The Trump Administration 2.0 has signaled its intention to ramp up immigration enforcement activities, including workplace inspections and raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other government...more
2/11/2025
/ Audits ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
E-Verify ,
Employee Rights ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-9 ,
Government Agencies ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Risk Management ,
Trump Administration
On January 20 and 21, 2025, President Trump declared a national emergency and issued several executive orders on immigration. The Declaration and Executive Orders address “enhanced vetting” of visa applicants, birthright...more
With the re-election of former President Donald Trump, employers and international investors should prepare for significant changes in U.S. immigration policies. Based on his first term, campaign promises, and recent...more
On January 27, 2023, USCIS announced the initial registration period for 2024 H-1B visa cap. Prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations online on the H-1B visa...more
USCIS has recently announced important immigration policies involving COVID-19, H-4 and L-2 applications, EB-1 and EB-2 Form 1-140 petitions, F-1 students, and permanent resident cards (“green cards”)....more
This article, originally published on November 22, 2021, has been revised. Please note changes to the international travel policy for air passengers re-entering the United States. The Biden administration has recently made...more
This article, originally published on November 11, 2021, has been revised.
On Thursday, December 2, the Biden administration tightened entry requirements for air travelers to the United States following the global spread...more
The Biden administration has recently made some important immigration policy changes which will impact both foreign national employees and their employers.
Public Input Sought for Form I-9 Audits -
Established as...more
11/22/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ,
Employment Eligibility Verification ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-765 ,
Form I-9 ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
Public Comment ,
USCIS ,
Visas
As of Monday, November 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its requirements for air travelers to the United States. CDC’s new travel policy follows President Biden’s proclamation intended to...more
As of Monday, November 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its requirements for air travelers to the United States. CDC’s new travel policy follows President Biden’s proclamation intended to...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently made an announcement that they will begin accepting registrations for the upcoming 2022 H-1B fiscal year starting on March 9, 2021 at 12 p.m. ET and ending on...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently made an announcement that they will begin accepting registrations for the upcoming 2022 H-1B fiscal year starting on March 9, 2021 at 12 p.m. ET and ending on...more
Jackson Walker immigration attorney Sang Shin provides an update on the Trump administration's recent proclamations to extend bans on all new H-1, L-1, and J-1 visas until March 31, 2021. In addition, there are a number of...more
1/19/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Immigration Procedures ,
International Travel ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
Subject to pending federal litigation and the Electoral College vote, Joe Biden is the projected president-elect with approximately 60 days remaining until Inauguration Day. Leading up to January 20th, Jackson Walker...more
On August 3, 2020, USCIS published a final rule that will increase filing fees for certain petitions and applications to help recover its operational costs. The final rule goes into effect on October 2, 2020, and any...more
COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions in every aspect of our daily lives. Several policies have been enacted, affecting millions of foreign national workers, both in the U.S. and abroad, along with the businesses that...more
7/23/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Delays ,
E-Signatures ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Exchange Students ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Students ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-2A ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Infectious Diseases ,
M-1 Visa ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Time Extensions ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Virus Testing ,
Visa Waiver Program ,
Visas
The Department of State has recently announced that U.S. Embassies and Consulates will begin a phased resumption of processing routine nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Such cases will include travelers with urgent travel...more
7/22/2020
/ Business Travel ,
Consulate ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Students ,
J-1 Visas ,
M-1 Visa ,
Travelers ,
Traveling Employee ,
U.S. Embassies ,
US Department of State ,
Visas
While heightened restrictions on employment visas are not new, the COVID-19 pandemic and high unemployment numbers have led the U.S. to increase the limitations placed on a number of visas that businesses commonly use to fill...more
On June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an updated presidential proclamation (“New Order”) suspending the entry of foreign nationals who present a risk to the U.S. labor market following the Coronavirus outbreak. The New...more
USCIS has recently announced it will resume premium processing for forms I-129 and I-140 in phases over the next month. Please see the agency’s announced schedule below.
USCIS will accept premium processing requests on the...more
On April 22, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order entitled “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the US Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19...more
4/24/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Executive Orders ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Trump Administration ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to swift implementation of law and policy from the U.S. government, which has further created shifts in strategy and planning by 1) companies in the U.S. that sponsor foreign nationals workers,...more
4/9/2020
/ Airlines ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Public Health ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Restrictions ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS
The H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa allows companies to sponsor foreign national workers for jobs that normally require at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in a specific field. The H-1B work visa is the most...more