Immigration Update- January 21, 2020
Headlines: USCIS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs – For 2020, the countries designated as eligible in 2019 are unchanged. USCIS Releases Final FY 2019 Statistics – The statistics include naturalizations, green cards, employment authorizations, and protected populations, among other categories. OFLC Completes Randomization Process on H-2B Applications Requesting an April 1, […]
Immigration Update- January 13, 2020
Headlines Iranian-Americans Stopped, Questioned When Returning From Canada – More than 60 Iranian-Americans reportedly were held for questioning when returning from Canada recently via Washington State. USCIS Publishes Notice ‘Formally Announcing’ Implementation of Electronic H-1B Registration Process and Timeframe – USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1 through March 20, 2020, for […]
Immigration Update- January 6, 2020
Headlines Immigration Provisions Included in Newly Enacted Defense Act – On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes several immigration-related provisions. Investigation Finds Fake Companies Exploiting F-1 Student Visa Program –NBC found that 14 “suspicious” companies employed more than 5,500 foreign students through the Optional Practical Training program. ABIL […]
Immigration Update- December 24, 2019
Headlines Spending Bill Extends EB-5 Regional Center Program, Includes Immigration Provisions – Congress has passed a spending bill for fiscal year 2020 that includes several immigration-related provisions. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation. January Visa Bulletin Includes Projections in Employment-Based Categories – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for January 2020 includes information […]
Immigration Update- December 18, 2019
Headlines Possible Retrogression in EB-2 Worldwide and EB-3 Worldwide in January – This year retrogression in the employment-based second and third preference visa categories may come much earlier than usual. House Passes Bill to Address Labor Shortage in Agriculture; Senate Prospects Unclear – Among other things, the bill would provide a path to legal status […]
Immigration Update- December 13, 2019
Headlines December 2019 Visa Bulletin – EB-1 Dates for Filing Current Except for China and India, Little Movement of Final Action Dates – The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the Monthly Visa Bulletin for December 2019, which shows Dates for Filing as current for EB-1 except for India and China. Client Alert for Premium […]
Immigration Update- December 6, 2019
Immigration Update- December 6, 2019 Headlines Could Immigration Lawyers become Criminals? – The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of U.S. v. Sineneng-Smith involving an immigration consultant – Evelyn Sineneng-Smith – who told her undocumented clients they could stay in the United States under a program she knew had ended. Though she […]
Immigration Update- November 25, 2019
Headlines: Despite Courts Enjoining DHS Public Charge Rule, State Department Proceeding with Implementing its Own Version – Four courts issued injunctions against the controversial rule, two of which were nationwide, and one of which barred USCIS from issuing new forms related to the rule. DHS Secretary Resigns – After only serving six months as Acting […]
Immigration Update – November 4, 2019
Headlines: Trump Wants Cuccinelli as DHS Secretary, Hesitant Due to Senate’s Reluctance – Donald Trump wants current acting director of USCIS Ken Cuccinelli to take over as secretary of DHS. Senate confirmation has him weary, as Senate Republicans have indicated they would not support Cuccinelli. USCIS Removes Means-Tested Benefit Criteria From Form I-912 – United […]
Immigration Update: September 9, 2019
Immigration Update: September 9, 2019 Headlines: OFLC Announces Schedule for E-Filing of LCAs – Affected LCA programs include the H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa classifications. USCIS Proposes Deleting Time Limits on Work Authorization Processing for Asylum Applicants – USCIS has announced a proposed rule to remove the 30-day time limit on granting or denying an […]
Immigration Update: September 1, 2019
Immigration Update September 1, 2019 Headlines: Continue to Use “Expiring” I-9 Form Until Further Notice, USCIS Says – Until further notice, employers should continue using the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) currently available on I-9 Central, even after the August 31, 2019, expiration date has passed USCIS Changes Direct Filing Addresses for Certain Nonimmigrant Worker […]
Immigration Update August 27, 2019
Headlines: New DOJ Interim Rule, Effective Immediately, Makes Significant Changes to EOIR – A new Department of Justice interim rule, effective August 26, 2019, and published on the same day, makes significant changes to several components of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and its lines of authority. The immigration judges’ union immediately protested. […]
Immigration Update August 12, 2019
Headlines State Dept. Establishes, Retrogresses August Employment-Based Final Action Dates – The Visa Bulletin for August 2019 notes a steadily increasing level of employment-based applicant demand since late May for adjustment-of-status cases filed with USCIS, although the State Department is hoping to return priority dates to what they’ve been before July 2019 after the […]
Immigration Update- July 30, 2019
Headlines: Expedited Removal Expands to Interior of United States – With immediate effect, DHS issued a notice to dramatically expand the process of expedited removal. The ACLU has promised to file a suit challenging the action. USCIS Amends EB-5 Regulations, Raising Minimum Investment Amounts and Modifying TEA Designations – A long-anticipated final rule provides priority […]
IMMIGRATION UPDATE -July 19, 2019
HEADLINES: ICE Moving Forward With Arrests of Thousands of Immigrants and Family Members – ICE plans to move forward with operations to arrest and quickly deport thousands of immigrants and their family members who are in the United States without authorization. House Passes Bill to Eliminate Per-Country Cap on Employment-Based Immigrants – The U.S. House […]
Immigration Update – July 7, 2019
Headlines: Sen. Paul Blocks Bill to Eliminate Per-Country Cap on Employment-Based Green Cards – The “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019” (S. 386), a bill that would eliminate the 7 percent per-country cap (numerical limitation) on employment-based immigrants, among other things, was blocked in the Senate by Rand Paul (R-Ky.). OMB Concludes Review of […]
Immigration Update – July 1, 2019
Headlines: USCIS Expands ‘FIRST’ Digital FOIA System – USCIS said FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally. USCIS Extends Parole and Work Authorization for Certain CNMI Residents – USCIS will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for certain […]
Immigration Update – June 7, 2019
Headlines: State Dept. Notes Continued Heavy Demand, Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories – The Visa Bulletin for June 2019 notes heavy demand in several employment-based visa categories for India and Vietnam. USCIS Requests Info on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Experience – USCIS wants information from attorneys, accredited representatives, regional center owners, […]
Immigration Update – May 28, 2019
Headlines: Regulatory Agenda Includes Stripping Employment Eligibility From H-4 Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders, Other Actions – The agenda also includes a proposal to revise the definition of “specialty occupation” to “increase focus on obtaining the best and the brightest” foreign nationals via the H-1B program, revise the definition of “employment” and “employer-employee relationship” to […]
Immigration Update – May 20, 2019
Headlines: Trump Proposes Merit-Based Immigration Plan – President Donald Trump proposed an immigration plan on May 16, 2019, that shifts the emphasis to a merit-based system to admit highly educated, high-skilled immigrants. USCIS Completes Data Entry for FY 2020 H-1B Cap-Subject (Lottery) Petitions – USCIS announced that it has completed data entry for all FY […]
