The European Union (“EU”) has announced that rules of travel to member countries of the EU will change in mid-2025, impacting close to 1.4 billion people from visa-exempt countries, including U.S. citizens. Under a program...more
Over the past several years, employment authorization and Advance Parole travel authorization could be applied for together as part of the permanent resident green card process without an additional fee. Beginning in February...more
On Monday, September 28, 2020, the State Department announced that it will immediately resume routine and expedited processing of passport applications submitted by mail. This is a welcome development, as routine and...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled the COVID-19 virus a “public health emergency of international concern.” On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a “pandemic.” The...more
On Monday, June 15, 2020, 14 Passport Agencies entered the first phase of a three-phase re-opening plan. Beginning in March, all Passport Agencies were closed to in-person appointments for urgent passport applications except...more
Businesses such as banks and other financial institutions that are exempt from state-wide or local orders requiring business closures because they are considered “essential” or “life-sustaining” may want to consider providing...more
In the wake of Governor Pritzker’s March 20, 2020 “Stay at Home Order,” we’ve heard from several employers wondering if they need to provide a letter or certification to those employees who need to travel to work. There is no...more
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the extended government shutdown earlier this year, as well as the ongoing crisis at the southern border with Mexico, has resulted in a processing backlog of Trusted...more
Even the simplest tasks tend to be chaotic around the holidays, and a trip to the U.S. Consulate for a visa interview is no exception. With no school for children and a desire to be with extended family during the holidays,...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that beginning April 2, 2018, permanent resident cards, employment authorization document cards (EADs), and travel documents (Advance Paroles) that are...more
While the U.S. travel, tourism, and hospitality industries worry about deleterious effects from President Donald Trump’s clampdown on immigration, including the travel ban, the European Union has its own, similar concerns...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Electronic Travel Authorization (the “eTA”), Canada’s new entry requirement for visa exempt nationals entering Canada by air, was announced in March 2016. The eTA effective date has been extended to...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Canada launched a new Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that must be obtained by visa-exempt nationals entering Canada by air on or after September 29, 2016. Individuals requiring an eTA will not be...more
Canada has a new entry requirement. Effective March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals must now have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. A result of the Perimeter Security and...more
Making regular updates to policies and procedures related to international trade compliance has always been an important aspect of ensuring their effectiveness, and particularly in light of the myriad changes to various U.S....more
On March 16, 2016, in what could be the final set of amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) under the Obama Administration, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a Final Rule that further...more
On March 16, 2016, the Obama Administration further loosened sanctions on Cuba in accordance with President Obama’s policy previously announced on December 17, 2014, and partially implemented thus far, to engage and empower...more
In an update to Canada’s announcement of a new Electronic Travel Authorization Program (eTA), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has relaxed the eTA registration requirement until “fall 2016”. ...more
On March 15, 2016, The Government of Canada will implement significant new entry requirements for those arriving by air. Currently, citizens of several countries require a Temporary Resident Visa (“TRV”) to enter Canada and...more
Registration begins December 3. On November 3, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commissioner announced the expansion of Global Entry to UK citizens. Global Entry, a CBP Trusted Traveler program, allows for...more
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske announced an expansion of the Global Entry program to include UK citizens at the World Travel Market in London. UK citizens can register beginning...more
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, now is the best time for visa holders to review their travel documents and begin planning for renewals if necessary. Planning ahead can alleviate much of the stress of...more
For over 50 years, the ability to travel to Cuba and do business or trade with Cuban nationals has been governed by a byzantine set of regulations administered by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control...more
Effective September 21, 2015, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) have amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and...more
On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in coordination with the Department of State (DOS), announced that it was "revising the procedures for determining visa availability...more