In yet another attempt to restrict the H-1B visa program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it plans to change the process by which the annual H-1B lottery is conducted so that priority is given to registrations with the highest wage levels.
Read MoreOn January 31, the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, (I-9), which should be used immediately. This form is used by all employers to verify employment authorization of its employees, and must be completed within three (3) days of any new hire.
Read MoreBeginning November 11, 2019, citizens of Poland will be eligible to visit the United States for business or leisure for up to 90 days without a visa. They will be admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (“VWP”).
Read MoreA federal judge in Portland, Oregon has temporarily stayed President Trump’s latest Proclamation, which would require applicants for immigrant visas to show their ability to obtain health insurance within 30 days of entry into the United States. The Proclamation was set to take effect on Sunday, November 3 but is temporarily on hold while the legal challenge to the Proclamation is adjudicated. If the Proclamation takes effect, applicants who fail to demonstrate the financial resources to obtain health insurance will have their visa applications denied.
Read MoreAccording to news reports, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have recently started on-site visits to employers of international students working on STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). These visits are to confirm that the information on the training program, Form I-983, is accurate.
Read MoreThree federal courts across the United States have temporarily suspended the enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security’s new “public charge” rule, which was set to take effect on October 15, 2019. This new rule redefines how the agency can determine whether a foreign national is at risk of needing public assistance, which would make the foreign national ineligible for admission, extension of status, or permanent residence.
Read MoreThe publication of a proposed rule that would rescind the H-4 EAD has been delayed until at least spring 2020. In a letter submitted by the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia last week, the agency confirmed that while it still plans on publishing a rule to repeal the H-4 EAD, the proposed rule is still undergoing interagency review. DHS also stated that the spring 2020 date was “aspirational.”
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