Headlines: ICE Announces Extension, New Employee Guidance on I-9 Compliance Flexibility – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced an extension until August 31, 2021, of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that were initially granted last year due to precautions related to COVID-19. USCIS Eases Visitor Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Individuals – […]
Headlines: DHS, DOL Issue Joint Rule Increasing H-2B Visa Cap – The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year 2021 “to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers.” Of the supplemental […]
Headlines: DHS Announces Continuation of International Entrepreneur Program – USCIS said the program, first introduced in 2017, “will remain a viable program for foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop start-up entities with high growth potential in the United States.” USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrants Changing or Extending Status – Previously, applicants had […]
Headlines: President Biden Raises Refugee Cap to 62,500 in FY 2021 – President Joe Biden revised the United States’ annual refugee admissions cap to 62,500 for fiscal year FY 2021, with a goal of 125,000 admissions for FY 2022. DHS Will Withdraw Proposed Rule on Work Authorization for Certain Persons With Final Removal Orders – […]
Headlines: President Biden Suspends Entry of Noncitizens/Non-LPRs Traveling From India; U.S. Mission in India Announces Limits on Visa Services – President Biden has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of non-U.S. citizens who were physically present within India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, with some exceptions. […]
Headlines: SSA Ends “No-Match” Letters – The Social Security Administration has ended the practice of sending employers “no-match” letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available – In light of increased labor demands, the Department of Homeland Security announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas this fiscal […]
Headlines: President Biden Will Raise Refugee Cap Following Backlash – President Biden plans to raise the cap on refugees for FY 2021 by May 15, 2021. The announcement followed a backlash after he announced originally that refugee admissions this fiscal year would be kept at 15,000. President Biden Picks Nominees for USCIS, CBP – President […]
Headlines: State Dept. Updates Visa Services Guidance, Policy on National Interest Exceptions for Regional COVID Proclamations – The Department of State recently released several updates. Attorneys, AILA Sue State Dept. for Unlawfully Refusing to Issue Visas Due to Certain Travel Bans – Attorneys Jeff Joseph of Joseph and Hall PC, Charles Kuck of Kuck Baxter […]
Headlines: Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Senate Would Provide Up to 40,000 Unused Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses – The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would provide unused employment-based immigrant visas for up to 25,000 foreign nurses and 15,000 foreign physicians and their family members. USCIS Completes Initial FY 2022 H-1B Cap Season Selections; Petitions May Be […]
Headlines: Class Action Filed Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays – The American Immigration Lawyers Association and Wasden Banias, LLP, filed a class action lawsuit challenging processing delays on extensions of status and employment authorization documents for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses. USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Responding to Agency Requests – USCIS will […]
