July 2018 Immigration Update

USCIS Recalls 800 Incorrectly Printed Employment Authorization Documents – USCIS said the cards contain a production error that transposed the first and last names of the individuals receiving the EADs. ICE/SEVP Warns Students About Volunteer Positions – SEVP warned that reporting non-qualifying volunteer opportunities as OPT employment will be deemed a violation of reporting requirements […]

Mid-June 2018 Immigration Update

Lottery Has Begun for Increased H-2B Petitions – USCIS began accepting H-2B petitions under the temporary final rule increasing the numerical limit, or cap, on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by up to 15,000 additional visas through the end of FY 2018. Labor Dept. Adds Time Received to Receipt Date for Review of H-2B Temporary Labor Certification […]

June 2018 Global Immigration Update

Feature Article CITIZENSHIP: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview in Q&A format of citizenship issues in several countries. Country Updates HONG KONG – This article discusses expatriation issues in Hong Kong; explains the rationale behind some U.S. citizens’ decision to migrate to Hong Kong and, in some cases, renounce their U.S. citizenship; provides […]

June 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: DHS Announces Additional 15,000 H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Visas for FY 2018 – Secretary Nielsen said there are not enough qualified, U.S. workers available to perform temporary nonagricultural labor to satisfy the needs of U.S. businesses in FY 2018. This allocation is in addition to the 66,000 visas already issued this year. DHS Proposes […]

Mid-May 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: Seven States Sue to End DACA; NAACP Declares Victory in Another DACA Decision – A lawsuit claims that the 2012 executive action creating DACA was unlawful, and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief; NAACP celebrates another DACA decision. USCIS Issues New Policy on Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, J, M Nonimmigrants – The new […]

May 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: USCIS Plans to Revise Definition of Specialty Occupation, Employment, Employer-Employee Relationship, Among Other Actions – The letter does not specify how these definitions will be revised or when the proposed regulations will be issued. Gorsuch Votes Against Trump Administration in Deportation Case; DHS, ICE Issue Statements – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch voted […]

Mid-April 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: Attorney General Orders ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy for Improper Entries at Southwest Border; President Issues Memo on ‘Catch and Release‘ – Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors along the southwest border of the United States to adopt immediately a “zero-tolerance policy.” Later the same day, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum on “catch and […]

April 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: USCIS To Begin Accepting FY 2019 H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions April 2, Suspends Premium Processing – Starting April 2, 2018, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the FY 2019 cap. USCIS said it will temporarily suspend premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a […]

H-1B Tips for Employers

On April 2, employers can start filing H-1B temporary visa petitions for foreign professionals for work starting October 1, 2018. The law limits new H-1B visa numbers to 85,000 a year. Because many more employers than that are likely to file petitions, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will receive applications for one week and […]

Mid-March 2018 Immigration Update

Headlines: California, Sued by Dept. of Justice for ‘Sanctuary’ Laws, Continues to Resist – DOJ filed a lawsuit against the state of California, its governor, and its attorney general over several “sanctuary” laws passed by the state. State officials remained defiant. Lost in the Weed: Practitioners Warn About Potential Immigration Consequences of Marijuana Use – […]