The Luxembourg Competition Authority (“LCA”) announced that it is launching a market study into the “blockchain sector,” particularly the relationship between Web21 companies and Web32 projects. In its press release, the LCA...more
When President Joe Biden revoked the immigrant visa ban, but not the nonimmigrant visa ban or 14-day travel restrictions, it seemed there might be problems ahead. New restrictions on National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) to the...more
As previously reported, since October 18, 2019 the U.S. has imposed additional duties on various European origin goods (including aircraft, certain textiles and wearing apparel, hardware, cheeses, and other agricultural...more
On Thursday, October 8, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published an interim final rule (IFR) that revised the definition of the term “specialty occupation” and placed additional restrictions on...more
Effective October 8, 2020, the US Department of Labor will determine the prevailing wage for permanent labor certifications and labor condition applications based on a new formula for computing prevailing wage levels,...more
The Trump Administration has announced that it will publish two Interim Final Rules on Thursday, October 8, 2020 that will substantially alter the H-1B visa program for temporary professionals working in a specialty...more
U.S. agencies are rapidly adapting immigration policy to respond to shifting developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our immigration lawyers provide information on the unprecedented range of revised policies. U.S. Entry...more
The “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program” rule has been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and could be published by the end of the year – or earlier....more
On August 3, 2020, President Trump signed an executive order (“EO”) entitled “Aligning Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices With the Interests of American Workers.” Perhaps by design, it signals widespread review of the...more
Department of Labor (DOL) regulations require employers to abide by the terms and conditions of the H-1B visa program, including all DOL and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidelines. With the sudden...more
New Version of the Labor Condition Application Must Be Used Starting November 19 - On November 19, 2018, a new ETA Form 9035, Labor Condition Application for Nonimmigrant Workers (“LCA”), will be fully implemented and “go...more
Congress is currently at a budget standoff that threatens to shut down the federal government for the second time in two years, effective September 30, 2015 at midnight, the start of the new fiscal year. As with the last...more
On July 21, 2015, USCIS issued final guidance on when to file a new or amended H-1B petition after the Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC decision. This USCIS final guidance -- which is intended to assist employers with...more
On July 21, 2015, USCIS issued Final Guidance for agency adjudicators regarding applying the precedent decision, Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC. As we previously reported, Matter of Simeio radically reinterpreted the...more
Although the regulations are not final and may change, government contractors should take steps now to prepare for the anticipated final regulations under the Executive Order. On May 28, the Federal Acquisition...more
We previously provided an alert on the precedential decision Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC and its holding that an H-1B amendment must be filed whenever a new Labor Condition Application (LCA) is required to change an H-1B...more
USCIS recently published Guidance purporting to rely on Matter of Simeio Solutions, addressing when employers must file an amended H-1B petition on behalf of H-1B workers who are transferred to a new work location not listed...more
On May 21, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on an employer's obligation to amend an H-1B visa petition to report a change in the employee's worksite location. This guidance is in...more
On April 9, 2015, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a precedential decision (Matter of Simeio Solutions, 26 I&N Dec. 542) that significantly impacts U.S....more
The federal agencies charged with implementing President Obama's July 31, 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order have released their much-anticipated proposed rule on this directive. On May 27, 2015, the Department...more
There have been recent changes in the immigration world regarding the requirements for off-site employment. Both the H-1B visa category and the L-1B visa category, which are two of the more common employment-based visa...more
On April 9, 2015, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a binding, precedential ruling that all U.S. employers must file an amended petition with the agency...more
On April 9, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a precedential decision concerning an employer’s obligation to file an amended H-1B petition in certain scenarios involving a change in worksite. The...more
On April 9, 2015, the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) issued a precedent decision affirming the California Service Center (CSC) Director's revocation of an H-1B...more
The Administrative Appeals Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a significant decision last week that overruled prior USCIS practice....more