United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday announced reforms to its EB-5 Investment Program that will increase the minimum investment to qualify for the investor green card. In addition to hikes in investment thresholds, USCIS announced reforms to Targeted Employment Area (TEA) designations and processing changes that could streamline the EB-5 process. The proposed… [Read More]
OPT Work Authorization Delays Impact Foreign Students
The New York Times reports student visa holders are encountering obstacles with obtaining work authorization associated with Optional Practical Training (OPT), a vital and essential component of the F-1 visa for most, if not all, foreign national students. OPT work authorization allows F-1 students to work temporarily in fields that advance their studies for a… [Read More]
How the Government Shutdown is Impacting Immigration Law
As the government shutdown enters its third week, many employers are beginning to wonder what impacts the shutdown will have on their international workforces. The good news – most services provided by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are fee-funded, and do not depend on government fund appropriation. With that being said, some USCIS… [Read More]
Rule By Memorandum: What You Need to Know about USCIS Updates to NTA Policy
A memo published July 5 by the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines a policy change that could have far reaching implications for those in the United States on work or student visas. Change in Notice to Appear Policy The July memo, which, among other decrees, instructs USCIS to issue a Notice to… [Read More]
Top Three Options for Individual Not Selected in H-1B Cap Lottery
The USCIS announced this morning that it has received sufficient H-1B Petitions for both the “regular” and “Master’s Degree” Caps and that it is no longer accepting Cap-Subject Petitions. The lottery is expected to begin next week with notifications beginning in mid-to late-May. H-1B Alternatives For those employees that are not selected in the H-1B… [Read More]
Third Travel Ban Applies To New Countries, Now Permanent
The Trump Administration has announced a third version of its Travel Ban. The new ban is permanent, not temporary like the previous bans. The list of targeted countries has been changed and the impact for each country is different. Below is an analysis of the impact for each country. The new Travel Ban is effective… [Read More]
How to Apply for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The United States Department of State (DOS) issued a notice providing information on how to apply for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, under which 50,000 diversity visas will be available. The notice includes information on eligibility, entry period, completing the electronic entry form, selection of applicants, photo requirements, and FAQs. Applicants must submit entries… [Read More]
Supreme Court Partially Reinstates Travel Ban
On June 26, United States Supreme Court reinstated a portion of the Trump Administration’s “Travel Ban” that has been blocked in the federal appeals courts for several months. The ban on citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States will now go into effect. The ban will be in… [Read More]
Department of Labor Seeks to Institute Filing Fees for PERM Program
The Trump Administration has requested that employers be required to pay filing fees for sponsoring foreign national employees via the Department of Labor’s (DOL) PERM Labor Certification Program. The PERM Program allows employers to sponsor foreign employees for lawful permanent residence (a Green Card) by showing that qualified U.S. workers cannot be found for the… [Read More]
New Executive Order Bans Entry to the U.S. by citizens of Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen
Today the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order (the “Order”) implementing a new travel ban scheduled to go into effect on March 16, 2017. The ban primarily imposes the following restrictions: Citizens of Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen are banned from entering the U.S. for 90 days unless an exception or waiver is… [Read More]
