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 […]
Immigration Update – May 26, 2022
Headlines: Additional 35,000 H-2B Visas Available for Second Half of Fiscal Year – The visas are for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional temporary nonagricultural workers on or after April 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022. DHS Announces TPS Designation, Registration Process for Afghans – The registration period began on May 20, 2022, and runs […]
Immigration Update – May 16, 2022
Headlines: New Forms, New Program Requirements Announced for Entities Seeking Regional Center Designation Under EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program – USCIS published two new forms for regional center designation under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. USCIS said that all entities seeking regional center designation must submit these forms in compliance with new program requirements, which began […]
Immigration Update – May 09, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Increases Automatic Work Permit Extension Period for Certain Applicants – USCIS announced a temporary final rule, effective May 4, 2022, that increases to up to 540 days the automatic extension period for work authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) available to certain EAD renewal applicants. The rule is expected to affect approximately 87,000 […]
Immigration Update – May 02, 2022
Headlines: ICE Announces Extension of I-9 Flexibilities to October 31, 2022 – The extension relates to deferral of the physical presence requirements of the employment eligibility verification process for certain employees. USCIS Stops Applying Certain EAD Provisions for Asylum Applicants – In response to a decision in Asylumworks v. Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services […]
Immigration Update – April 25, 2022
Headlines: DHS Announces TPS Registration Process for Sudan and Ukraine – The notices provide information about how to register for temporary protected status under each country’s designation and apply for an employment authorization document. The 18-month registration period ends on October 19, 2023. Biden Administration Announces New Measures for Ukrainians – President Biden announced new […]
Immigration Update – April 18, 2022
Headlines: State Dept., USCIS Announce Actions Related to Reauthorized EB-5 Regional Center Program; Visa Bulletin Revised to Include New Categories – The Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced several actions related to the reauthorized EB-5 regional center program. DHS Designates Cameroon for TPS for 18 Months – Only individuals who are […]
Immigration Update – April 11, 2022
Headlines: ‘Jumpstart Act’ to Recapture Unused Visas Introduced in House – The bill would recapture approximately 400,000 family- and employment-based visas, create an accelerated path to adjustment of status for those already in the United States, and provide additional funds to USCIS to improve visa processing. OFLC Reminds Employers Filing Form ETA-9142B to Submit Their […]
Global Immigration Update – April 04, 2022
Feature Article OPTIONS FOR UKRAINIANS: AN OVERVIEW – This article provides an overview of options for Ukrainians in several European Union countries following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and massive migrant outflows. Country Updates Italy – There is good news from the Italian government for people who seek to convert their permit of stay […]
Immigration Update – April 04, 2022
Headlines: DHS, DOL Announce Additional 35,000 H-2B Nonagricultural Visas for Second Half of FY 2022 – The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor announced a forthcoming joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the second half of FY 2022. The visas will be set aside for […]
Immigration Update – March 28, 2022
Headlines: Biden Administration Announces Relief Measures for Ukrainians – President Biden announced that the United States will accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians and other displaced people fleeing the Russian invasion in Ukraine. DHS, DOJ Issue Interim Final Rule to ‘Improve and Expedite’ Asylum Claims Processing for Noncitizens Subject to Expedited Removal – The rule authorizes […]
Immigration Update – March 21, 2022
Headlines: DHS to End COVID-19 Temporary Policy for I-9 List B Documents on May 1 – The Department of Homeland Security announced that beginning May 1, 2022, it is ending the COVID-19 temporary policy for List B identity documents. As of that date, employers will no longer be able to accept expired List B documents. […]
Immigration Update – March 14, 2022
Headlines: Omnibus Spending Bill Signed; EB-5 Regional Center Program Reauthorized – The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, an omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, reauthorizes the EB-5 regional center program for five years and includes some changes. State Dept. Releases Info for Nationals of Ukraine, U.S. Citizens in Ukraine – The […]
Immigration Update – March 07, 2022
Headlines: DHS Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status; Immigration Help in ‘Special Situations’ Available on Case-by-Case Basis – The Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months. Eligible individuals must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Also, USCIS issued an alert about […]
Immigration Update – February 28, 2022
Headlines: Biden Administration Considers TPS, Other Measures for Ukrainians; Advocacy Organizations Weigh In; Consular Services Suspended in Kyiv – The Biden administration is considering implementing protections for Ukrainians in the United States, as Russia invades Ukraine in a rapidly developing situation expected to result in many refugees and displaced persons. Consular services are suspended in […]
Immigration Update – February 22, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories – USCIS) is encouraging eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status applications to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories. Visa Bulletin for March Includes Updates […]