Immigration Settlement Clears the Way for Thousands of H-1B and L-1 Spouses to Work in the US
Immigration Insights Podcast: International Entrepreneur Parole Program & Biometrics Requirement
A settlement agreement in the case of Edakunni v. Mayorkas was reached in January 2023. As part of the settlement agreement, USCIS agreed to: “bundle” the adjudication of Forms I-539 and I-765 for H-4 and L-2 derivatives with...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is finalizing a critical regulatory change to permanently increase the automatic extension period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from 180 days to 540 days for certain...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may no longer be simultaneously adjudicating dependent status and work permit applications after January 18, 2025....more
On January 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in Edakunni v. Mayorkas. As a result of the settlement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to resume its...more
On January 20, 2023, as part of a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs in Edakunni v. Mayorkas, USCIS agreed to adjudicate Forms I-539 and I-765 for extensions of H-4 and L-2 spouses and employment authorization documents...more
Effective January 25, 2023, USCIS resumed concurrent processing of I-539 applications to extend/change nonimmigrant status and I-765 applications for employment authorization filed by H-4 and L-2 spouses and minor children...more
Federal immigration officials just agreed to streamline the process by which certain nonimmigrant dependent spouses are able to secure employment, reverting to a previous method that should reduce processing times and...more
On January 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in Edakunni v. Mayorkas, which restructures U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) adjudication policies for H-4 and L-2...more
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) has begun the process of implementing a federal court order following a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security relating to the immediate ability of L and E spouses...more
The USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Service) announced a new rule to aid in the recent dilemma many foreign national families and US employers have confronted; namely addressing the gap in work authorization and...more
Since the publication of our November 12, 2021 alert, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance following the November 10, 2021 settlement agreement and updated the I-9 Handbook providing for...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
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement agreement on November 10, 2021, to allow automatic extensions of employment authorization for certain H-4 and L dependent spouses. Additionally, on November...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has agreed to make policy changes that will benefit L-2 spouses and certain H-4 nonimmigrants filing renewal applications for Employment Authorization Document cards...more
In a consequential policy reversal, the Department of Homeland Security entered into a settlement agreement following a lawsuit regarding validity of L-2 and H-4 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) cards. U.S. Citizenship...more
On November 11, 2021 American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and its litigation partners Wasden Banias and Steven Brown, announce the historic settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Shergill, et...more
Because of persistent delays by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the processing of applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), a group of aggrieved noncitizen plaintiffs filed a class...more
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to a settlement in the case of Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, resulting in important policy changes immediately affecting L-2 and H-4 visa holders’ work authorization...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected to release new guidelines for employment authorization which will affect H-4 and L-2 spouses resulting from a settlement agreement reached in a federal court...more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is making “structural changes” to work authorization for H-4 and L-2 spouses. The changes result from an agreement settling litigation brought against the agency by the American...more
Spouses of H-1B and L-1 workers have long faced protracted delays by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in processing their work authorization (EAD) renewals. The wait has sometimes exceeded more than a...more
On Burr & Forman's "Immigration Insights" podcast, host Melissa Azallion Kenny provides listeners with updates on the International Entrepreneur Parole Program and the suspension of biometric fees for dependent applicants....more
On August 3, 2020, USCIS published a final rule that significantly increases the filing fees for certain immigration and naturalization petitions. The rule, which will be effective October 2, 2020, also removes certain fee...more
In recognition that many employees are still working remotely due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended through September 19,...more