On December 31, 2020, the President signed a Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Continue to Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market. This proclamation extends Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 10014 and 10052 through March 31, 2021. P.P. 10014 suspends the entry to the United States of certain immigrant
Non-Immigrant Visas (other than Es, Ls and H-1B)
BREAKING NEWS: DHS issues Interim Final Rule regarding the H-1B Visa Program
Just released by USCIS: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced an interim final rule (IFR) that strengthens the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program to protect U.S. workers, restores integrity to the H-1B program, and better guarantees that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners.
While the H-1B program was intended to…
USMCA Effective July 1, 2020 & TN Visa Update
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement known as the USMCA is effective July 1, 2020. The USMCA replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which expired June 30, 2020. As it relates to US immigration, the USMCA includes comparable provisions as found in the NAFTA for Business Visitors, Traders and Investors, Intracompany Transferees, and Professionals. No…
Trump’s Executive Order Suspends Nonimmigrant visas, including H-1B, L-1 and J-1, for the rest of the year
Yesterday, June 22, 2020, President Trump issued the anticipated Proclamation suspending the entry into the US of certain nonimmigrant visa holders. Specifically, the following new restrictions are in effect 6/24/2020:
- The executive order applies to foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States in H1B, H-4, H2B, L-1, or L-2 status (as well as
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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 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
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COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic: Summary of Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of any individual seeking to enter the United States as an immigrant who:
- Is outside the United States on the effective date of the proclamation;
- Does not have a valid immigrant visa as of April 23, 2020; and
- Does not have a valid
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USCIS Extends Closure to the Public until May 3, 2020
On March 18, USCIS extended the suspension of all routine face-to-face services with applicants at all of its offices through May 3, to protect its workforce and to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our communities. USCIS offices plan to re-open on May 4, unless the public closures are extended further.
This includes…
H-1B Electronic Registration Process Completed
Today USCIS announced it has received enough electronic registrations during the initial period to reach the FY2021 H-1B cap. USCIS conducted a lottery by randomly selecting from the registrations properly submitted. USCIS will notify petitioners with registrations selected no later than March 31, 2020. Petitioners will be able to file an H-1B cap subject petition…
Breaking News: USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of NEW requests for Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
March 20, 2020: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Effective today, March 20, 2020, USCIS will not accept any new requests for premium processing. USCIS will process …