U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its electronic filing access to encompass all H-1B filings. This includes H-1B “cap” or “lottery” registrations and “non-cap” petitions through the rollout of...more
The I-9 form expired on October 31, 2022, and now, seemingly out of the blue, as of August 1 we will have a new form plus something even more surprising: The option for virtual verification (at least for some employers)!...more
In an excellent development, as of January 25, 2023, the U.S. government agreed to resume the process of “bundling” H-4 and L-2 dependent applications, – including I-765 work permission applications, with the H-1B and L-1...more
1/24/2023
/ Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-4 ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
L-1 ,
L-2 Visas ,
Spouses ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Employers are experiencing incredible challenges recruiting for all types of jobs. Recruiting for that special “make or break” position – often for a C-suite, technology innovator, or creative – has always been tough. U.S....more
3/15/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability ,
STEM ,
USCIS ,
Visas
The new year brings new possibilities, including a chance to register for the H-1B “lottery” for the fiscal year 2023. As a reminder, because of a limited number of new H-1Bs available for most employers, each year the U.S....more
One of the drawbacks of our current immigration system is that most spouses who accompany foreign workers are not allowed to work until they are well into the “green card” process. Often people spend years on temporary work...more
In an affidavit to a federal court filed May 3, 2021, the USCIS Acting Associate Director of Service Center Operations stated that to decrease a substantial backlog, the agency was set to suspend the collection of biometrics...more
In its continuing effort to limit legal immigration, the Trump Administration announced two rule changes last week to radically limit H-1Bs and the most common employment-based permanent residence process.
The first rule...more
10/13/2020
/ Comment Period ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Labor Condition Applications ,
PERM ,
Prevailing Wages ,
Proposed Rules ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS
On August 12, 2020, the Department of State (DOS) updated and expanded guidance regarding exceptions to the employment-related entry suspensions (Presidential Proclamations 10014 & 10052). As a reminder, these are the...more
8/17/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Exceptions ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
On August 3, 2020, President Trump signed yet another Executive Order implying that foreign workers harm the U.S. workforce.
The Order applies only to federal contractors or subcontractors. It requires each agency to...more
Unlike the groundhog, the Trump Administration has not spent January sleeping. It issued several consequential announcements in the last week of January, getting a jump on Punxsutawney Phil....more
2/7/2020
/ Best Practices ,
China ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Public Health ,
Travel Ban ,
Travelers ,
Traveling Employee ,
Trump Administration ,
Visa Applications
If you have applied for an immigration benefit lately (temporary visa, permanent residence), you know the indignities of the process - especially in recent times. Slower decisions, outlandish requests for evidence, and no...more