On October 29, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an interim final rule that will end automatic extensions of timely-filed employment authorization documents (EAD) for foreign nationals filing renewal...more
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) introducing a weighted H-1B Cap selection process favoring unique beneficiaries. This weighted...more
Effective October 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) is significantly narrowing eligibility for nonimmigrant visa interview waivers. This change will impact many foreign nationals, especially those who travel...more
9/25/2025
/ B-1 ,
B-2 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
H-1B ,
H-2A ,
Immigration Procedures ,
International Travel ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Renewal Options ,
US Department of State ,
Visa Applications ,
Visa Interview Waiver Program (VIWP) ,
Visas
On Friday, September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, that restricts the entry of H-1B visa holders into the United States or approval of new...more
9/23/2025
/ Business Immigration ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Executive Orders ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
National Interest Waiver ,
National Security ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visas
On August 29, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, after October 28, 2025, they will only accept electronic payment, either ACH debit transactions (using Form G-1650) or credit card payments...more
Over the last week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State (DOS) have released important updates regarding the current status of immigrant visa availability in the Employment-Based...more
9/12/2025
/ Adjustment of Status ,
EB-1 ,
EB-2 ,
EB-3 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Government Agencies ,
Green Cards ,
I-485 Applications ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visa Bulletins ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas ,
Work Visas
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap,...more
7/22/2025
/ Filing Deadlines ,
Filing Requirements ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a Proclamation implementing new entry restrictions for individuals from countries identified by his administration as presenting elevated risks to U.S. national security and...more
6/6/2025
/ Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Policy ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Immigration Procedures ,
National Security ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
Employers who employ H-1B, L-1, R-1 foreign nationals, or are pursuing EB-5 immigrant investor program visas should prepare for the likelihood of an unannounced site visit by the government. The USCIS Fraud Detection and...more
On April 11, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new registration requirement goes into effect. The new registration requires, with limited exceptions, that all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) H-1B lottery for both regular H-1B cap beneficiaries, as well as advanced degree (master’s) cap beneficiaries. Those registrants who...more
On February 5, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2026 H-1B Cap Lottery will open at noon Eastern Time (EST) on March 7, 2025, and run through noon...more
2/11/2025
/ Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Lottery ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On January 22, 2025, USCIS posted an alert pertaining to the I-693 immigration medical exam required for most individuals applying to become lawful permanent residents. USCIS indicates that they now “waive[s] any and all...more
1/24/2025
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Policy Updates ,
Popular ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Visas
On January 2, 2025, the most recent Form I-9 Fine Matrix outlining the costs for Form I-9 compliance violations was published in the Federal Register. After a government audit of an employer’s Forms I-9, Employment...more
1/15/2025
/ Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Fines ,
Form I-9 ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Inspections ,
Penalties ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Requirements
Cozen O'Connor will host Health Care & Life Sciences 2025, our annual in-person seminar exploring critical issues impacting health care and life sciences businesses. Join attorneys and professionals from our Health Care &...more
11/1/2024
/ Best Practices ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Chevron Deference ,
Chief Legal Officers ,
Continuing Legal Education ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Deadlines ,
Delaware ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Events ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Life Sciences ,
New Jersey ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Pennsylvania ,
Private Equity ,
State Attorneys General ,
Workplace Violence
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 January 30, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2025 H-1B Cap Lottery will open at noon Eastern Time (EST) on March 6, 2024, and run through noon...more
The Department of State announced last month that it would unveil a domestic visa renewal pilot program for some H-1B holders. Currently, all visa holders are required to travel to consulates abroad to renew the visa stamps...more
The State Department (DOS) recently announced a new pilot program for H-1B visa holders, allowing them to renew their H-1B visa stamps while remaining in the United States. Currently, H-1B visa holders must apply at a U.S....more
On Friday, October 20, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance clarifying the two following points with respect to the L-1 petition for intracompany transferees:
A sole proprietorship...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that the online registration period for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), also known as the Green Card Lottery, will begin on...more
On Monday, August 21, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has launched a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at...more
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-765, Application for Employment...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently shared some key takeaways regarding the new Form ETA9089. The new Form ETA9089 is created in the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) implemented by DOL on June 1, 2023. Some of...more
On June 28, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors and their attorneys and accredited representatives to reschedule most biometric appointments...more