The Trump Administration has stepped back from a policy that would have denied visas to foreign students in the event colleges and universities moved to virtual instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. The July 6 policy announcement was met with immediate disapproval from higher education institutions and prompted a lawsuit from Harvard and MIT, along… [Read More]
SEVP Backs Away from Temporary Plan Helping F-1/M-1 Students during the Pandemic
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEVP instituted temporary measures allowing F-1 and M-1 students to take more classes online than normally permitted under the Regulations. Request Your Complimentary Consultation Generally, SEVP Regulations only permit 1 class online per semester with the remaining credit hours to be taken “in person” at the university. In… [Read More]
I-9 Enforcement Could be Next Front in Immigration Battle
The Trump Administration made clear it plans to continue to link record high unemployment with immigration, as seen with President Trump’s recent executive order suspending entry to the U.S. on the H-1B, L and J-1 visas. While business leaders across the United States challenge the legality and efficacy of the Executive Order, it is safe… [Read More]
Client Advisory: Executive Order Restricting Certain Work Visas
Citing economic concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump extended a freeze on green cards issued outside the U.S. to the end of the year, and expanded the order to suspend the entry of foreign nationals on certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas, including H-1B, L-1 and J-1. Please note that the new restrictions do not… [Read More]
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month. Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions…. [Read More]
USCIS Releases Guidance on Covid-19 Impacts for Conrad and HHS Waiver Foreign Physicians
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has released guidance for foreign physicians who are subject to Conrad and HHS J-1 waiver provisions and their employers. This guidance provides protections for physicians who are not able to sustain full-time work schedules due to Covid-19 related interruptions and also confirms the ability of foreign physicians to undertake telemedicine… [Read More]
USCIS Announces COVID-19 Temporary Policy for List B Identity Documents
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a temporary policy for expired “List B” documents used for to complete Employment Eligibility Verification of Form I-9. Starting May 1, List B documents that expire on or after March 1, 2020, may be treated as if the employee presented a valid receipt for the document. USCIS has issued… [Read More]
Trump Narrows Immigration Ban to 60 Day Suspension of Green Card Issuance
UPDATE: President Trump signed an Executive Order that suspends issuance of new green cards. The Executive Order will not impact all green card petitions, including: Anyone physically present in the US on April 22, 2020. U.S. residents with pending I-485s will be not be affected. If an individual was travelling, anyone with an Advance Parole… [Read More]
USCIS Announces Delay in H-1B Cap Petition Processing
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a delay in data entry and receipt notices for FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions due to health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the memo, USCIS will not begin intake processing until at least May 1, 2020. This announcement impacts H-1B Cap cases selected in… [Read More]
COVID-19 Impacts to FY2021 H-1B Lottery
With online registration for H-1B petitions closing at noon EST on March 20, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is scheduled to begin the H-1B cap lottery for FY 2021 next week, with notifications to employers expected by March 31st. Suspension of Premium Processing USCIS announced today that it is temporarily suspending premium processing… [Read More]
