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 Executive 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… [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” Identity documents used for to complete Employment Eligibility Verification of Form I-9. Starting May 1, List B Identity documents that expire on or after March 1, 2020, may be treated as if the employee presented a valid receipt for the document. USCIS… [Read More]
Trump Narrows Immigration Ban to 60 Day Suspension of Green Card Issuance
UPDATE: President Trump signed an Executive Order that says there will be a suspension of the issuance of a new green card. 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 not be affected. If an individual… [Read More]
USCIS Announces Delay in H-1B Cap Petitions 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]
Immigration Updates on COVID-19
As governments and health organizations worldwide respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. visa and green card holders and sponsors should closely monitor impacts on travel restrictions and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Embassy services. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us via email. We have experienced an influx… [Read More]
Public Charge Rule Change: What You Need to Know
Changes to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Public Charge Rule, scheduled to go into effect on February 24th, will fundamentally change how officers will determine inadmissibility for adjustment of status applicants and those seeking an extension or change of their current nonimmigrant status. The Public Charge Rule will NOT apply to: Those… [Read More]
Visa Applications to Include Social Media Information
The U.S. State Department added fields to all U.S. visa applications that will require applicants to disclose information regarding social media accounts used in the past five years, as well as telephone numbers, email address, international travel and deportation status. The new policy, effective May 31st, asks applicants to include their profile handles on popular… [Read More]
