Headlines: Executive Order Heightens Scrutiny of Contractors Employing Foreign Workers – The order instructs the Secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security to take action to protect U.S. workers from “any adverse effects on wages and working conditions caused by the employment of H-1B visa holders at job sites (including third-party job sites),” among other things. […]

Headlines: SEVP Issues ‘Clarifying’ Q&A for Foreign Students re Online-Only Coursework Visa Ban – SEVP released new guidance on the Trump administration’s shifting policy on foreign students taking online coursework in the fall. USCIS Postpones Staff Furloughs After ‘Surplus’ Memo Surfaces – USCIS announced that planned furloughs of more than 13,000 of its employees have […]

Headlines: SEVP Says F-1 and M-1 Students Attending Schools Entirely Online Due to Pandemic Must Not Enter or Remain in United States – In a move that stunned, dismayed, and confused international students studying in the United States, U.S. institutions of higher education, and others, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program announced that nonimmigrant F-1 […]

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 […]

  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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]