In our previous alert, we explained that the PIP Program allows noncitizens married to U.S. citizens to apply for Parole In Place (PIP), effectively adjusting their immigration status in the U.S. to that of Permanent...more
The sponsorship of temporary, nonimmigrant work visas and U.S. permanent residence can be a tremendous lure for U.S. employers to attract and retain foreign talent— but it comes with a large price tag. Is a U.S. employer...more
9/9/2024
/ Adjustment of Status ,
Clawbacks ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
PERM ,
Sponsors ,
Visas
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
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this week that it will conduct a second random selection to reach its 65,000 visas allocation for regular cap cases submitted during this year’s H-1B registration...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced a new process allowing noncitizens married to U.S. citizens to apply for Parole In Place (PIP), effectively adjusting their immigration status in the U.S. to that of...more
Two decisions issued recently by the Supreme Court will impact the administrative state, and immigration laws specifically, by transferring administrative authority to the federal courts. In Securities and Exchange...more
7/11/2024
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Chevron Deference ,
DACA ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Government Agencies ,
Haiti ,
Judicial Authority ,
Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo ,
SCOTUS ,
SEC v Jarkesy ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Temporary Protected Status ,
USCIS
On June 20, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the extension of validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs or work permits) issued to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries...more
6/28/2024
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
El Salvador ,
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Honduras ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Nepal ,
Nicaragua ,
Sudan ,
Temporary Protected Status ,
USCIS
President Biden announced that a new process will take effect in late August permitting certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card status) without having to depart...more
On April 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had selected sufficient H-1B visa preregistrations to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 regular H-1B cap (bachelor’s degree cap)...more
6/13/2024
/ E-1 ,
E-2 ,
E-Verify ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Form I-9 ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
L-1 Visas ,
Lottery ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visas
We would like to share the following recent U.S. immigration-related updates announced by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in April 2024. Automatic Extension of EAD Cards From 180 Days to 540 Days ...more
On March 26, 2024, the German government issued an amendment to the German Citizenship Act, which will become effective on June 26, 2024. This will have a positive impact on German nationals residing in the United States...more
On April 1, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had reached the annual quota of 85,000 cap beneficiaries in the initial registration period for employment in FY 2025. USCIS has...more
On Monday, March 25 at Noon EDT, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) closed the initial H-1B registration period. The agency stated that it will soon randomly select enough unique beneficiaries of...more
On January 30, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the pre-registration filing period for the 2025 Fiscal Year H-1B cap submissions will take place from March 6, 2024, at noon ET to noon...more
On December 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that premium processing fees related to employment-based visa and green card petitions will increase as of February 26, 2024. USCIS will reject...more
The H-1B visa, highly sought after and a valuable route for foreign nationals to ultimately pursue U.S. residence status, will become available for pre-registrations in the lottery submission process in March 2024. We await...more
On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which may promote immigration policy changes to attract and retain AI talent in the U.S. The EO recognizes the importance...more
12/6/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Biden Administration ,
EB-1 ,
EB-2 ,
Emerging Technology Companies ,
Executive Orders ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Immigration Procedures ,
International Entrepreneur Rule ,
J-1 Visas ,
PERM ,
STEM ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
Significant modifications to the H-1B visa program are expected to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would “modernize the H-1B specialty...more
11/10/2023
/ FEIN ,
Foreign Students ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
NPRM ,
OPT ,
Popular ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Specialty Occupations ,
STEM ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
Effective October 19, 2023, Israeli citizens traveling to the U.S. for business or pleasure are now able to apply to enter the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program by obtaining ESTA Travel Authorization instead of a visitor...more
On September 13, 2023, Judge Andrew Hanen of the Federal District Court in Houston, Texas, ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program is unconstitutional. Specifically, Judge Hanen concluded that...more
The U.S. State Department and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced several significant updates relating to the 2025 Diversity Lottery Program and the Temporary Protected Status extension...more
The Biden administration has formally admitted Israel into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), known as Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) after years of effort. The VWP, which currently encompasses 40 countries,...more
On October 26, 2023, a temporary rule allowing certain eligible applicants for employment authorization documents (EADs) to automatically extend their EADs for 540 days will expire. EAD applicants who file Form I-765...more
On August 1, 2023, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they selected a total of 188,400 H-1B cap registrations to reach the annual 85,000 quota. In March 2023, the agency first selected...more
Employers are required to use the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) to verify the identity and employment authorization for...more
8/7/2023
/ Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-9 ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Required Forms ,
USCIS