Immigration Update – October 31, 2022
Headlines: Worldwide Visa Operations Recovering Faster Than Expected, State Dept. Announces – The agency expects to reach pre-pandemic processing levels this year. USCIS Extends Certain COVID-19-Related Flexibilities Through January 23, 2023 – Under the flexibilities, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth […]
Immigration Update – October 24, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Implements New Process for Venezuelans – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began implementing a new process for Venezuelans on October 18, 2022. As announced previously, the fully online process will allow individuals to be considered on a case-by-case for “advance authorization to travel to the United States and seek a temporary period of […]
Immigration Update – October 17, 2022
Headlines: Employers Should Continue to Use Current I-9 Form Even After Oct. 31 Expiration, DHS Says; ICE Announces I-9 Flexibility Extension – The Department of Homeland Security will publish a Federal Register notice to announce the new I-9 form when it becomes available. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced an extension until July 31, 2023, […]
Global Immigration Update – October 2022
Feature Article EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AFTER GRADUATION: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of employment options for students after graduation in several countries. Country Updates CANADA – Canada is transitioning to 100 percent online applications for most permanent residence programs by the end of October 2022. Also, according to unofficial reports, Canada […]
Immigration Update – October 10, 2022
Headlines: Fifth Circuit Rules DACA is Illegal, But Remands to Lower Court to Consider Final Rule – The current 594,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients can maintain status while the lower court considers the effect of a DACA final rule issued by the Biden administration. New applications continue to be blocked. Optional Practical […]
Immigration Update – October 03, 2022
Headlines: Agencies Release Hurricane Ian-Related Guidance – The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification and the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, released guidance related to the effects of Hurricane Ian. USCIS Extends Green Card Validity to 24 Months for Renewals – Lawful […]
Immigration Update – September 26, 2022
Headlines: COVID-Related Restrictions Expected to Ease at Canadian Border – According to unofficial reports, by the end of September, Canada may drop its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for travelers entering Canada from the United States via the Detroit-Windsor border. Canada may also end COVID-19 for airport arrivals and no longer require filling out the ArriveCan app. […]
Immigration Update – September 19, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Implements Next Phase of Premium Processing for Certain Previously Filed EB-1 and EB-2 Immigrant Petitions – This premium processing expansion only applies to certain previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification or E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a […]
Immigration Update – September 06, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Announces Push to Use as Many Employment-Based Green Cards as Possible by September 30 – The overall employment-based annual limit for immigrant visas in FY 2022 is approximately twice as high as usual, primarily due to consular closures abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it is “dedicated to […]
Immigration Update – August 22, 2022
Headlines: DHS Proposes to Allow for Alternatives to Physical Document Examination for I-9 Verification – The proposed rule would create a framework under which the Secretary of Homeland Security could authorize alternative options for document examination procedures for some or all employers. Reports: Visa Delays and Unprecedented Wait Times Cause Problems for Workers, Employers – […]
Immigration Update – August 08, 2022
Headlines: Certain Afghan Parolees to Receive Notices of EAD Extension – Certain Afghan parolees will receive notices indicating that the Department of Homeland Security is extending the validity of their employment authorization documents to align with the parole period shown on their Arrival/Departure Records. USCIS Will No Longer Accept Combined Fee Payments for EB-5 […]
Immigration Update – August 01, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Extends Certain COVID-19 Flexibilities – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through October 23, 2022. DHS Extends and Redesignates Syria for TPS, Suspends Certain Requirements for Syrian F-1 Students – DHS is extending the designation of Syria for temporary protected status (TPS) through March 31, 2024. DHS is also […]
Immigration Update – July 26, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Reminds Employers That Only Unexpired I-9 List B Documents Are Accepted – If a current employee presented an expired List B document between May 1, 2020, and April 30, 2022, employers must update their I-9 forms by July 31, 2022. Guidance Updated on Evidence to Support STEM-Related O-1 Extraordinary Ability Nonimmigrant Petitions – […]
Immigration Update – July 15, 2022
Headlines: SSA To Resume Normal E-Verify Timeframes – Starting July 15, 2022, employees whose E‑Verify cases are referred to the Social Security Administration (SSA) on or after that date will have the normal eight federal working days to contact their local SSA office to begin resolving the mismatch. Labor Dept. Releases FAQ on Process for […]
Immigration Update – July 05, 2022
Headlines: OFLC Publishes Prevailing Wage Data, Implements 2018 SOC Codes – An OFLC announcement includes details on how new labor certification applications, and applications in process, will be handled with respect to SOC codes. USCIS Urges Employment-Based Adjustment Applicants to Promptly Send Medical Forms When Requested – The agency is urging anyone within the United […]
Immigration Update – June 27, 2022
Headlines: District Court Orders USCIS to Process New Investor Petitions in Previously Authorized EB-5 Regional Centers – The court ruled that the agency “is enjoined from treating the existing regional centers as deauthorized while this litigation is pending (or until the agency engages in a reasoned decision-making process regarding how to treat these centers under […]
Immigration Update – June 23, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Transfers Certain H-1B Petitions to California Service Center – Certain H-1B petitions and fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap petitions awaiting intake at the Vermont Service Center are being transferred to the California Service Center for data entry and adjudication. DHS, DOS Announce Exemptions Allowing Eligible Afghans to Qualify for Protection and Immigration Benefits […]
Immigration Update – June 13, 2022
Headlines: CDC Rescinds Order Requiring Negative COVID-19 Test Before Flight to United States – As of June 12, 2022, air travelers to the United States no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery before boarding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced. State Dept. Removes Required DV Entry […]
Immigration Update – June 06, 2022
Headlines: Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for Second Half of FY 2022 – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 23,500 visas made available for returning workers only, under the recently announced H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule. USCIS Releases New Forms for […]
Immigration Update – May 31, 2022
Headlines: Investors File Lawsuit Against DHS To Stop EB-5 Regional Center Decertifications – A group of investment and capital firms filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services decertified existing EB-5 regional centers, it violated the Administrative Procedure Act and misinterpreted the EB-5 Reform and Integrity […]
