President Biden to Face Trump’s 11th Hour Immigration Rules

In a flurry of activity before leaving office January 20, the Trump Administration implemented or extended changes to U.S. immigration policy that will likely be overturned by the incoming administration of President Joe Biden.  Department of Labor Prevailing Wage Rule The Department of Labor reissued a Wage Level Rule that will increase the minimum wage… [Read More]

H-1B, L-1 and J-1 Visa Alternatives

President Trump’s June 22nd Executive Order was arguably the most aggressive assault on U.S. business immigration of his administration – tying COVID-era unemployment rates to suspension of new H-1B, L-1 and J-1 visas issued outside of the United States. The suspension does not impact foreign nationals already in the United States in a valid visa… [Read More]

Supreme Court Upholds DACA

In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided President Donald Trump cannot end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In his argument, Chief Justice John Roberts said the President did not provide sufficient justification for ending the Obama-era program in 2017. “We do not decide whether DACA or its rescission are sound… [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 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]

2020 H-1B Alternatives

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indicated it received approximately 275,000 registrations for the available 86,000 slots in the most recent H-1B registration/lottery. With the initial selection complete, employers not selected should consider these H-1B alternatives – a process that can be daunting any year, and especially now as COVID-19 closures impact USCIS… [Read More]