Update from Washington: Employer's Preview of Immigration Restrictions from the Administration
On March 25, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 was met on March 5, 2025. ...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that as of January 7, 2025, the additional returning H-2B worker allotment of 20,716 visas for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 (October 1, 2024, to March...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Final Rule for the H-2A and H-2B temporary worker programs that will become effective on Jan. 17, 2025. The Rule is aimed at modernizing the regulations governing the...more
On December 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the final version of the H-2 program modernization rule. The final rule amends DHS regulations for both H-2A (temporary agricultural workers) and...more
On November 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that they expect to make an additional 64,716 H-2B visas available for fiscal year (FY) 2025....more
On the heels of the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcing plans to revise its H-2A program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing amendments to its H-2A and H-2B regulations. The proposed changes would...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided guidance on the additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for fiscal year 2023. H-2B visas allow employers to bring workers to the United...more
Insights Jeanna MadlenerVice President, Producer/Account Executive, Property & Casualty June 8, 2022 /Property & Casualty For the second year in a row, the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security...more
With weeks to go in his administration, President Trump has extended two controversial presidential proclamations that would prohibit many immigrant and nonimmigrant visa holders from entering the United States until months...more
The short answer is that the premium processing fee increased to $2,500 effective October 20, 2020, for all eligible I-129 and I-140 filings (except for H-2B and R-1 requests that increased to $1500), based on the Emergency...more
This alert summarizes a number of important developments affecting business immigration that occurred last week, including a number of federal court decisions enjoining certain presidential and regulatory actions, as well as...more
USCIS Will Increase Filing Fees as of October 2, 2020 - On July 31, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) announced it will increase filing fees effective October 2, 2020. The fee increases will...more
On June 22, 2020 President Trump signed a Proclamation suspending certain immigration applications and entry into the United States which will dramatically—albeit temporarily—impact the landscape of employer-sponsored...more
Presidential Proclamation Temporarily Suspends New H-1B, H2B, J-1, and L-1 Visa and Travel from Abroad - On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation (“Proclamation”) suspending and limiting the entry of...more
- Visa issuance and entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, L-1, and J-1 visa holders are suspended. - Proclamation does not apply to anyone currently in the United States. - Proclamation does not apply to anyone who already...more
At 11:01 am Eastern on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, the United States will suspend entry of certain nonimmigrants pursuant to Presidential Proclamation. The suspension will last until December 31, 2020, but may be continued or...more
In recent weeks, the Trump Administration has announced several restrictions on immigration that garnered significant media attention. However, not all of the administration’s recent policies are aimed at restricting...more
On February 18, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reached the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2020. USCIS received significantly more petitions than there were H-2B visas available for...more
Twice a year, in the spring and fall, each federal agency publishes its regulatory agenda. This is a list of changes to federal regulations that the agency is considering proposing during the next year or so. While the...more
At the end of March 2019, the Trump Administration announced that it would release another 30,000 H-2B visas for seasonal employees for use through the end of September 2019. The annual allocation had been capped at 66,000...more
On July 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) increased the numerical limit (or “cap”) on H-2B visas by up to 15,000 additional visas through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2017....more
On May 4, 2017, Congress passed an appropriations bill to fund the federal government through Fiscal Year 2017. The bill also extended four immigration programs through September 30, 2017. These programs are E-VERIFY, the...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently been experiencing considerable delays in its processing of applications for H-2B status for temporary nonimmigrant workers. The H-2B program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign...more
In response to recent litigation that created significant uncertainty around processing of applications for H-2B temporary foreign workers, the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security recently issued a federal...more