Harvard/MIT Student Visa Case
Nota Bene Episode 77: Labor, Employment, and Immigration in a Pandemic World with Kelly Hensley, Denise Giraudo, and Greg Berk
Effective June 26, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has required U.S. consulates to expand social media vetting for all F, M, and J visa applicants (students and exchange visitors) before issuing visas allowing them to...more
The last three months have been a rollercoaster ride for employers trying to determine whether certain employees will retain work authorization. The Trump administration is pushing for significant changes affecting employees...more
Over the past several months, international students in F-1 status have experienced heightened scrutiny. Increasing numbers of reports indicate that students are facing visa revocations and the termination of their records in...more
In recent weeks the Department of State (DOS) has taken steps to revoke visas and terminate the status of international students who have criminal infractions and/or who have engaged in activism. In light of this intense...more
The Department of State (DOS) has recently increased scrutiny of existing student visa holders and those requesting new student visas at U.S. consulates abroad. Some F-1 visas and SEVIS records have been rescinded or...more
As the second Trump administration takes office, we offer the following considerations for visa holders (F-1, H-1B, L-1, E-2, TN, and others) who are seeking to travel internationally....more
The new administration under President Donald Trump has moved quickly to reshape U.S. immigration policy. On Day 1, the president signed several executive orders that significantly alter prior policies, and these changes...more
President Joe Biden is extending Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for 24 months through Feb. 5, 2027, for any Hong Kong resident (regardless of country of birth) currently living in the United States....more
The Department of Homeland Security has announced a comprehensive update to the H-1B visa program, set to take effect on January 17, 2025. This modernization introduces new flexibilities, strengthens oversight, and provides...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule with key updates to the H-1B specialty occupation nonimmigrant visa program. The final rule is aimed at modernizing the H-1B program by improving efficiency...more
It’s that time of year again when employers have to decide who they are sponsoring for an H-1B visa. For a brief background, H-1B work visas are the most common work visas for foreign nationals in professional positions...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance regarding F and M students, including USCIS’s role in adjudicating applications for employment authorization, change of status, extension of stay,...more
USCIS is proposing to modernize the H-1B visa program by streamlining eligibility requirements, improving program efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities for employers and workers, and strengthening integrity...more
The U.S. Citizenship Act, an immigration reform bill supported by President Joe Biden, was unveiled on Feb. 17 by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif. The bill is a key element of the president's...more
Last week, President Biden’s comprehensive immigration reform proposal, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, was introduced in the House and Senate. As officials in the administration initially reported, the provisions for the...more
Executive Summary: USCIS has announced the timeline for the H-1B FY22 Cap Petition Cycle. Similar to last year, USCIS will require H-1B sponsor employers to register H-1B candidates online starting March 9, 2021. USCIS will...more
Registration Dates Announced and Rule Prioritizing Selection of Highest Wage-Level Delayed - On February 5, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the...more
On May 29, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of certain Chinese F-1 and J-1 foreign students and exchange visitors who have ties to Chinese institutions that support the People’s Republic of...more
A new federal rule has created a new electronic registration process for the annual H-1B lottery. The new electronic registration system will significantly change the sequence of the H-1B lottery. There will no longer be a...more
Last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that an H-1B cap registration system (from which the annual H-1B lottery will be run) will be implemented for the upcoming fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap...more
In this series, Partner Danielle Rizzo explores how several small changes to student visa policy by the Trump Administration are having a major impact on the international student population in the United States. These...more
For employers, the extended suspension of Premium Processing will mean postponed start-dates for H-1B workers well beyond the expected October 1 annual start date. ...more
USCIS Extends and Expands Suspension of H-1B Premium Processing - Earlier this week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will extend the suspension of Premium Processing for all pending FY...more
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has issued a series of immigration-related executive orders and proclamations that have become the general framework for the future management of U.S. immigration policy and...more
On April 2, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting new H-1B petitions for professional positions. We note that these petitions will have a start date of Oct. 1, 2018....more