The Trump Administration has announced a series of potential changes affecting student visas that could alter how US companies can recruit and retain foreign nationals, particularly those entering the workforce following...more
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced a sweeping new directive: the United States will begin “aggressively” revoking visas of Chinese students, alleged to be in any way affiliated with the Chinese Communist...more
There are times when international travel may be more challenging or stressful than other times. At present, the United States finds itself in a period of significantly increased immigration enforcement occurring in the...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
The H-1B visa is among the most popular working visas in the U.S. for individuals filling professional positions. Most H-1B visas are subject to an annual quota or “cap.” Because demand exceeds the number of available visas,...more
As we approach the H-1B cap season for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, it is crucial for employers to understand the process, adhere to deadlines, and be aware of recent changes, particularly regarding fees. This advisory provides an...more
The F-1 nonimmigrant visa status allows noncitizens to study in the United States at U.S. colleges and universities. F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment under the following programs: Curricular Practical...more
America runs on semiconductors, also known informally as chips. Chips are integral to the cars we drive, the planes we fly, the systems that defend our country, and the computers that every single industry, from manufacturing...more
The H-1B Electronic Registration Selection Process debuted in March 2020 for fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The barrier to entry dropped significantly with the introduction of the electronic registration...more
Students studying in the United States in F or M visa status must have a foreign residence that they have no intention of abandoning. A new USCIS policy manual update has clarified that being the beneficiary of a PERM...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has finally put an end to the litigation that has dogged STEM OPT for years. On October 2, 2023, the Court refused to hear the technology workers’ union’s challenge to the Obama-era program that allows...more
Immigration compliance remains a critical requirement for K-12 schools across the country. Not only do all schools need to ensure they comply with new I-9 rules and procedures, but many also have grown to rely on foreign...more
A lawsuit filed on August 10, 2023 against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleges that the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 702, by exceeding its authority and determining that a...more
As part of the Biden Administration’s initiative to retain high-skilled foreign nationals in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is adding eight new fields as qualifying fields of study...more
On March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the FY2024 H-1B cap lottery was complete. The results: a historically low selection rate—with many multinational companies reporting that...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has announced an expansion of "premium processing" for F-1 foreign students who are seeking employment authorization related to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and...more
It’s that time of year again when employers have to decide who they are sponsoring for an H-1B visa. What to Know - - The lottery registration period will be from noon EST on March 1, 2022 to noon EST on March 18, 2022,...more
On January 21, 2022, the White House released a fact sheet entitled “Biden-Harris Administration Actions to Attract STEM Talent and Strengthen our Economy and Competitiveness,” announcing several immigration-related policy...more
The Biden administration announced a series of administrative changes designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to attract global talent. The changes are also designed to strengthen our economy and technological...more
Earlier this week, on January 26, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) rescinded its intention, announced less than two weeks earlier, to develop an OPT Employment Compliance Unit. Immigration and Customs...more
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the issuance of a variety of United States work visas until the end of 2020. ...more
As employers prepare plans to handle possible alternate employee work arrangements in light of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak, it is important to keep in mind how these plans and policies—including telework policies—may...more
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed it will utilize a new electronic registration system for the Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B lottery. By way of background, the H-1B visa program allows companies in the United...more
Employers, beware. It has been reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has recently begun random onsite inspections of STEM OPT employment. Reports are that ICE, during its inspections, has questioned employers...more