Headlines: ICE Announces Extension, New Employee Guidance on I-9 Compliance Flexibility β U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced an extension until August 31, 2021, of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that were initially granted last year due to precautions related to COVID-19. USCIS Eases Visitor Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Individuals β […]
Headlines: DHS, DOL Issue Joint Rule Increasing H-2B Visa Cap β The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year 2021 “to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers.” Of the supplemental […]
Headlines: DHS Announces Continuation of International Entrepreneur Program β USCIS said the program, first introduced in 2017, “will remain a viable program for foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop start-up entities with high growth potential in the United States.” USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrants Changing or Extending Status β Previously, applicants had […]
Headlines: President Biden Raises Refugee Cap to 62,500 in FY 2021 β President Joe Biden revised the United States’ annual refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for fiscal year FY 2021, with a goal of 125,000 admissions for FY 2022. DHS Will Withdraw Proposed Rule on Work Authorization for Certain Persons With Final Removal Orders β […]
Headlines: President Biden Suspends Entry of Noncitizens/Non-LPRs Traveling From India; U.S. Mission in India Announces Limits on Visa Services β President Biden has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of non-U.S. citizens who were physically present within India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, with some exceptions. […]
Headlines: SSA Ends βNo-Matchβ Letters β The Social Security Administration has ended the practice of sending employers βno-matchβ letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available β In light of increased labor demands, the Department of Homeland Security announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas this fiscal […]
Headlines: President Biden Will Raise Refugee Cap Following Backlash β President Biden plans to raise the cap on refugees for FY 2021 by May 15, 2021. The announcement followed a backlash after he announced originally that refugee admissions this fiscal year would be kept at 15,000. President Biden Picks Nominees for USCIS, CBP β President […]
Headlines: Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Senate Would Provide Up to 40,000 Unused Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses β The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would provide unused employment-based immigrant visas for up to 25,000 foreign nurses and 15,000 foreign physicians and their family members. USCIS Completes Initial FY 2022 H-1B Cap Season Selections; Petitions May Be […]
Headlines: Class Action Filed Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays β The American Immigration Lawyers Association and Wasden Banias, LLP, filed a class action lawsuit challenging processing delays on extensions of status and employment authorization documents for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses. USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Responding to Agency Requests β USCIS will […]
Headlines: House Passes ‘Dreamer’ and Farmworker Bills; Senate Passage Uncertain β On March 18, 2021, two immigration-related bills passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. DHS Withdraws Affidavit of Support Proposed Rule β The Department of Homeland Security announced the withdrawal of a proposed rule, “Affidavit of Support on Behalf of Immigrants,” published on […]
