USCIS announced last night that premium processing will not be available for most H-1B petitions selected in this year’s lottery until June 29, 2020 (at the earliest). However, H-1B petitions filed on behalf of international students (F-1) seeking a change of status to H-1B may request premium processing by May 27, 2020.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its April 2020 Visa Bulletin. Overall, most employment categories will have modest forward movement, although the employment-based category 3 for most nationals has no movement after the significant retrogression of 18 months in March.
Read MoreThe US government has now added the UK and Ireland to the countries from which travel to the United States will be restricted. These travel restrictions will take effect tonight (Monday), March 17, at midnight.
US Citizens and green card holders will continue to be exempt from the travel restrictions, but those arriving from affected areas will have to fly into one of 13 designated airports for health screenings, followed by a 14-day self-quarantine.
Read MoreIn light of the rapidly changing circumstances around COVID-19, better known as Coronavirus, President Trump has issued a new proclamation this week, which restricts travel to the U.S. from 26 European countries (Schengen states) and which takes effect tonight, Friday, March 13 at midnight.
Read MoreThe Department of Homeland Security has decided to extend Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for nationals of Yemen for a period of eighteen months. TPS designation for Yemen was scheduled to end on March 3, 2020. The DHS decision will extend it through September 3, 2021.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its March 2020 Visa Bulletin. Overall, most employment categories will have modest forward movement, although the employment-based category 3, will have a significant 37-month retrogression for most nationals.
Read MoreFollowing the recent U.S. Supreme Court order (5-4), USCIS has updated certain forms to incorporate the new rules for determining whether an individual is at risk of becoming a “public charge.” These new forms take effect on February 24, 2020. Prior versions of the relevant forms will be rejected on or after February 24, 2020.
Read MoreFurther to our previous updates regarding the new process for the annual H-1B lottery this year, USCIS has (finally!) released information about the web portal through which employers and their lawyers can register prospective H-1B workers for the annual visa lottery.
Read MoreOn February 6, a federal judge in North Carolina issued a permanent nationwide injunction on a rule that sought to change the way the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calculated “unlawful presence” for international students (F-1, M-1) or exchange visitors (J-1). The new rule would have triggered the accrual of unlawful presence from the moment a violation of status occurs, even if the visa-holder is not aware of said violation.
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.
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