Immigration Update – January 17, 2023
Headlines: DHS Streamlines Deferred Action Process for Immigrant Workers Participating in Labor Enforcement Investigations – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 13, 2023, that noncitizen workers who are victims of or witnesses to a violation of labor rights can now access a streamlined and expedited deferred action request process. Premium Processing To […]
Immigration Update – January 09, 2023
Headlines: USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Raise Fees and Fund Asylum Program With New $600 Employer Petition Fee – The Department of Homeland Security also proposes to fund the asylum program with a controversial new Asylum Program Fee of $600 to be paid by employers. DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and […]
Immigration Update – January 03, 2023
Headlines: Supreme Court Extends Temporary Stay of ‘Title 42’ – The Court plans to consider in late February 2023 whether the 19 states objecting to Title 42 have legal standing to do so. Visa Bulletin for January 2023 Reports on Availability in the Employment First Category for China and India, Unavailability of Religious Workers Category […]
Immigration Update – December 27, 2022
Headlines: Chief Justice Roberts Issues Temporary Stay of ‘Title 42’; Thousands Wait in Mexico – Chief Justice Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a temporary stay of Title 42 to allow the Supreme Court time to consider the issue. DHS Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility Final Rule Effective December 23 – For public […]
Immigration Update – December 19, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Increases H-2B Nonimmigrant Visa Availability – A new rule increases the total number of noncitizens who may receive an H-2B nonimmigrant visa by up to 64,716 for fiscal year 2023. DHS Issues Update on Southwest Border Security and Preparedness Under Court-Ordered Lifting of ‘Title 42’; Termination of ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program Paused – […]
Immigration Update – December 12, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Announces ‘Important’ H-2B Supplemental Cap Petition Filing Updates Before Publication of Temporary Final Rule – In response to a federal court order, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification plans to rescind H-2B registration requirements and propose conforming edits throughout its H-2B regulations. In the interim, DOL said it will […]
Immigration Update – December 05, 2022
Headlines: Under Court Order, OFLC to Propose Rescission of H-2B Registration Requirements and Provide Unique H-2B Temporary Registration Numbers – In response to a federal court order, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification plans to rescind H-2B registration requirements and propose conforming edits throughout its H-2B regulations. In the interim, DOL […]
Immigration Update – November 28, 2022
Headlines: USCIS Says Certain Afghan and Ukrainian Parolees Are Immediately Work Authorized – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is providing employment authorization incident to status normally accorded to refugees and a no-fee initial (and replacement of an initial) employment authorization document to Afghan and Ukrainian parolees, based on recently passed laws. USCIS Announces Expedited Work […]
Immigration Update – November 21, 2022
Headlines: Title 42 Policy Blocked Effective December 21 – On November 15, 2022, a U.S. District Court judge blocked the Title 42 policy that has resulted in many migrants being turned away at the southern U.S. border. The same night, the Department of Justice filed a motion to stay the order for five weeks, which […]
Immigration Update – November 14, 2022
Headlines: DHS Releases List of Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Programs, Adds Eswatini – Each country’s designation is valid until November 9, 2023. DHS Continues TPS and Related Documentation for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal – To ensure its continued compliance with several court orders, the Department of Homeland Security […]
Immigration Update – November 8, 2022
Headlines: Employer Reminder: E-Verify Operations Resume; Preferred Dates Released for Employee Visits to SSA to Resolve Mismatches – E-Verify reminded employers that operations have resumed, and released preferred dates for employees to visit the Social Security Administration to resolve their Tentative Nonconfirmations (mismatches of Social Security numbers). CBP Is Discontinuing Passport Entry Stamps, Transitioning to […]
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 […]
