Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 25, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that President Trump’s travel ban should remain on hold, upholding a preliminary injunction issued in March 2017 by a lower court....more
6/8/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: The EO orders the Departments of State, Justice, Labor, and Homeland Security to propose new rules and issue new guidance to “protect the interests of U.S. workers” and “promote the functioning of the H-1B...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS completes the lottery process and receives 199,000 H-1B cap petitions.
On April 17, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it received 199,000 H-1B...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS announced today that it has reached the FY 2018 H-1B Cap.
On April 7, 2017, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it received sufficient H-1B petitions to meet...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New DOS cable instructs U.S. consular posts to identify population groups for tougher visa screening, which will likely lead to increased processing times....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Federal judges from Hawaii and Maryland have issued nationwide Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) effectively blocking the implementation of the Trump administration’s revised travel ban, which was...more
3/17/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
International Travel ,
Refugees ,
Terrorist Threats ,
Travel Ban ,
TRO ,
Trump Administration ,
Vetting ,
Visa Interview Waiver Program (VIWP) ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: USCIS recently announced that the agency will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions beginning on April 3, 2017. USCIS indicates the purpose of the suspension is to process H-1B...more
3/9/2017
/ Driver's Licenses ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lottery ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 6, 2017, President Trump signed a new Executive Order temporarily restricting certain foreign nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entry into the United States for 90...more
3/8/2017
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Executive Orders ,
Exemptions ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Immigration Reform ,
International Travel ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visa Waiver Program
Seyfarth Synopsis: The UK government will introduce an “Immigration Skills Charge” in April 2017 that will substantially increase the cost for companies to sponsor Tier 2 workers in the UK.
The following alert is...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: This Management Alert addresses Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from employers and foreign nationals regarding President Trump’s recent Executive Order on immigration....more
2/3/2017
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Citizenship ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Dual Citizenship ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Green Cards ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Passports ,
Screening Procedures ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Delays ,
Trump Administration ,
Vetting
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 25, 2017, President Trump signed two Executive Orders, one focusing on border security and the construction of a physical wall along the southern border and another focusing on improving public...more
1/30/2017
/ Border Agents ,
Border Security ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Deportation ,
Detention ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Grants ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
Immigration Reform ,
Penalties ,
Recalcitrant Countries ,
Sanctuary Cities ,
Trump Administration ,
US-Mexico Border Wall
Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers and foreign nationals should take note of critical changes to DHS’ regulations impacting employment-based immigration for highly skilled workers.
On January 17, 2017, the Department of...more
12/5/2016
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-1 ,
E-2 ,
E-3 ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Form I-140 Petitions ,
Grace Period ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration and Nationality Act ,
L-1 ,
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability ,
Portability ,
TN-Visas ,
USCIS
Seyfarth Synopsis: Beginning November 10, 2016, the Canadian government will require many travelers flying to Canada to first obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
The following alert is relevant to...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) electronic application processing systems have been experiencing significant technical difficulties since October 17, 2016. Consequently, there have been...more
11/2/2016
/ Canada ,
Delays ,
E-Filing ,
International Travel ,
IRCC ,
Permanent Residence Cards ,
Residency Requirements ,
Technical Errors ,
Temporary Work Visas ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
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
The following alert is directed to organizations with a presence in Canada or who anticipate the need to place talent at a Canadian work site.
1. Beginning December 1, 2016, Mexican Citizens Will Not Need a Visa for...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: New regulations will increase fines on U.S. employers for unlawfully employing foreign nationals and engaging in unfair employment practices related to immigration.
In the wake of the Bipartisan...more
On March 10, 2016 the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published the long-anticipated final STEM Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) rule, which will take effect on May 10, 2016. ...more
This Management Alert is intended to enable employers to identify any current employees and employment candidates who may require H-1B work permit sponsorship before October 1, 2017. We recommend that employers identify any...more
On January 23, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a motion to extend the stay of vacatur of the current STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program until May 10, 2016, providing the...more
The Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) has published its recommendations following an in-depth review of Tier 2, which is the primary route for economic migration to the UK. The MAC is an independent advisory body...more
U.S. employers enrolled in E-Verify -- the electronic system of employment eligibility verification -- should prepare to download and preserve all E-Verify data submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)...more
On Monday, October 19, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published its eagerly anticipated STEM Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) rule in the Federal Register for a 30-day comment period ending on November...more
10/22/2015
/ Accreditation ,
Comment Period ,
Department of Education ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Eligibility ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Foreign Students ,
Form F-1 ,
Mentors ,
OPT ,
Proposed Regulation ,
STEM ,
Time Extensions ,
Training Requirements ,
Visas
In accordance with significant procedural revisions announced in September and implemented by the Department of State (DOS) with the publication of the revised October 2015 Visa Bulletin, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration...more