The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension of restrictions limiting non-essential travel at U.S. land ports of entry with Canada and Mexico for an additional 30 days. The government indicates the travel restrictions have been successful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 while still maintaining essential trade and travel. The travel restrictions,
DHS Extends Temporary flexibility for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, and due dates for Responding to Notices of Inspection
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on June 16 that it will provide a 30-day extension to its temporary policy allowing flexibility in the rules related to Form I-9 for employers operating 100% remotely in light of COVID-19. The new expiration date for these accommodations is July 19, 2020.
In May, the Department of
Chinese Student Alert – President Trump Executive Order
On May 29, 2020, President Trump issued yet another immigration-related Executive Order. This one is entitled, “Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China,” and can be found here.
The proclamation goes into effect today, June 1, 2020, and its stated purpose is
Premium Processing Resumes: June 2020 Phase-In Dates
On Friday, May 29, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans for the phased-in resumption of premium processing for eligible I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker petitions and eligible I-129 Nonimmigrant Worker petitions. (See USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-resumes-premium-processing-certain-petitions.)
USCIS temporarily suspended premium processing availability for all eligible Form I-129 and I-140 petitions
COVID-19 Update: USCIS to reopen June 4 on limited basis
On May 27, 2020 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it is preparing some domestic offices to reopen and resume non-emergency public services on or after June 4. Routine in-person services at USCIS field offices, asylum offices and application support centers (ASCs) has been suspended since March 18 to help slow the spread of
J-1 Waiver Physicians: COVID-19 Reduction in Hours and Telehealth (Limited) Temporary Flexibility
On May 11, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Memorandum relating to certain J-1 waivered foreign medical graduates during the COVID-19 national emergency. The memo, captioned “Temporary Policy Changes for Certain Foreign Medical Graduates During the COVID-19 National Emergency” was issued solely as guidance to USCIS officers with regard
COVID-19 and I-9 Compliance: 30-Day Extension of Temporary Flexibility regarding In-Person Review of Documents for Certain Employers
On Thursday, May 14, 2020, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a 30-day extension to its previously announced temporary flexibility provisions relating to I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification compliance during the COVID-19 national emergency. Extension of the flexibility provisions is the result of “continued precautions related to COVID-19”. The COVID-19 I-9 flexibility provisions were originally
USCIS releases new version of M-274 Handbook for Employers, Guidance for Completing Form I-9
On April 27, 2020 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of the Handbook for Employers, Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274). The M-274 is an essential compendium of I-9 compliance information and instruction, and is designed to supplement employers’ understanding and knowledge of the various employment eligibility verification obligations.
Avoid ICE Penalties! Use the correct Form I-9! New version of Form I-9 in effect as of May 2, 2020
This is a reminder that employers are required to use the new version of the Form I-9 as of May 1,2020. As noted in our prior post, USCIS announced the publication of the new version of the Form I-9 on January 31, 2020, with a 60-day grace period for its mandatory use. Accordingly, the
COVID-19 Immigration Updates: USCIS extends immigration related due dates and temporary flexibility for List B documents for I-9 purposes.
USCIS extends immigration related deadlines:
On March 30, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an extension of the flexibility it announced to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to the following types of requests, with deadlines:
- Requests for Evidence;
- Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
- Notices of