Recent United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. State Department updates require businesses and individuals to adhere to new TN visa eligibility criteria—such as prohibiting self-employment,...more
Starting on January 8, 2025, citizens from multiple countries, including the United States, will require a new electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom as visitors without a visa....more
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
Beginning January 8, 2025, visitors from the United States (as well as from other countries) traveling to anywhere in the United Kingdom will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (“ETA”) prior to travel, regardless of age....more
The United Kingdom has new travel authorization rules that will apply in 2025 to U.S. nationals (as well as others) under the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel...more
If you can answer these, you should be in good shape. With the holidays approaching, many employers with foreign national employees are wondering what they need to know before their employees depart from the United States....more
The holiday season is here and it is critical that foreign nationals plan ahead to minimize potential risk and delays with traveling abroad and entering the U.S. Our holiday travel checklist is designed to help foreign...more
The Department of State (DOS) has announced that their new online passport renewal system is fully available to the public, having started September 18, 2024....more
As of September 10, 2024, USCIS will automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (or “Green Cards”), for which a Form I-90, Application to Renew or Replace Permanent Resident Cards has been submitted, for 36...more
With the UK Government looking to phase out all physical immigration documents by the end of the year and transition all immigration status holders onto digital immigration permission (an “eVisa”), many employers are...more
USCIS published its Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity final rule on Feb. 2, 2024. The new final rule has three basic categories: creating a beneficiary-centric selection process,...more
Employers continue to face compliance challenges in determining whether a new hire is work authorized for Form I-9 purposes, given the dynamic changes in immigration policy and regulation. For instance, this year alone, U.S....more
New travel authorization systems are being postponed again in the United States and in Europe: REAL ID until May 7, 2025, and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) until 2024....more
With the pandemic finally drawing closer to an end, many foreign nationals may use the first opportunity they have had in years to plan international travel this holiday season. In order to avoid any unnecessary hiccups when...more
The holiday season is here and travel is reaching pre-pandemic levels. International travelers should expect busy consulates and U.S. Ports of Entry. Although U.S. Consulates have committed additional resources to address...more
As the holidays approach and you are considering traveling abroad, it's important to be mindful of the limited consular availability and need for a valid visa stamp to return to the U.S. (unless you're Canadian or traveling...more
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) announced the elimination of issuing entry stamps in the passports of foreign nationals arriving in the U.S. While the measure is already in effect for some airports, not all ports...more
International travelers should expect busy consulates and U.S. Ports of Entry with the lifting of travel bans coinciding with the holiday season. Additionally, some consulates are not fully operational and many are...more
On Monday, September 28, 2020, the State Department announced that it will immediately resume routine and expedited processing of passport applications submitted by mail. This is a welcome development, as routine and...more
With the growing concern about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19” or “coronavirus”) some foreign nationals who live outside the U.S. have decided to fly to the U.S. and wait out the crisis. This article discusses the...more
Australia - Changes to Working Holiday Maker Visas for Bushfire Recovery - The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has accepted the recommendation of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) to relax and broaden the...more
China - Expedited Permit Processing for Highly-Skilled Foreign Nationals in Shanghai and Coronavirus Related Travel Restrictions - Effective immediately, certain Category A (highly-skilled) applicants seeking permission to...more
United Kingdom - Expansion of Shortage Occupation List for Immigration Purposes - The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) has recently been updated in accordance with the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)....more
Here is what we know so far about how this past weekend’s federal government “shutdown” will affect immigration adjudications and other related matters. As U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operations are...more
Those seeking to escape immediate danger or imminent persecution often rely on false documents when fleeing to a safe country. But can a fraudulent or illegal entry into the U.S. pose an issue for asylum?...more