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
It is that time of year again when employers have to decide who they are sponsoring for an H-1B visa....more
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
Our Labor & Employment and Immigration teams discuss the looming delays in processing H-4 and L-2 dependent status and work permit applications after the Edakunni settlement’s “bundling” provision expires on January 18, 2025....more
In response to a Lawsuit (Edakunni v. Mayorkas) filed on behalf of Spouses of H-1B and L-1 Visa Holders, USCIS has reached a settlement agreement which it will implement effective today, January 25, 2023....more
In a settlement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to return to processing dependent H-4 and L-2 applications at the same time as the H-1B or L-1 petition when filed concurrently. This...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
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
Please see the guidance on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s (“USCIS”) recent settlement and policy changes regarding work authorization for L-2, H-4, and E visa spouses. ...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a policy alert outlining significant changes that include allowing for the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) validity for E, H-4 and...more
Following months of crisis-level processing times for Form I-765 Applications for Employment Authorization on behalf of dependent spouses in L-21 and H-42 nonimmigrant visa status, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service...more
Immigration Settlement Clears the way for thousands of H-1B and L-1 spouses to work in the U.S., Ulmer Immigration Group Leader David Leopold explains....more
In Washington federal court, H-4 and L-2 spouses are continuing their fight to end the delays in approving visa extensions and work authorization – some of which are taking over a year to adjudicate. The plaintiffs in...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 May 13, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will temporarily suspend the biometrics requirements for certain I-539 applicants for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021. ...more
On May 3, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) acting associate director of the Service Center Operations Directorate, Connie L. Nolan, indicated in a court filing that USCIS is finalizing a policy that...more
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced through a court filing on May 3 that it will suspend biometrics requirement for several categories of work visa dependent status application, thereby...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
A new federal rule has created a new electronic registration process for the annual H-1B lottery. The new electronic registration system will significantly change the sequence of the H-1B lottery. There will no longer be a...more
Revisions to Form 1-539, used by certain nonimmigrants seeking to extend their stay or change to another nonimmigrant category, include additional signatures and fees as well as a required biometrics services appointment. The...more