President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of certain categories of immigrants (i.e. those seeking permanent residence)....more
On Tuesday March 17, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a statement indicating that the agency will be canceling all face-to-face appointments, interviews, and events, including asylum interviews...more
USCIS announced on March 17, 2020, the temporary suspension of premium processing service for fiscal year (FY) 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions. Once USCIS begins accepting cap-subject petitions on April 1, we will not be able...more
On December 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it successfully completed the pilot testing for its online registration system that will be implemented in the 2020 H-1B lottery. This will...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a rule that would make drastic changes to the USCIS fee schedule, many of which will negatively impact employers. If these fee changes are implemented, American...more
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has drastically increased its issuance of Employer Correction Request (EDCOR) Notices, or “no-match” letters. No-match letters are sent when the SSA discovers a mismatch between...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on November 1, 2019, the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) related documentation for beneficiaries under the TPS designation for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras,...more
Pennsylvania House Bill 1170, known as the Construction Industry Employee Verification Act (the Act) was recently passed which will require all construction-industry employers, both public and private, to use E-Verify to...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced the opening of the registration period for the 2021 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program enables foreign nationals to apply for permanent...more
The Department of State (DOS) recently updated its immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms, specifically the DS-160 and DS-260, to request additional information, including social media identifiers. A social media...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Friday, March 1, 2019, the automatic extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) documentation for beneficiaries under the TPS designations for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti,...more
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will increase the premium processing fee charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from $1,225 to $1,410, effective October 1, 2018. As employers are aware, USCIS is...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, that the previously announced temporary suspension of premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions will continue and be expanded....more
USCIS announced on March 20, 2018, that it will temporarily suspend premium processing for all FY2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher....more
Monday, April 2, 2018, is just around the corner and begins the FY2019 H-1B cap filing season. Employers are urged to begin now to prepare for filing H-1B petitions subject to the cap. As reported earlier this week, due to...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that beginning October 2, 2017, all I-140-based adjustment of status applicants will be required to appear for an in-person interview at a local USCIS...more
As announced in our Immigration Alert posted September 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced the opening of the registration period for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Registration was set to begin...more
USCIS announced that premium processing has been reinstated for all H-1B petitions. Effective October 3, 2017, employers may request to upgrade pending H-1B petitions to premium processing. Suspension of premium processing...more
USCIS announced on Monday, September 18, 2017, that it will immediately accept premium processing requests of all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 cap. H-1B cap petitions filed in April 2017,...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced the opening of the registration period for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program enables foreign nationals to apply for permanent...more