The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough registrations for the H-1B, Nonimmigrant Specialty Employee visa program petition to meet the annual statutory cap for the Fiscal Year 2021 on the number of H-1B visas permitted to be issued to foreign nationals. » Read More
Faced with the quick community spread of COVID-19, federal officials have extended state REAL ID compliance deadlines for one year to prevent overcrowding in state motor vehicle offices across the United States who are already struggling to meet the quickly approaching October 1, 2020, deadline. » Read More
The State Department estimates that as many as 50,000 United States citizens are stuck in foreign countries, who have requested evacuation and reparation assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the overall number was released, specific demographic and location information remained confidential, including the number of Americans abroad who already may be infected with COVID-19 and the severity of their medical condition. » Read More
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) National Emergency Declaration, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced temporary modifications to the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification process and enforcement actions. Changes range from remote verification to E-Verify’s indefinite response extensions. » Read More
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created an immigration nightmare with changes announced with each passing minute and a level of uncertainty that has only compounded the uncertainty in an already confused and complicated immigration system. Borders across the world have closed to non-citizens. » Read More
On March 2, a federal officer, who was not in uniform, conducted a warrantless arrest of an undocumented immigrant inside the Courthouse. The undocumented immigrant was a spouse of a U.S. citizen, was very close to becoming a lawful permanent resident in the United States, is gainfully employed in the U.S., » Read More
On February 22, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule, effective as of February 24. This announcement came after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the nationwide injunctions against the new public charge rule on January 27. » Read More
Employers who have employed F-1 students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) category of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program can expect site visits by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The March 2016 STEM OPT rule allows the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct site visits of employers that train STEM OPT students. » Read More
As an aftereffect of the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act that went into effect on December 14, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now suspended Trusted Traveler Programs such as Global Entry (for entry from abroad), NEXUS (for entry from Canada), SENTRI (for entry from Canada and Mexico), and FAST (for truck drivers entering the U.S. » Read More
The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has again changed the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. On January 31, 2020, the USCIS released the long-awaited revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), with an edition date of “10/21/2019.” The changes are minor and the USCIS has accordingly revised its “Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9.” » Read More
