Immigration Update – July 06, 2020
Headlines: Trump Amends Proclamation to Suspend Entry of Nonimmigrant Workers, With Exceptions; USCIS Issues Statement – On June 29, 2020, President Trump issued an amendment to his Presidential Proclamation issued June 22, 2020. USCIS Updates Fee Payment System Used in Field Offices – Effective immediately, a long list of field offices will only accept payments […]
Amendment to Proclamation Suspending Nonimmigrant Entries
On June 29, 2020, President Trump issued an amendment to Proclamation 10052 of June 22, 2020 (Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak). The amendment changes Section 3(a)(ii) to read as follows: “(ii) does […]
Immigration Update – June 29, 2020
Headlines: Trump Issues Proclamation to Suspend Entry of Nonimmigrant Workers, With Exceptions – A Presidential Proclamation issued June 22, 2020, extends an order to limit the entry of many immigrants that was issued in April, and amends it to include nonimmigrant workers, with exceptions. State Dept., USCIS Issue Statements on Proclamations Suspending Entry of Immigrants […]
Proclamation Suspending Nonimmigrant Entries
On June 22, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation further restricting immigration into the United States. The new proclamation is an extension of the previous proclamation issued on April 22, 2020 that suspends certain green card applications and limits highly skilled workers and several nonimmigrant visa categories. When Does the Proclamation Go into […]
Immigration Update – June 22, 2020
Headlines: Trump Says Proclamation Imminent, May Suspend Entry of Nonimmigrant Workers, With Exceptions – A Presidential Proclamation is expected imminently to suspend the entry of many nonimmigrant workers, possibly until the end of the year. USCIS Issues New H-1B Policy Memo and Rescinds Two Earlier Memos Following Litigation – USCIS has issued a new memorandum […]
Immigration Update – June 17, 2020
Headlines: Anticipated Presidential Proclamation May Further Suspend Entry of Nonimmigrants, With Exceptions – A Presidential Proclamation is expected soon that may extend the suspension of entry of many nonimmigrants. USCIS Rescinds Restrictive H-1B Policy Memo Following Litigation – USCIS recently entered into an agreement with ITServe Alliance, Inc., an information technology trade group, to overturn […]
Global Immigration Update – June 09, 2020
Feature Article DOCUMENT PROCUREMENT AND THE LEGALIZATION PROCESS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of policies and procedures on document procurement and legalization in several countries. Country Updates CANADA – Canada has issued several updates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ITALY – Italy has lifted some travel restrictions. A new law extends […]
Immigration Update – June 09, 2020
Headlines: Dept. of Transportation Allows Chinese Air Carriers to Enter United States Twice Weekly ‘In Aggregate’ – DOT is permitting Chinese air carriers, in aggregate, the right to operate two weekly passenger flights to the United States, effective immediately. USCIS Resumes Non-Emergency, Face-to-Face Services to Public – Certain USCIS field offices and asylum offices have […]
Immigration Update – June 01, 2020
Headlines: Trump Proclamation Limits Chinese Students and Researchers in the United States – President Trump has issued a proclamation limiting Chinese students wishing to study in the United States to undergraduates under certain conditions, and limiting Chinese researchers. USCIS To Begin Resuming Public Services June 4 – USCIS is preparing some domestic offices to reopen […]
Immigration Update – May 26, 2020
Headlines: Federal Court Rules Against USCIS in H-1B ‘Itinerary’ Case – The court found no basis in the law or regulations “for requiring a petitioner to submit evidence of specific, qualifying work requirements and micro-location information for every single day of the visa period.” U.S. Embassy in India Advises on Repatriations of U.S. Citizens, Other […]
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 […]
