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 […]
Immigration Update – May 12, 2019
Headlines: USCIS Clarifies Period of Authorized Stay for P-1S Essential Support Personnel of Individual Athletes – USCIS emphasizes that the periods of initial authorized stay are different for individual athletes (P-1A visa) and their essential support personnel (P-1S visa). DHS Increases H-2B Cap for FY 2019 by 30,000 Additional Visas – The purpose of the […]
Immigration Update – May 8, 2019
Headlines: SSA Resumes Issuing No-Match Letters – The Social Security Administration has resumed mailing notifications to employers identified as having at least one name and Social Security Number combination submitted on the wage and tax statement (Form W-2) that do not match SSA’s records. A no-match letter is not necessarily an indication that a person […]
Immigration Update – April 24, 2019
Headlines: Visa Bulletin Shows Slight Forward Progress in Some Backlogged Preference Categories – Regarding EB-1 for China and India, the bulletin notes a continued “extremely high rate of demand” that may require temporary retrogression until October. New USCIS Policy Guidance Clarifies Marijuana-Related Activities Bar on Naturalization – Certain marijuana-related activities generally bar naturalization even if […]
April 2019 Global Immigration Update
Feature Article DOCUMENT RETENTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of document retention policies and practices in Canada and Italy. Country Updates COLOMBIA – This article summarizes several developments in Colombia: All visa procedures must now be completed online; the Migrant Mercosur visa for Chilean nationals has been suspended due […]
Mid-April 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap – USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. New Study Shows Companies Pay Billions in Job Training, Scholarships for U.S. Students Through H-1B Fees – The study by the National Foundation for American Policy […]
April 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: USCIS Announces FY 2020 H-1B Cap Season Start, Updates, and Changes – USCIS announced the start of the FY 2020 H-1B cap season, start dates for premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions, and the launch of its new H-1B data hub, while reminding petitioners of its new H-1B cap selection process. DOL Issues Bulletin […]
Mid-March 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: Trump Administration Plans to Close USCIS International Operations – USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna told senior staff that the agency’s International Operations Division, which operates in more than 20 countries, will be closed down. The duties of those offices will be transferred to U.S. embassies and consulates and to domestic U.S. offices. USCIS Resumes […]
March 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: Trump Administration Moves Ahead on Reversing H-4 EADs – On February 20, 2019, the Trump administration sent a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review that would halt work authorization for H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders in the United States. Premium Processing Resumes for H-1B Petitions Filed by […]
Mid-February 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: USCIS Clarifies Advance Parole Policy When Renewal Application Is Pending – The USCIS Ombudsman reported that the agency has resolved a discrepancy in the application of policy concerning persons with advance parole who recently filed renewal applications and then left the United States. USCIS To Issue New Version of Form I-539 and New I-539A, […]
February 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: DHS Prioritizes U.S. Advanced Degrees in H-1B Final Rule; Electronic Registration Requirement Postponed – DHS has published a final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption. The final rule reverses the order by which USCIS selects H-1B petitions under the H-1B regular cap […]
Mid-January 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: Begin Work on H-1B Petitions Now, the Firm’s Attorneys Urge; H-1B Tips for Employers – Employers should assess their need for H-1B employees and begin working on their H-1B petitions now. Filing season is expected to open April 1, 2019, for FY 2020 cap-subject H-1B visas. DOL’s iCERT System Crashed on January 1, Preventing […]
January 2019 Immigration Update
Headlines: January Visa Bulletin Shows Significant Progress in EB-1, EB-3, and Other Workers India – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for January 2019 shows significant progress in the EB-1 category for all chargeability areas, as well as in the EB-3 and Other Workers India categories. Other priority dates remain Current or backlogged with little […]
Mid-December 2018 Immigration Update
Headlines: ICE Arrests 163 in Recent Enforcement Actions in New Jersey, New England – In several recent enforcement actions, ICE arrested 163 people in New Jersey and the New England region of the United States. Justice Dept. Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against Mrs. Fields’ Cookies – Under the settlement, Mrs. Fields will pay $26,400 in […]
December 2018 Immigration Update
Headlines: DHS to Propose ‘Merit-Based’ Rule for H-1B Visa Program – The proposed rule, to be published on December 3, 2018, is intended to increase the number of beneficiaries with master’s or higher degrees from U.S. institutions of higher education to be selected for H-1B cap numbers and to introduce “a more meritorious selection of […]
November 2018 Global Immigration Update
Feature Article DATA PROTECTION IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of data protection in India. Country Updates CANADA – Canada has expanded biometric information collection for foreign nationals. HONG KONG – A landmark decision by Hong Kong’s highest court means that same-sex spouses and partners may now receive dependent visas. ITALY […]
Mid-November 2018 Immigration Update
Headlines: University of California Wins Preliminary Injunction in DACA Ninth Circuit Appeal – The court said that the rescission of DACA was based “solely on a misconceived view of the law” and is reviewable, and that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on their claim that it must be set aside. Trump Administration Bars Certain Asylum […]
November 2018 Immigration Update
Headlines: Lawsuit Challenges New USCIS Policy on ‘Unlawful Presence’ for Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors – Several institutions of higher education have challenged a recently announced Trump administration policy, effective August 9, 2018, changing the calculation of the number of days of “unlawful presence” for nonimmigrant foreign students. E-Verify Reminds Employers Not to Terminate Employees […]
