The Buzz, An Economic Development Podcast | Episode 83: Duane Parrish, S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
Updated Rules for Entry Into the United States
#WorkforceWednesday: NY Travel Advisory Changes, CA’s COVID-19 Exposure Notice, Executive Order Reversals - Employment Law This Week®
Effective September 2, 2025, the U.S. State Department is eliminating visa waiver of appointments (otherwise called dropbox appointments) for many visa applicants. Many visa applicants and their dependents previously...more
On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a new policy that will significantly limit the eligibility of visa applicants to obtain visas without consular interviews. The new policy will go into effect on...more
The U.S. Department of State announced that effective September 2, 2025, the categories of applicants that may be eligible for the Dropbox Program (a/k/a Interview Waiver) will be updated, adding further restrictions to those...more
As U.S. immigration policies evolve under directives from the Trump Administration, foreign nationals entering the United States to conduct business activities must prepare for heightened scrutiny. Both companies and...more
As international travel regulations and immigration enforcement policies continue to evolve, it is critical that non-citizen employees entering the United States—including visa holders and lawful permanent residents—are...more
Our Immigration Team inspects the latest guidance and new policies from the Trump Administration and how they will affect travel for U.S. citizens, immigrants, and visitors....more
UPDATE - •We previously reported on the 2025 ETIAS launch and requirement to obtain approval prior to travelling to Europe. •It was recently announced that due to additional technical issues, the new roll out for the...more
On February 18, 2025, the US Department of State announced a new policy requiring more foreign nationals to attend in-person interviews to apply for nonimmigrant visas....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
Summer travel is expected to reach record high this year as pandemic-era restrictions are lifted. International travelers should expect busy consulates and U.S. Ports of Entry. Although U.S. consulates have reduced visa...more
The Home Office has released the first Statement of Changes for 2023. Here are some of the most important changes announced on this occasion...more
As part of its new universal “Permission to Travel” scheme, the United Kingdom (U.K.) government is introducing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for visa-exempt individuals visiting the U.K. By requiring...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
In a continued effort to streamline the entry process for travelers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun to eliminate the issuance of entry stamps in the passports of foreign nationals upon arrival in the...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 Wednesday, April 22, President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation suspending the issuance of new immigrant visas in an effort to limit job competition as the U.S. economy reels from the COVID-19 pandemic. The President’s...more
What is the impact of the Presidential Proclamations on individuals seeking entry into the U.S. from China, Iran, and Europe? According to Presidential Proclamation 9984 [issued on January 31, 2020] and Presidential...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the selection process for H-1B cap subject petitions filed for fiscal year (FY) 2020. On April 10, 2019, the agency ran computerized lotteries for both regular...more
I. H-1B Visa Changes - H-1B visas are arguably the most common U.S. work visa applicable to all industries. Every year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a limited number of H-1B visas...more