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
Meeting Patient Needs with J-1 Waivered Physicians
We hear the reports daily. COVID-19 cases are spiking nationwide. Hospitals and health care facilities are at maximum capacity. Even with progress toward the availability of a vaccine, it’s not clear exactly when things will return to a state of normalcy. Health care employers in many areas of our country continue to have difficulty recruiting
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
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
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
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