Immigration Update – May 18, 2020

Headlines: ICE Extends E-Verify I-9 Requirements Flexibility for 30 Days – ICE has extended temporary guidance that had been set to expire on May 19, 2020, for an additional 30 days. The guidance relates to agency discretion to defer the physical presence requirements associated with the I-9 employment eligibility verification process. USCIS Introduces Temporary Policy […]

Immigration Update – May 12, 2020

Headlines: USCIS Changes E-Verify and I-9 Central Email Addresses – As of April 24, USCIS is no longer able to receive and answer emails sent to e-verify@dhs.gov and i-9central@dhs.gov. New Bill Would Reallocate 40,000 Unused Green Cards for Medical Workers – A new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would reallocate previously authorized, unused immigrant […]

Immigration Update – May 04, 2020

Headlines: USCIS Issues Temporary COVID-19-Related Policy for I-9 List B Identity Docs Following DHS Deferral of I-9 Physical Presence Requirements – As of May 1, 2020, identity documents in List B with expiration dates on or after March 1, 2020, and not otherwise extended by the issuing authority “may be treated the same as if […]

Immigration Update – April 27, 2020

Headlines: President Bans Immigrants From Entry Into the United States for 60 Days, With Exceptions – The proclamation states that the rationale is to address “excess labor supply” and displacement of U.S. workers. Additional measures regarding nonimmigrant visas are possible. USCIS Offices Reopening ‘On or After June 4’ – After a shutdown that began March […]

Immigration Update – April 20, 2020

Headlines: DHS Issues COVID-19-Related Temporary Final Rule Easing H-2A Agricultural Work Requirements – DHS, with the support of the Department of Agriculture, will publish a temporary final rule to temporarily amend the regulations regarding temporary and seasonal H-2A nonimmigrant agricultural workers, and their U.S. employers. DHS Issues Advice on Options for Nonimmigrants During COVID-19 Emergency […]

Immigration Update – April 13, 2020

Headlines: Do Stimulus Checks and Unemployment Benefits Matter for Purposes of Inadmissibility Determinations Based on Public Charge? Attorneys Weigh In – Immigration attorneys have been getting questions from their clients about whether accepting the COVID-19 pandemic-related stimulus check, or unemployment benefits, are considered public benefits for purposes of public charge inadmissibility determinations. USCIS Is Reusing […]

Immigration Update – April 05, 2020

Headlines: FY 2021 H-1B Cap Petitions May Be Filed as of April 1; Glitch in Registration System Reportedly Results in Erroneous Denials – The new USCIS system allegedly erroneously denied many registrations as duplicates that were not. USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until At Least May 3 – USCIS said it will begin to reopen […]

Immigration Update – March 30, 2020

Headlines: COVID-19 Update: Latest Developments – This article presents immigration-related highlights of developments in the short term for the fast-evolving COVID-19 pandemic. E-Verify Self-Check Has New TNC Features – E-Verify has announced that myE-Verify users now can begin using new features, guidance, and updated screens in Self Check. H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Is […]

Immigration Update – March 23, 2020

Headlines: COVID-19 Update: USCIS Suspends Most In-Person Services, U.S. North/South Borders Closed to Nonessential Traffic, Other Developments – This article presents a few highlights of developments in the short term for the fast-evolving COVID-19 pandemic. USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for FY 2021 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions – USCIS announced the temporary suspension of […]

ABIL Calls on DHS, DOJ, DOL, and the State Department to Use Its Inherent Authority To Help Fight COVID-19 by Suspending All Immigration Deadlines

The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (ABIL) urges the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, State, Justice and Labor, including their subordinate agencies charged with administering and enforcing federal immigration laws, to announce the immediate suspension of all immigration compliance deadlines in order to help minimize harms to public safety and business continuity caused by the […]