The U.S. Department of State has announced that annual visa limits for fiscal year (FY) 2024 have been reached for the following employment-based categories: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EW (other workers), EB-4, and EB-5 unreserved....more
On Monday, September 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), working in close collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced publicly that all available immigrant visas in the...more
On August 2, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a rule allowing the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the United States. In doing so, the Court rejected a longstanding challenge...more
A recent update and clarification from the Department of State (DOS) on waiver eligibility expands opportunities for visa applicants facing difficulties in obtaining visa stamps for entry to the U.S. This clarification,...more
On July 26, 2024, President Biden announced Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Lebanese nationals for a period of eighteen months, which took effect immediately. The president also directed the U.S. Department...more
On June 18, 2024, the White House unveiled two new initiatives to provide a faster path to work authorization for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients—also called Dreamers—and other undocumented...more
Our Immigration Team inspects a Department of Justice investigation into how a staffing company asked for job applicants’ proof of permission to work in the United States....more
A California staffing agency has recently settled a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the employment authorization documents that its predecessor company reviewed before hiring. According to the DOJ,...more
In a 6-3 ruling in U.S. Department of State et al v. Munoz et al (Case Number 23-334), the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) reaffirmed the doctrine of consular nonreviewability ruling against a U.S. citizen’s...more
The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business....more
Recently, a Cincinnati-based healthcare staffing company agreed to pay $9.25 million (as well as pledging an additional $8 million for related healthcare projects) to resolve investigations into its visa sponsorship program....more
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari in four cases: Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn, No. 23-365: This case involves interpretation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act...more
The U.S. government has adjusted export control regulations in an effort to protect U.S. national security interests. The revisions primarily affect export of electronic computing items and semiconductors to prevent foreign...more
Looking back at 2023, many of the employment-based immigration changes proposed and implemented by various U.S. government agencies focused on increasing efficiency and alleviating strain on our immigration system. ...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State have significant volumes of adjustment of status and immigrant visa applications in their inventories, limiting the supply of available...more
On 15 September 2023, the Home Office announced significant increases to UK immigration and nationality fees, which came into effect on 4 October 2023. This increase has affected many different categories, including the...more
On November 9, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it secured a landmark $25 million agreement with Apple, Inc. (“Apple”) to resolve allegations of discriminatory hiring and recruitment processes...more
Apple Inc. has agreed to pay $25 million to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section, to settle claims that it discriminated against U.S. workers in recruiting and hiring...more
Over the past several months, the Department of State (DOS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have announced additional backlogs in the permanent residence (Green Card) quota system. These additional backlogs have...more
The U.S. State Department and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced several significant updates relating to the 2025 Diversity Lottery Program and the Temporary Protected Status extension...more
At the beginning of each federal fiscal year (October), the Department of State conducts a lottery called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. If a person is selected, they are eligible to submit an application for permanent...more
If you’re an employer or HR professional, you’ve likely heard about this important aspect of hiring and onboarding. But what exactly is I-9 compliance? And why is it crucial for your business?...more
As the United States carries out projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act, the manufacturing...more
On August 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint against Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for its alleged violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) prohibition on...more
On November 6, 1986, the U.S. Government enacted the Immigration Reform and Control Act requiring employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all individuals hired to perform labor or services in the United...more