Immigration Update – January 02, 2024
Headlines: DHS Increases Premium Processing Fees – On February 26, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security will increase premium processing fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DOJ Threatens to Sue Texas Over State Migration Bill – The Department of Justice sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatening to sue the state […]
Immigration Update – December 26, 2023
Headlines: State Dept. Announces Pilot Program to Resume Domestic H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Renewals – The pilot program will accept applications from January 29 to April 1, 2024. OFLC Reminds Employers About Deadlines for Peak H-2A Filing Season – The federal Department of Labor announced that from January 2-4, 2024, it will accept H-2B applications for […]
Immigration Update – December 18, 2023
Headlines: USCIS Reaches FY 2024 H-1B Cap – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2024. DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Reiterating […]
Immigration Update – December 11, 2023
Headlines: OFLC Announces Annual Determination of H-2A Labor Supply States for U.S. Worker Recruitment – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Administrator has determined that current requirements for labor supply states will remain in effect, with one modification: OFLC will no longer recognize North Carolina and Texas as traditional labor supply […]
Immigration Update – December 04, 2023
Headlines: Three Important Cases Pending Before U.S. Supreme Court – Three important cases are pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to observers, at stake are the legitimacy of the current U.S. immigration court system and a longstanding precedent decision. DOS Proposes Updates to Au Pair Exchange Visitor Program – The Department of State proposes […]
Global Immigration Update – December 04, 2023
FEATURE ARTICLE RED FLAGS IN EMPLOYMENT LAW RELATED TO IMMIGRATION: AN OVERVIEW –This article provides an update on red flags in employment law related to immigration in several countries. COUNTRY UPDATES ITALY – On November 13, 2023, the European Union (EU) Council adopted new rules to allow online filing of Schengen visa applications. Also, a […]
Immigration Update – November 27, 2023
Headlines: USCIS Expands myProgress to Forms I-485 and I-821 – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. myProgress will initially only be available for family-based […]
Immigration Update – November 20, 2023
Headlines: DHS Increases FY 2024 Limit on H-2B Nonagricultural Workers and Provides Portability – In consultation with the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security is increasing the total number of noncitizens who may receive an H-2B nonimmigrant visa by up to 64,716 for fiscal year 2024. 20,000 visas are reserved for nationals of […]
Immigration Update – November 13, 2023
Headlines: Here We Go Again: Federal Government Shutdown Possible After November 17 – As many know, before a deadline of September 30, 2023, Congress passed and President Biden signed H.R. 5860, a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government funded for 45 days. A shutdown is still possible after November 17. Apple Settles […]
Immigration Update – November 06, 2023
Headlines: Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence Includes Immigration-Related Provisions – On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued “Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.” Section 5 of the order, “Promoting Innovation and Competition,” includes various immigration-related provisions. DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap With Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for […]
Immigration Update – October 30, 2023
Headlines: Certain Renewal Applicants for Work Authorization Qualify for Automatic 180-Day Extension – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, qualify for an automatic extension of their expiring work authorization and/or employment authorization documents while their renewal applications are pending. Texas Service Center […]
Immigration Update – October 23, 2023
Headlines: State Dept. Intends to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Applicants – The Department of State intends to resume the renewal of H-1B nonimmigrant visas in the United States for certain applicants, beginning with a pilot program in early 2024, and has sent its proposal to the Office […]
Global Immigration Update – October 2023
FEATURE ARTICLE DIGITAL NOMADS: AN OVERVIEW – Where are we now? This article provides an update on digital nomads in several countries. COUNTRY UPDATES INDIA – In a developing and increasingly complex story, Canada’s Prime Minister has accused India’s government of involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. This has precipitated […]
Global Immigration Update – August 2023
Feature Article ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN IMMIGRATION DECISION-MAKING: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of artificial intelligence considerations in immigration decision-making in the European Union. Country Updates CANADA – Applications are now open for the new H-1B Specialty Occupation visa holder work permit. Also, restrictions on foreigners’ authorized studies have been temporarily removed. HONG […]
Immigration Update – October 16, 2023
Headlines: USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Temporary Nonagricultural Workers for First Half of FY 2024 – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2024. October 11, 2023, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject […]
Immigration Update – October 09, 2023
INSIDE THIS ISSUE USCIS Reminds Employers to Start Using New Form I-9 by November 1 Deadline – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminded employers about the November 1, 2023, deadline for using the updated I-9 form with the 08/01/2023 edition date, and the Spanish version. DOS Publishes DV-2025 Instructions, List of Countries – […]
Immigration Update – October 04, 2023
Headlines: Shutdown Averted for Now; DHS Releases Fact Sheet on Potential Impact – Shortly before the deadline on September 30, 2023, Congress passed and President Biden signed H.R. 5860, a short-term funding bill to keep the federal government funded for 45 days. Also, the Department of Homeland Security released a fact sheet on the impact […]
Immigration Update – September 26, 2023
Headlines: Potential Government Shutdown Effect on Immigration Agencies – There has been much speculation that the federal government is headed for a shutdown starting October 1, 2023. A shutdown would cause many adverse immigration impacts. USCIS Issues Update on DACA Decision – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued an update about the partial stay of […]
Immigration Update – September 18, 2023
Headlines: October 2023 Visa Bulletin is Published – The October 2023 Visa Bulletin shows no significant movement, with instructions to use Chart B. USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for Extraordinary Ability and Outstanding Professor or Researcher EB-1 Immigrant Visa Classifications – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on September 12, 2023, that it is updating the […]
Immigration Update – September 11, 2023
Headlines: HHS Creates Data-matching Program with DHS – The Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a notice of a new data-matching program that will allow government agencies to share personally identifiable information of HHS applicants and enrollees. State Department Jettisons 2019 Public Charge Restrictions – The Department of State issued […]