The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has temporarily paused the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students and exchange visitors applying for F, M and J visas. This directive, effective May 27, 2025, is part...more
On May 27, 2025, the Department of State issued a cable instructing U.S. Embassies and Consulates to pause scheduling new visa appointments for foreign nationals seeking to obtain student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and...more
An executive order by President Trump is set to reshape immigration procedures, increasing security screening, and tightening visa processing. Employers of foreign nationals should prepare for delays in employee travel to the...more
The slew of executive orders published by the Trump Administration in January included references to: •Vetting and screening to the maximum degree across agencies - •Reestablishing a uniform baseline for screening and...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
On January 20, 2025, President Trump was inaugurated for his second term and in alignment with his “Day One” campaign promises, he signed ten executive orders that support his immigration agenda. These executive orders touch...more
Following his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued a number of immigration-related Executive Orders (EOs) sure to have impact on employers and their business operations. So far, the focus in the media has...more
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issues six executive orders covering immigration policy decisions. A summary of these executive orders follows. This executive order ends birthright citizenship for those infants who: (1)...more
This Order authorizes increased vetting and screening of those seeking admission to the United States, and those already in the United States. Agencies are directed to establish a uniform baseline for screening and vetting...more
This order directs federal agencies to refuse to recognize U.S. citizenship for children born in the United States to mothers in the country illegally, or who are present in the United States on non-immigrant visas, if the...more
February 24, 2021, President Biden posted his Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States. This new proclamation revokes the ones issued under the previous administration which suspended the...more
To boost innovation and remain competitive, employers often have no option but to sponsor foreign nationals for H-1B work visas to meet their labor needs, especially when it comes to workers in science, technology,...more
Timely Topics - By Shannon B. Hartsfield - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Jan. 18, 2018, the creation of a new division within its Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR is described as...more
The Supreme Court has issued orders allowing the Trump Administration to enforce a ban on travel to the United States while the Ninth U.S. Circuit and Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rule on its legality. As we...more
On August 28, 2017, USCIS announced that it will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain permanent residency applicants, a change being implemented in response to Executive Order 13780, which pushed for more "uniform...more
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order striking the 80-percent/three-week goal for interviewing nonimmigrant visa applicants following submission of applications. Since September 11, 2001, the State...more
In a series of cables sent in mid-March, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had ordered Consulates abroad to begin preparing for “extreme vetting.” Then, the court in Hawaii v. Trump enjoined the President’s revised travel ban,...more
Subsequent to President Trump’s March 6, 2017 Executive Order Suspending travel to the US of certain nationals and Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New DOS cable instructs U.S. consular posts to identify population groups for tougher visa screening, which will likely lead to increased processing times....more
State Department Secretary Rex Tillerson has directed all consular chiefs to determine which populations of visa applicants should be subject to additional “extreme” vetting. The March 15 direction is in response to...more
EXECUTIVE ORDERS MARK A RISING, ROILING TIDE OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS - In his first week in office, President Donald Trump launched a series of executive orders (EO) directing large-scale changes on...more
In an unprecedented development last week, a Federal District Judge in Hawaii issued a nationwide restraining order halting President Trump’s second travel ban. The successful challenge, brought by the State of Hawaii, once...more
A federal Judge in Maryland issued a ruling to block provisions of President Trump’s March 6th Executive Order. The Executive Order (EO) was a revision from a previously blocked EO, which bans foreign nationals from six...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Federal judges from Hawaii and Maryland have issued nationwide Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) effectively blocking the implementation of the Trump administration’s revised travel ban, which was...more
Two federal judges have blocked the latest immigration executive order from the Trump Administration that would have resulted in a new travel ban for certain travelers to the United States. Signed by the President on...more