Headlines: DHS Increases Premium Processing Fees β On February 26, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security will increase premium processing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DOJ Threatens to Sue Texas Over State Migration Bill β The Department of Justice sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatening to sue the state […]
Headlines: State Dept. Announces Pilot Program to Resume Domestic H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Renewals β The pilot program will accept applications from January 29 to April 1, 2024. OFLC Reminds Employers About Deadlines for Peak H-2A Filing Season β The federal Department of Labor announced that from January 2-4, 2024, it will accept H-2B applications for […]
Headlines: USCIS Reaches FY 2024 H-1B Cap β U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2024. DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Reiterating […]
Headlines: OFLC Announces Annual Determination of H-2A Labor Supply States for U.S. Worker Recruitment β The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Administrator has determined that current requirements for labor supply states will remain in effect, with one modification: OFLC will no longer recognize North Carolina and Texas as traditional labor supply […]
Headlines:Β Three Important Cases Pending Before U.S. Supreme Court β Three important cases are pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to observers, at stake are the legitimacy of the current U.S. immigration court system and a longstanding precedent decision. DOS Proposes Updates to Au Pair Exchange Visitor Program β The Department of State proposes […]
FEATURE ARTICLE RED FLAGS IN EMPLOYMENT LAW RELATED TO IMMIGRATION: AN OVERVIEW βThis article provides an update on red flags in employment law related to immigration in several countries. COUNTRY UPDATES ITALY β On November 13, 2023, the European Union (EU) Council adopted new rules to allow online filing of Schengen visa applications. Also, a […]
Headlines: USCIS Expands myProgress to Forms I-485 and I-821 β U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. myProgress will initially only be available for family-based […]
Headlines: DHS Increases FY 2024 Limit on H-2B Nonagricultural Workers and Provides Portability β In consultation with the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security is increasing the total number of noncitizens who may receive an H-2B nonimmigrant visa by up to 64,716 for fiscal year 2024. 20,000 visas are reserved for nationals of […]
Headlines: Here We Go Again: Federal Government Shutdown Possible After November 17 β As many know, before a deadline of September 30, 2023, Congress passed and President Biden signed H.R. 5860, a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government funded for 45 days. A shutdown is still possible after November 17. Apple Settles […]
Headlines: Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence Includes Immigration-Related Provisions β On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” Section 5 of the order, “Promoting Innovation and Competition,” includes various immigration-related provisions. DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap With Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for […]
