On September 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update to the USCIS Policy Manual to increase the maximum validity period to five years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization...more
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, backlogs for immigration benefits have been at an all-time high, with some benefits—such as the L-2 Spousal EAD—taking up to 12 months or longer. ...more
On March 18, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would update the USCIS Policy Manual to address acceptable evidence of work authorization for E and L nonimmigrant spouses. The updates,...more
In mid-November a settlement between U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the litigants in the Shergill v. Mayorkas lawsuit resulted in a change in USCIS policy regarding spousal work authorization. ...more
On Jan. 31, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began endorsing the I-94s of spouses of E and L visa holders with new class of admission codes upon their entry to the United States. As we detailed in our Nov. 11, 2021...more
Effective November 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) extended employment authorization for certain E, H, and L dependent spouses. Specifically, USCIS now recognizes that L and E dependent spouses...more
On November 12, 2021, USCIS issued a new policy that automatically extends employment authorization for dependent spouses in L-2 and E-1/E-2/E-3 status. The new policy also automatically extended employment authorization for...more
In our Nov. 11 client alert, we described the dramatic and beneficial changes to the employment authorization rules affecting dependent spouses of certain nonimmigrant visa holders. On Nov. 12, U.S. Citizenship and...more
Employment Authorization Policy for Nonimmigrant Dependent Spouses On November 10, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in a landmark case, which provided structural changes for...more
Federal immigration officials just released helpful guidance that eases the process of spouses of highly skilled workers to receive their work authorization documentation, no doubt welcome news for employers across the...more
On November 12, 2021, USCIS updated its Policy Manual to permit H-4, E and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses to receive automatic extension of employment authorization in certain circumstances. Earlier in the week, USCIS...more
As the spread of COVID-19 prompts increasing travel restrictions, and as layoffs become an unfortunate reality in many industries, both U.S. employers and employees holding temporary work visas in the United States need to be...more
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on November 1 extended the validity of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)-related documentation for beneficiaries under the TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal,...more
Earlier this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started phasing out the I-94 cards issued to nonimmigrant visitors and implementing a new on-line procedure....more
All airports and seaports have implemented the new system as of May 21, 2013. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has completed the process of automating Form I-94, the document issued to foreign nationals upon...more
New versions of several key immigration forms have been released in 2013. Among these new forms are the G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative; the I-9, Employment Eligibility...more
A number of current immigration matters deserve your attention and consideration: 1. USCBP Announces the Advent of the Paperless Form I-94 for Air and Sea Arrivals, Effective April 26, 2013. 2. Immigration Reform –...more