On June 18, 2024, President Biden announced new pathways to legal immigration status for two groups: college-educated “Dreamers” and certain American family units....more
September 2023 saw major changes and updates in the United States and around the world. The Cozen O’Connor Immigration Catch-Up this month highlights these changes and provides the details you need to determine how or if...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration... 1. Government Shutdown Avoided – For Now - On September 30, 2023, Congress passed a stopgap bill to keep the government...more
Now that summer has begun, the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and ICE have all issued several significant updates, relating to the expansion of premium processing...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a critical update that, as of July 1, 2022, allows some Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to overcome inadmissibility issues and become eligible for...more
On July 11, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the extension of its current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Venezuelans residing in the U.S. as of March 8, 2021. The 18-month...more
Secretary Of Homeland Security Mayorkas Has Designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months, Commencing April 19, 2022 and Concluding on October 19, 2023....more
With the recent humanitarian crises and armed conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan, refugee issues currently dominate the news cycles. Families and friends of those who have fled these conflicts are anxiously waiting to hear...more
The onset and persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the shortage of healthcare workers in the United States, especially in rural areas. Periodic spikes in infection levels has sped burn-out among...more
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) (H.R. 5376) by a vote of 220–213. Supported by the Biden Administration and congressional Democrats, the controversial bill heads to the Senate with...more
Flexibility to Verify Forms I-9 Is Extended to August 31 Due to COVID-19 - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has announced another extension of its policy allowing special...more
USCIS expects to suspend biometrics requirements for H-4, L-2 and E-1, E-2, and E-3 Form I-539 applications beginning May 17, 2021, for at least 24 months. It will retain the discretion to require biometrics on a case-by-case...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has just closed its annual H-1B registration, and employers are anxiously awaiting news on whether USCIS has selected...more
On his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed a memorandum fortifying the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. His administration also has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to more...more
Nonprofit tax-exempt organizations have unique considerations with respect to navigating U.S. immigration processes and entity formation. Organizations hiring new talent or bringing employees across borders need to be aware...more
Last week, President Biden’s comprehensive immigration reform proposal, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, was introduced in the House and Senate. As officials in the administration initially reported, the provisions for the...more
The United States Citizenship Act was introduced on February 18, 2021. Sponsored in the House by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-Calif) and in the Senate by Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the bill calls for broad immigration...more
Last November I mentioned that the Trump Administration enacted over 400 immigration policy changes during its tenure. The changes added burdens to visa petitions, delayed processing, and made life more challenging for...more
From the 2017 “Muslim Ban” to 2020’s Public Charge Rule and a global pandemic, the past four years have presented a number of challenges and changes to the U.S. immigration system....more
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, easing immigration for agricultural workers....more
This November, the United States Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the case that will decide the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This program, established through executive...more
Immigration continues to be a topic of discussion in Washington, and the landscape of immigration law may change, if members of Congress and the Administration can agree on bipartisan solutions. Below you will find a summary...more
On January 8, 2018, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador. TPS provides a temporary legal basis to remain...more
President Trump Notifies Congress of Intent to Renegotiate NAFTA - On May 18, 2017, President Trump officially notified Congress of the administration’s intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement...more
The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for Haitians will be extended an additional six months, until January 22, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly has announced. While in TPS, individuals are protected...more