Headlines: Spending Bill Extends EB-5 Investor Visa Program to September 30; No Funding for Wall – The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 extends the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program through September 30, 2017. The legislation also provides a large border-security funding increase, but no funding for a border wall. USCIS Completes Data Entry of FY […]
Headlines: President Trump Signs ‘Buy American and Hire American’ Executive Order – Among other things, the order calls for the Secretaries of State, Labor, and Homeland Security, along with the Attorney General, to “propose new rules and issue new guidance, to supersede or revise previous rules and guidance if appropriate,” to protect U.S. workers in […]
Headlines: USCIS Reaches FY 2018 H-1B Cap – On April 7, 2017, USCIS reached the H-1B cap for FY 2018. USCIS also received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 visa U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS Changes H-1B Specialty Occupation Guidance for Computer Programmers – Attorneys are expecting an increase in requests […]
Headlines: INDIA – India has launched an e-Tourist Visa for certain travelers. ITALY – Various developments have been announced. NETHERLANDS – This article offers comments from a Dutch perspective on the new European Union Directive on intracorporate transferees. TURKEY – Regulations on the new Turquoise Card have been published. UNITED KINGDOM – This article discusses […]
Headlines: USCIS To Accept FY 2018 H-1B Petitions Starting April 3 – USCIS will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. State Dept. Cable Calls for U.S. Embassies To Increase Scrutiny of Certain Visa Applicants – The cable orders U.S. embassies to identify “applicant populations warranting increased […]
Headlines President Trump Signs Revised ‘Travel Ban’ Executive Order; Federal District Court Blocks Ban Temporarily – President Donald Trump signed a revised “travel ban” executive order on March 6. USCIS To Suspend Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions Starting April 3 – The suspension may last up to 6 months. Have You Been Using E-Verify for […]
Headlines: DHS Issues Two New Immigration Enforcement Memos – Two new DHS memoranda call for strict enforcement of immigration laws, stepped-up detentions, and enhancement of expedited removal, among other things. TSA Notifies Travelers of Upcoming 2018 REAL ID Airport Enforcement – Effective January 22, 2018, TSA will start enforcing REAL ID requirements at airport security […]
Headlines Ninth Circuit Blocks Entry Ban: Recent Developments re Trump Administration’s Executive Order – This article summarizes the rapidly developing immigration-related actions of the Trump administration, and related counteractions. USCIS Will Accept Only New Forms After February 21, 2017 – New fees for USCIS forms took effect in December, and updated versions of those forms […]
These updated FAQs reflect the situation with regard to President Trump’s executive order, “Protecting the Nation From Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nations,” banning entry to the United States by individuals traveling from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, as of 6 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on February 14, 2017. New developments continue […]
Feature Article: ELECTRONIC TRAVELER SYSTEMS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of recent developments with respect to electronic traveler systems in several countries. Country Updates: BELGIUM – A new Act provides for an increased focus on integration efforts, including mandatory signing of a “newcomers statement” for long-term (greater than three months) residence for […]
