Immigration Settlement Clears the Way for Thousands of H-1B and L-1 Spouses to Work in the US
In the recent legal settlement of Edakunni v. Mayorkas, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to resume adjudicating H-4 and L-2 dependent and H-4 employment authorization petitions at the same time...more
In an excellent development, as of January 25, 2023, the U.S. government agreed to resume the process of “bundling” H-4 and L-2 dependent applications, – including I-765 work permission applications, with the H-1B and L-1...more
As previously reported, pursuant to a policy announced on November 12, 2022, USCIS will consider E and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses to be employment authorized incidental to their status. On January 30, 2022, USCIS and...more
Immigration Settlement Clears the way for thousands of H-1B and L-1 spouses to work in the U.S., Ulmer Immigration Group Leader David Leopold explains....more
Spouses of H-1B and L-1 workers have long faced protracted delays by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in processing their work authorization (EAD) renewals. The wait has sometimes exceeded more than a...more
With the COVID-19 pandemic easing, Baker Donelson's Business Immigration Team is seeing an increase in demand for U.S. employer-based employment visas. However, even as we have been obtaining employment visa petition...more
Introduction - The Perm Labor Certification process can be described as various pieces of a puzzle being identified and carefully positioned, with the end goal of forming a full picture in the smoothest and most efficient...more
US President Donald Trump has extended the entry ban on H-1B, H-2B, L-1, and specific J-1 statuses as well as certain immigrant entries through March 31, 2021. The original proclamations were set to expire on December 31,...more
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing - USCIS has announced here that beginning the month of June 2020, it will again start accepting certain petitions for premium processing. Premium processing was indefinitely suspended as...more
The US District Court for the Southern District of New York on October 11 enjoined and halted enforcement of the new public charge rule that was due to become effective October 15, 2019. The court not only enjoined the US...more
On November 29, 2018, U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) announced the publication of a policy memorandum dated November 15, 2018 that clarified the L-1 one-year foreign employment requirement. The memorandum...more
Historically, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has been the primary auditor of companies using H-2B visa to hire temporary, seasonal workers. But amid debates over the cap on H-2B visas and an expressed...more
According to a recent announcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be implementing a new pilot program, beginning April 30, 2018, purportedly “ to facilitate the adjudication and admission process of...more
Under U.S. Department of Commerce rules, the disclosure of technology to a foreign national (even if that individual is physically located in the United States or the disclosure occurs in the course of that individual’s...more
On October 8, 2017, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, announced that it has suspended all nonimmigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey. “Recent events have forced the United States Government to...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the expansion of mandatory in-person interviewing of applicants for lawful permanent residence. In its public announcement, USCIS notes that this change complies...more
This alert applies to you only if you are in H-1B, H-4, L-1 or L-2 status and you are applying for “adjustment of status” in the United States. If you have been approved to immigrate (approved PERM or approved Form I-140)...more
Vacation season is just around the corner. Whether you are a visa holder, tourist or U.S. permanent resident, organizing your travel documents is a critical part of international travel. Discovering an expired document too...more
On April 18, President Trump signed an Executive Order labeled the “Buy American and Hire American” initiative. Federal agencies are already subject to certain laws and regulations which require or give preference to American...more
From time to time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducts site visits at the offices of employers petitioning for temporary work visas on behalf of their employees. These visits are funded by the $500 “anti-fraud”...more
The Trump administration and Congress continue to take on a new shape. The Presidential Transition Team officially shut its U.S. General Services Administration office on February 28, 2017, and the remaining staff moved to...more
This article covers proposed legislation, sub-regulatory changes, and—from a practical standpoint—the process/timing for implementing changes under the new administration. Please note that while legislative immigration...more
Friday we took a look at two important labor and employment questions for automotive employers and suggested next steps to consider during 2017. Today we’ll examine questions three and four....more
Recent activity in Congress and from the Trump Administration have signaled potential changes to several work visa categories. Much of the attention on these proposed changes focuses on the H-1B visa, one of the most...more
On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” that significantly changes U.S. immigration policy for at...more