Category: News

The global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in many employers recommending or implementing work-from-home policies for their employees, especially those returning from travel. These policies aim to reduce the transfer of the virus and avoid unnecessary spread in the workplace. Employees on H and L work visas have specific worksite requirements, but these […]

On March 11, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 9984 announcing that the U.S. is suspending all travel from 26 European countries beginning Friday at midnight in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.  The travel ban restricts the entry into the U.S. by immigrants or nonimmigrant who were physically present within the Schengen area […]

This morning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued guidance for all student and exchange visitors surrounding the recent developments of the coronavirus or COVID-19. ICE has stated that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is focused on ensuring that the nonimmigrant students presently in the U.S. are able to continue their full course of […]

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires naturalization applicants to demonstrate good moral character (GMC). Some offenses, such as murder and aggravated felony, can permanently bar applicants from establishing GMC. Lesser offenses can conditionally bar applicants from proving GMC, requiring them to wait until they have established the statutory period without an offense to reapply […]

United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) processing times for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications continue to increase. EADs are relied upon by many categories of foreign nationals in order to lawfully work in the United States. The processing times vary by USCIS Service Center, in addition to the category in which the applicant is […]

Since 2013, a growing number of states have been issuing driver’s licenses to undocumented workers. New York and New Jersey have recently joined the list that includes California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.  The “Green Light Law” has recently taken effect in […]

On January 31, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice to the Federal Register announcing a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.  This new version was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on October 12, 2019.  Employers should begin using this updated form (10/21/2019) immediately, although the prior version (Rev. […]

On February 6, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that New York residents are no longer eligible to enroll in U.S. Customs and Border Protections’ (CBP) Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP). The suspension follows the enactment of New York’s Green Light Law in December 2019. The next day, the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, […]

The US Department of State has dramatically increased visa issuance fees for Australian nationals in certain visa categories as of December 23, 2019. The US government charges visa issuance fees for nonimmigrant visas that are approved. The fee increases are intended to reciprocate the fees the Australian government charges US citizens who are issued visas.  […]

President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation on January 21, 2020, expanding the Travel Ban 3.0 to include certain individuals from Burma (Myanmar), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. According to the Department of Homeland Security, these additions were based on a DHS assessment after reviewing updated security criteria first established with the original travel ban. […]