate their status, as they could inadvertently trigger unlawful presence and jeopardize future status in the United States....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS recently announced that the agency will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 cap beginning on April 2, 2018. ...more
3/22/2018
/ Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its regulatory plan for 2018, which aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order, Buy American Hire American.
...more
12/20/2017
/ Buy America ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Executive Orders ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: If Congress cannot resolve FY2018 funding issues by December 8, 2017, resulting in a federal government shutdown, it will have a ripple effect on employers, both large and small, with an impact on several...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland have issued orders blocking major portions of President Trump’s September 24, 2017 Presidential Proclamation....more
10/20/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
National Security ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
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: Country-specific travel restrictions will impact nationals of Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela....more
9/26/2017
/ B-1 ,
B-2 ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
National Security ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
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: The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has reversed its longstanding practice and will begin to deny Advance Parole (AP) applications if a green card applicant travels internationally...more
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: U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the Travel Ban in their next term.
Shortly before its summer recess, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments on the Trump...more
6/27/2017
/ Bona Fide Relationship Test ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
National Security ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Trump v International Refugee Assistance Project ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 25, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that President Trump’s travel ban should remain on hold, upholding a preliminary injunction issued in March 2017 by a lower court....more
6/8/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: If Congress fails to pass a funding bill by midnight on Friday, April 28, resulting in a federal government shutdown, it would trigger numerous immigration-related ripple effects on employers, both large...more
4/25/2017
/ Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-9 ,
Government Shutdown ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Labor Condition Applications ,
Popular ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The EO orders the Departments of State, Justice, Labor, and Homeland Security to propose new rules and issue new guidance to “protect the interests of U.S. workers” and “promote the functioning of the 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: New DOS cable instructs U.S. consular posts to identify population groups for tougher visa screening, which will likely lead to increased processing times....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Federal judges from Hawaii and Maryland have issued nationwide Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) effectively blocking the implementation of the Trump administration’s revised travel ban, which was...more
3/17/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
International Travel ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
TRO ,
Trump Administration ,
Vetting ,
Visa Interview Waiver Program (VIWP) ,
Visas
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: On March 6, 2017, President Trump signed a new Executive Order temporarily restricting certain foreign nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entry into the United States for 90...more
3/8/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Executive Orders ,
Exemptions ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigration Reform ,
International Travel ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visa Waiver Program
Seyfarth Synopsis: A three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Trump administration’s motion to reinstate the travel ban.
Late on Thursday, February 9, the Ninth Circuit panel voted to...more
2/13/2017
/ Appeals ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lack of Evidence ,
Muslims ,
National Security ,
Order to Stay ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Restraining Orders ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration
Seyfarth Synopsis: Immediate Stay of Trump’s Executive Order has been denied and travel ban remains halted for now.
On Friday, February 3, a Federal District Court in Washington issued a temporary restraining order...more
2/6/2017
/ Appeals ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Travel Ban ,
TRO ,
Trump Administration ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: This Management Alert addresses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from employers and foreign nationals regarding President Trump’s recent Executive Order on immigration....more
2/3/2017
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Citizenship ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Passports ,
Screening Procedures ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Delays ,
Trump Administration ,
Vetting
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed two Executive Orders, one focusing on border security and the construction of a physical wall along the southern border and another focusing on improving public...more
1/30/2017
/ Border Agents ,
Border Security ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Detention ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Grants ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Reform ,
Penalties ,
Recalcitrant Countries ,
Sanctuary Cities ,
Trump Administration ,
US-Mexico Border Wall
Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers and foreign nationals should take note of critical changes to DHS’ regulations impacting employment-based immigration for highly skilled workers.
On January 17, 2017, the Department of...more
12/5/2016
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-1 ,
E-2 ,
E-3 ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Form I-140 Petitions ,
Grace Period ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
L-1 ,
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability ,
Portability ,
TN-Visas ,
USCIS