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 […]
Immigration Update – March 16, 2020
Headlines: COVID-19 Update: News and Advice for Employers – This article presents a few highlights of developments in the short term. Judges Reject USCIS Arguments on H-1B Specialty Occupation Requirements and Invalidate USCIS Policies that Adversely Impacted IT Consulting Companies – Two recent cases concern USCIS interpretations of qualifications for H-1B specialty occupations. Firm in […]
Immigration Update – March 09, 2020
Headlines: Supreme Court Rules on I-9 False SSN in Kansas Prosecution Case – The Supreme Court held that an undocumented immigrant who used a false SSN for I-9 purposes can be prosecuted by the state for using the false SSN on state employment tax forms. USCIS Alert: H-2A, H-2B Petitions Must Include Printed Copy of […]
Immigration Update – March 02, 2020
March 02, 2020 Immigration Update Headlines: Initial H-1B Registration Period Opens at Noon ET March 1, 2020 – The initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions opened at non ET on March 1 and runs through noon ET on March 20, 2020. H-2B Cap Reached for Second Half of FY […]
Immigration Update – February 24, 2020
Headlines: Immediate Three-Year Backlog Imposed on EB-3 and EB “Other Workers” Visa Categories in March; China-Mainland Born EB-5 Category Advances Rapidly – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for March 2020 announced several notable developments. Update: USCIS to Launch Electronic H-1B Registration Process Starting March 1 – USCIS released updated details on February 21, 2020. […]
Immigration Update – February 18, 2020
February 18, 2020 Immigration Update Headlines: USCIS Poised to Launch Electronic H-1B Registration Process Starting March 1 – USCIS will open an initial registration period from noon ET March 1, 2020, through noon ET March 20, 2020, for the FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject numerical allocations. USCIS Suspends Use of Pre-Paid Mailers for FY 2021 H-1B […]
Immigration Update – February 11, 2020
Headlines: DHS Suspends New York Residents from Trusted Traveler Programs; New York to Sue – DHS informed the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles on February 5, 2020, that New York residents are no longer eligible to apply for or renew their enrollment in Trusted Traveler Programs. New York’s Attorney General immediately announced plans […]
February 2020 Global Immigration Update
Feature Article SHORT-TERM HIGH-SKILLED WORKER PROGRAMS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of policies and procedures on short-term high-skilled worker programs in several countries. Country Updates BELGIUM – Belgium has announced 2020 gross salary thresholds. CANADA – Québec attestations are now required for permanent immigrant applicants. Also, there is an update on the […]
Immigration Update- February 3, 2020
Headlines: USCIS Announces Public Charge Rule Implementation Following Supreme Court Stay of Nationwide Injunctions  – USCIS will implement the public charge final rule on February 24, 2020, except in Illinois, where the rule remains enjoined by a federal court. Trump Administration Restricts U.S. Entry of Travelers From and Through China Due to Coronavirus Risk – […]
Immigration Update- January 27, 2020
Headlines: State Department Issues Final Rule Ordering Denials of B Visas to Combat ‘Birth Tourism’ – The final rule establishes that travel to the United States with the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child by giving birth in the United States is an impermissible basis for the issuance of a B nonimmigrant […]
