Immigration Update – May 17, 2021
Headlines: DHS Announces Continuation of International Entrepreneur Program β USCIS said the program, first introduced in 2017, “will remain a viable program for foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop start-up entities with high growth potential in the United States.” USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrants Changing or Extending Status β Previously, applicants had […]
Immigration Update – May 10, 2021
Headlines: President Biden Raises Refugee Cap to 62,500 in FY 2021 β President Joe Biden revised the United States’ annual refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for fiscal year FY 2021, with a goal of 125,000 admissions for FY 2022. DHS Will Withdraw Proposed Rule on Work Authorization for Certain Persons With Final Removal Orders β […]
Immigration Update – May 03, 2021
Headlines: President Biden Suspends Entry of Noncitizens/Non-LPRs Traveling From India; U.S. Mission in India Announces Limits on Visa Services β President Biden has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of non-U.S. citizens who were physically present within India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, with some exceptions. […]
Immigration Update – April 26, 2021
Headlines: SSA Ends βNo-Matchβ Letters β The Social Security Administration has ended the practice of sending employers βno-matchβ letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available β In light of increased labor demands, the Department of Homeland Security announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas this fiscal […]
Immigration Update – April 20, 2021
Headlines: President Biden Will Raise Refugee Cap Following Backlash β President Biden plans to raise the cap on refugees for FY 2021 by May 15, 2021. The announcement followed a backlash after he announced originally that refugee admissions this fiscal year would be kept at 15,000. President Biden Picks Nominees for USCIS, CBP β President […]
Immigration Update – April 12, 2021
Headlines: State Dept. Updates Visa Services Guidance, Policy on National Interest Exceptions for Regional COVID Proclamations β The Department of State recently released several updates. Attorneys, AILA Sue State Dept. for Unlawfully Refusing to Issue Visas Due to Certain Travel Bans β Attorneys Jeff Joseph of Joseph and Hall PC, Charles Kuck of Kuck Baxter […]
Immigration Update – April 05, 2021
Headlines: Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Senate Would Provide Up to 40,000 Unused Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses β The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would provide unused employment-based immigrant visas for up to 25,000 foreign nurses and 15,000 foreign physicians and their family members. USCIS Completes Initial FY 2022 H-1B Cap Season Selections; Petitions May Be […]
Immigration Update – March 29, 2021
Headlines: Class Action Filed Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays β The American Immigration Lawyers Association and Wasden Banias, LLP, filed a class action lawsuit challenging processing delays on extensions of status and employment authorization documents for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses. USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Responding to Agency Requests β USCIS will […]
Immigration Update – March 22, 2021
Headlines: House Passes ‘Dreamer’ and Farmworker Bills; Senate Passage Uncertain β On March 18, 2021, two immigration-related bills passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. DHS Withdraws Affidavit of Support Proposed Rule β The Department of Homeland Security announced the withdrawal of a proposed rule, “Affidavit of Support on Behalf of Immigrants,” published on […]
Immigration Update – March 16, 2021
Headlines: DHS Rescinds Public Charge Rule, Withdraws Appeals of Injunctions Blocking It β DHS rescinded regulations resulting from a final rule that was vacated by a federal district court. Under the now-rescinded rule, the government could deny applications for green cards, temporary nonimmigrant status, and naturalization if the government found they relied onβor were at […]
Immigration Update – March 08, 2021
Headlines: Dept. of State Issues New Guidance on Exceptions for Travelers From Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland β The Department of State rescinded the previous national interest determination regarding categories of travelers eligible for exceptions under Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10143 related to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. Those […]
Immigration Update – March 01, 2021
Headlines: President Biden Revokes Trump-Era Ban on Entry of Many Immigrants; State Dept. Issues Instructions on Exceptions to Nonimmigrant Ban β President Biden revoked former President Trump’s proclamation issued in April 2020 that banned many immigrants from entering the United States. The Department of State issued instructions on exceptions to the nonimmigrant ban. March Visa […]
Immigration Update – February 22, 2021
Headlines: “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” Unveiled by Biden Administration, Democrats β The Biden administration and Democratic sponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives have put forth a sweeping new immigration reform bill, the 353-page “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.” USCIS Reaches FY 2021 H-1B Cap β USCIS issued official confirmation that it has […]
Immigration Update – February 16, 2021
Headlines: State Dept. Exempts Certain Travelers From Restrictions β DOS announced exemptions for certain travelers from COVID-19-related restrictions based on the national interest. President Biden Reinstates DED for Liberians β President Biden has directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to reinstate Deferred Enforced Departure for eligible Liberians and to provide for continued work authorization through […]
Immigration Update – February 08, 2021
Headlines: USCIS Delays H-1B Wage-Based Selection Process for Cap-Subject Petitions βThe wage-based selection process is delayed to December 31, 2021, meaning that it will not be in effect for the upcoming H-1B cap filing season this March. FY 2022 H-1B Visa Registration Period Starts March 9 β The initial registration period for FY 2022 […]
Immigration Update – February 01, 2021
Headlines: USCIS To Abide by Previous Filing Fee Amounts Under Preliminary Injunction β USCIS will continue to abide by previous filing fee amounts because of two preliminary injunctions. Judge May Extend Hold on Deportation Moratorium Until February 23 β The Department of Justice may appeal, but it was unclear as of press time whether it […]
Immigration Update – January 26, 2021
Headlines: President Biden Sets in Motion a Flurry of Immigration Actions in First Days β Newly inaugurated President Joseph R. Biden launched a sweeping array of immigration-related executive orders, regulatory actions, and legislative proposals. DHS Pauses Certain Removals for 100 Days β The Department of Homeland Security announced that it is pausing for 100 days […]
Immigration Update – January 19, 2021
Headlines: Biden Administration Poised to Introduce Immigration-Related Executive Orders; Democrats Prepare Legislation β The Biden administration has plans to introduce executive orders and push for immigration legislation “immediately” after taking office. Labor, Homeland Security Dept. Issue Final Rules Changing Prevailing Wage Methodology, Employer-Employee Relationship β The agencies’ final rules make substantive changes to foreign worker […]
Immigration Update – January 11, 2021
Headlines: USCIS Issues Final Rule Prioritizing Higher Wages in H-1B Cap Selection Process β USCIS published a final rule prioritizing the selection of new H-1B petitions in 2021 based on proffered wages. USCIS Announces Delays in Issuing Receipt Notices Filed at Lockbox Facilities β USCIS announced delays of four to six weeks in sending out […]
Immigration Update – January 04, 2021
Headlines: Trump Extends Through March Bans on Foreign Workers Previously Set to Expire December 31, 2020; Extends Memo on Visa Sanctions β President Trump signed a proclamation extending earlier proclamations suspending the entry of certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants through March 31, 2021. He also extended a separate memo on visa sanctions for certain […]