Tag: coronavirus

While technically the Northern border between Canada and the United States remains closed due to COVID-19, our Associate Attorney Zach Ahlstrom details what activities are still allowed at the border. This includes traveling to the United States for work purposes and also applying for a TN or L-1 visa! Unfortunately, travel for pleasure purposes, such […]

The Canada Border Services Agency announced that as of June 8, 2020, foreign nationals who are immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the prohibition on entry to Canada providing they are entering to be with an immediate family member for at least fifteen days. The exemption aims to help […]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) extended closure of its Trusted Traveler Program enrollment centers until at least July 6, 2020. The extended closure applies to all Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST enrollment locations with public access.  Scheduled interviews for conditionally approved Trusted Traveler Program applicantshave been cancelled and must be rescheduled using the […]

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced its plan to resume offering public services at some of its domestic offices on June 22, 2019. USCIS has been offering only emergency in-person public services for almost three months since it temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers on March […]

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump issued a series of proclamations prohibiting the entry of all aliens who were physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area (comprised of 29 European countries), the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland during the 14-day period prior to their entry or attempted entry to the […]

What are PERM Labor Certifications? A permanent labor certification (hereinafter “PERM” or “PERM Labor Certificate”) is issued by the Department of Labor (“DOL”) which allows a U.S. employer to hire a foreign worker to work permanently in the United States.  In most instances, the U.S. employer must submit a labor certification application to the DOL’s […]

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it is presently set to run out of money this summer and will begin attaching a 10% surcharge to application fees. Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS operates almost entirely on the money it raises from collected fees. A steep drop in applications for green cards, […]

The J-1 visa offers researchers, scholars, professors, medical trainees, and others the opportunity to come to the United States to participate in a sponsored program. However, the amount of time the visa holder can remain in the country is not unlimited. Exchange visitors under the J-1 program are required to return to their home country […]

USCIS announced on May 1, 2020, that due to COVID-19, it will be extending the flexibilities previously announced on March 30 to assist applicants and petitioners who need to respond to agency requests. These requests include: Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices of Intent to Revoke; Notices of […]

USCIS announced last Friday that it is presently readying offices to reopen on or after June 4, 2020. USCIS temporarily suspended all in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers beginning March 18, to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Employees in these offices are continuing to perform mission-essential […]