- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is once again extending certain flexibilities through July 25, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors.
- The Department of Homeland Security invites public comments on its proposed extension and revisions to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, before it expires on October 31, 2022.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will dispose of E‑Verify records that are more than 10 years old; E-Verify employers have until May 5, 2022, to download case information.
Starting April 11, 2022, U.S. citizens will be able to select "X" as their gender marker on their U.S. passport applications.
Effective January 1, 2022, Mexico joined the list of countries that require companies (including those owed by foreigners), trusts, other legal vehicles, financial institutions and others to gather, maintain, update and, if requested by Mexico’s Tax Administration Service, provide information about controlling beneficiaries (also called beneficial owners or ultimate beneficiaries).
The Departments of Treasury and Commerce have recently announced new sanctions targeting certain entities and individuals in Russia and Belarus in response to their governments’ invasion of Ukraine.
Home improvement projects often end with disputes between the owner and contractor regarding the quality of the work done and the amount due the contractor.
In reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has steadily intensified sanctions focused on Russia and certain regions of Ukraine.
In addition to the economic steps taken to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government’s actions have now expanded to the patent world, which will ultimately impact U.S. companies with Russian patents.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months.
The Department of State announced on March 1, 2022, that the U.S. Mission to Ukraine is not currently offering visa services.
The Department of State released information for U.S. citizens in Ukraine, including an online form to enable communication with U.S. citizens, telephone numbers for immediate assistance and advice and tips.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, an omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, reauthorizes the EB-5 regional center program for five years, among other things.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently released statistics on the H-1B cap registration process.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year 2022.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently clarified Form I‑9 guidance related to Native American Tribal documents in M‑274, Handbook for Employers.
- USCIS No Longer Accepts Single Combined Payments on Certain Forms Filed With H-1B or H-1B1 PetitionsU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that for all H-1B and H-1B1 petitions received on or after April 1, 2022, USCIS will no longer accept a single, combined fee payment when Forms I-539, I-765 or I-824 are filed together with an H-1B or H-1B1 petition.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is encouraging eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status applications to the first or second employment-based preference categories.
- The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for March 2022 includes several updates.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new mission statement after asking its employees to "submit words that they felt best illustrated the agency's work."
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published updated policy guidance that changes the maximum validity period that may be granted for employment authorization documents.
Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to propose new rules applicable to registered investment advisers and investment companies.
Until recently, banks, like many public facing businesses, could focus on satisfying customers; hiring, training, rewarding, and retaining high performing employees; improving company performance; and building shareholder value. Now, additional challenges for Boards and management have arisen.
The Coalition for International Entrepreneurship, which consists of three dozen immigration and startup advocacy organizations and individuals, sent a letter on February 1, 2022, asking Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to streamline the International Entrepreneur Parole program.
- On February 4, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released guidance on Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for H-2B workers seeking to change employers.
- The initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon ET on March 1, 2022, and run through noon ET on March 18, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor announced the availability of 20,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year 2022.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its policy manual to reflect new guidance, effective immediately, on how the agency determines whether a case warrants expedited treatment.
- As of January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security is requiring non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and to provide related proof of vaccination.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified guidance on how the agency determines whether an O-1B beneficiary will be evaluated.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is seeking input on all aspects of L adjudications, including L-1A managers and executives, L-1B specialized knowledge workers, new office petitions, blanket petitions, and evidentiary issues.
- The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General released a report on December 28, 2021, finding that continued reliance on manual processing slowed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ benefits delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to dispose of E-Verify records that are more than 10 years old on April 1, 2022.
USCIS has announced that the initial registration period for the Cap Subject FY 2023 H-1B Visas will open at noon Eastern Time (ET) on March 1, 2022, and run through noon ET on March 18, 2022.
The United States Supreme Court, on January 13, 2022, granted the application for a stay of the OSHA ETS pending further proceedings in the lower court.
In news welcome to oil and gas operators, the North Dakota Supreme Court issued its decision in Vic Christensen Mineral Trust v. Enerplus Resources (USA) Corp., 2022 ND 8.
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has authorized consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants who have a petition approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it originally announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners and requestors who are responding to certain requests.
- The Department of State has proposed raising fees for consular services for several nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, the Border Crossing Card for Mexican citizens age 15 and over, and the waiver of the two year residency requirement fee for certain J exchange visitors.
Temporary travel restrictions the Biden administration imposed in November on foreign travelers from South Africa and seven other countries in the region, due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, were lifted on December 31, 2021.
- USCIS announced that qualified healthcare workers who have pending employment authorization document renewal applications and EADs that will expire in 30 days or less or that have already expired, can request expedited processing of the EAD application.
- The Departments of Homeland Security and Labor announced on December 20, 2021, the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 20,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2022.
- The DOS updated its Foreign Affairs Manual on intent to depart and residence abroad requirements for F-1 and M-1 students. The guidance may also be useful for J-1 exchange visitors and Afghan scholars.
- The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule on December 22, 2021, that withdrew the “Modification of Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions” final rule, also known as the H-1B Selection Final Rule, issued January 8, 2021.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the lifting of temporary restrictions that applied to non-essential travel by fully vaccinated travelers with proof of COVID-19 vaccination status entering via land ports and ferry service along the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico.
After the Senate parliamentarian rejected a plan that included work permits and protection from deportation favored by Democrats for inclusion in the “social spending” budget reconciliation bill, lawmakers struggled to consider their options, including revisions to the immigration provisions or simply moving ahead without parliamentarian approval.
- The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced an extension of the flexibility policy in complying with certain physical inspection requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released fourth-quarter fiscal year 2021 reports offering a snapshot of statistics for the entire fiscal year.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is temporarily waiving the requirement that the civil surgeon sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
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