It is well-established that criminal and immigration law are inextricably intertwined. The catchphrases “crim-imm” or “crimmigration” are used interchangeably to refer to this intersection. As Maine welcomes more immigrants to our state, it is essential to protect noncitizen criminal defendants’ rights to be informed of the impact of criminal contacts on their immigration status. So,… [Read More]
Client Advisory: USCIS Set to Increase Fees Effective April 1, 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to adjust its fee structure starting April 1, 2024, with exception to the Premium Processing Fee which is set to adjust slightly sooner on February 26, 2024. This change will affect a wide range of immigration applications and services. Here is a clear breakdown of what… [Read More]
Client Advisory: Renewal of H-1B Visa Stamp within the U.S.
The Department of State announced that, beginning on January 29, 2024, and ending on April 1, 2024, certain H-1B applicants will be eligible to renew their H-1B visa stamp without having to travel internationally to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Eligible applicants will apply through an online portal found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visa/employment/domestic-renewal.html To be eligible for… [Read More]
Future-Proof Your School: Strategizing Immigration Needs for 2024 Today
It may only be November and most institutions are thinking about the end of the semester and the holiday break, so why a post on hiring and immigration? There are a myriad of reasons why institutions of education need to start thinking about these issues now but amongst the primary ones are: it is getting… [Read More]
Unlocking International Talent: The Conrad 30 J-1 Waiver Options for Hospitals
In today’s globalized world, the healthcare industry is more diverse than ever before, with hospitals continually seeking to attract international medical talent to provide high-quality care to their patients. The Conrad 30 J-1 waiver program is a valuable tool for HR leaders of hospitals looking to bring in foreign physicians to address critical shortages in… [Read More]
Immigration Options for Schools: A Brief Overview
As another school year is about to begin, many schools are facing an all-too-common issue right now – not enough employees to fill open positions. And, in schools who are educating, housing, feeding, and caring for our children, these open positions are hyper critical, and this shortfall is a big problem facing too many school… [Read More]
Client Advisory: Update to Form I-9 Employment Verification Flexibility
During the global pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security provided more flexible measures for employers in the I-9 employment verification process. In particular, the most flexible of these steps was to allow employers to verify documents used to complete the I-9 virtually, i.e., without physically inspecting the actual document. The USCIS announced that, as of… [Read More]
Client Advisory: USCIS Proposes Fee Increase Under New Rule
The Biden Administration has proposed raising application fees for employment-based visas and other immigration programs. As a result of the proposed rule, employers would be required to pay significantly higher fees for petitioning for and sponsoring workers for permanent residence. The new fee schedule proposes a significant increase in fees for using the electronic registration… [Read More]
Client Advisory: October Visa Bulletin Announces Considerable Retrogression for EB-2 India
The State Department released its October Visa Bulletin revealing a significant retrogression in certain employment-based immigrant visa (green card) categories. The EB-2 Category for India was the most impacted. On September 6th 2022, USCIS reported that the visa cap had been reached for EB-1 and EB-2 visas for applicants in countries of chargeability. With the release of… [Read More]
Client Advisory: H-1B cap for fiscal year 2023 has been reached
USCIS announced Tuesday that they have received enough petitions to satisfy the congressionally mandated H-1B visa regular cap of 65,000 and the master’s cap of 20,000 for fiscal year 2023. There will be no further opportunities for cap-subject institutions to apply for new H-1B visas in FY 2023 but those that were not selected may… [Read More]
