Headlines: U.S. Extends Nonessential Travel Restrictions at Canada, Mexico Land Borders; Canada Opens to U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents August 9 – Canadians and many other U.S.-bound international travelers can fly into the United States if they receive a negative COVID-19 test. Applicants for Change of Status to F-1 Student No Longer Need to Submit Subsequent Applications […]
Headlines: New DACA Applications Blocked by Federal Judge – New Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications will not be allowed under a ruling by a U.S. district judge. The judge temporarily stayed his ruling for nearly 650,000 current DACA recipients. No Surprise: Ombudsman’s Annual Report Says USCIS Faces ‘Unprecedented Challenges’ Due to Pandemic, Backlogs, Financial […]
Headlines: USCIS Announces Updated Receipt Guidance for I-9 Process – USCIS announced updated guidance on receipts for the I-9 employment authorization verification process. OFLC Implements District Court Order Requiring Backpay for Qualifying H-2A Workers – Certain H-2A employers must make wage adjustment payments to qualifying workers and certify compliance by September 4, 2021. OFLC Completes […]
Headlines: Biden Administration Kicks Off Cross-Agency Naturalization Campaign – The Biden administration announced an interagency campaign to promote naturalization “to all who are eligible.” District Court Vacates Final Rule Affecting Wages for H-1B, PERM Workers; OFLC Updates Implementation – In light of delays and a June district court order vacating the final rule, the operative […]
Headlines: EB-5 Program To Expire June 30 After Efforts Fail in Senate; Reauthorization Still Possible Later – Since the Senate has recessed until July, it appears that the EB-5 regional center program will expire. It remains to be seen whether Congress will reauthorize it later. USCIS Allows Resubmission of Certain FY 2021 H-1B Petitions Rejected […]
Headlines: EB-5 Program Set to Expire June 30, Outlook is Uncertain in Short Term – The EB-5 regional center program, under which foreign investors finance projects in the United States in exchange for green cards, is set to expire on June 30, 2021. Whether Congress will be able to reach agreement on a plan to […]
Headlines: USCIS Updates Policies to Improve Immigration Services: Expedited Processing, RFEs/NOIDs, EADs – USCIS issued new policy updates to clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve guidance for requests for evidence and notices of intent to deny; and increase the validity period for initial and renewal work authorization documents for certain noncitizens with […]
Headlines: Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for FY 2021 – Under the recently announced H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule, USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 16,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers only. USCIS continues to accept petitions for H-2B nonimmigrant workers for the […]
Headlines: ICE Announces Extension, New Employee Guidance on I-9 Compliance Flexibility – 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 – […]
Headlines: DHS, DOL Issue Joint Rule Increasing H-2B Visa Cap – 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 […]
