Immigration Update: September 9, 2019 Headlines: OFLC Announces Schedule for E-Filing of LCAs – Affected LCA programs include the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa classifications. USCIS Proposes Deleting Time Limits on Work Authorization Processing for Asylum Applicants – USCIS has announced a proposed rule to remove the 30-day time limit on granting or denying an […]
Immigration Update September 1, 2019 Headlines: Continue to Use “Expiring” I-9 Form Until Further Notice, USCIS Says – Until further notice, employers should continue using the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) currently available on I-9 Central, even after the August 31, 2019, expiration date has passed USCIS Changes Direct Filing Addresses for Certain Nonimmigrant Worker […]
Headlines: New DOJ Interim Rule, Effective Immediately, Makes Significant Changes to EOIR – A new Department of Justice interim rule, effective August 26, 2019, and published on the same day, makes significant changes to several components of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and its lines of authority. The immigration judges’ union immediately protested. […]
Headlines State Dept. Establishes, Retrogresses August Employment-Based Final Action Dates – The Visa Bulletin for August 2019 notes a steadily increasing level of employment-based applicant demand since late May for adjustment-of-status cases filed with USCIS, although the State Department is hoping to return priority dates to what they’ve been before July 2019 after the […]
Headlines: Expedited Removal Expands to Interior of United States – With immediate effect, DHS issued a notice to dramatically expand the process of expedited removal. The ACLU has promised to file a suit challenging the action. USCIS Amends EB-5 Regulations, Raising Minimum Investment Amounts and Modifying TEA Designations – A long-anticipated final rule provides priority […]
HEADLINES: ICE Moving Forward With Arrests of Thousands of Immigrants and Family Members – ICE plans to move forward with operations to arrest and quickly deport thousands of immigrants and their family members who are in the United States without authorization. House Passes Bill to Eliminate Per-Country Cap on Employment-Based Immigrants – The U.S. House […]
Headlines: Sen. Paul Blocks Bill to Eliminate Per-Country Cap on Employment-Based Green Cards – The “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019” (S. 386), a bill that would eliminate the 7 percent per-country cap (numerical limitation) on employment-based immigrants, among other things, was blocked in the Senate by Rand Paul (R-Ky.). OMB Concludes Review of […]
Headlines: USCIS Expands ‘FIRST’ Digital FOIA System – USCIS said FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally. USCIS Extends Parole and Work Authorization for Certain CNMI Residents – USCIS will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for certain […]
Headlines: State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories – The Visa Bulletin for June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories for India and Vietnam. USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience – USCIS wants information from attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, […]
Headlines: Regulatory Agenda Includes Stripping Employment Eligibility From H-4 Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders, Other Actions – The agenda also includes a proposal to revise the definition of “specialty occupation” to “increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest” foreign nationals via the H-1B program, revise the definition of “employment” and “employer-employee relationship” to […]
