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Work Authorization Update—Relaxed Rules For E, L, and H Spouses

Effective November 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) extended employment authorization for certain E, H, and L dependent spouses. Specifically, USCIS now recognizes that L and E dependent spouses have the ability to work “incident to status” and that they, in addition to certain H-4 spouses, enjoy an automatic extension of a timely filed […]

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USCIS Delays Wage-Based Selection Process for H-1Bs

On February 4, 2021, USCIS announced that it was delaying the effective date of the final rule that would have altered the way H-1Bs were allocated in the lottery process. See here.  Under the rule entitled “Modification of Registration Requirement for Petitioner Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions”, USCIS would use a wage-based selection process […]

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Presidential Proclamation restricts non-immigrants’ entry into U.S.

President Trump’s Proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals on certain employment based nonimmigrant visas into the United States takes effect at 12:01 EST on June 24, 2020.  The Proclamation suspends the issuance of visas for those in the following non-immigrants categories:  H-1B (specialty occupation), H-2B (non-agricultural workers), J (exchange visitors) and L (intra-company transferees). […]

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New Version of Form I-9

Today, USCIS announced a new version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification in its published Federal Register notice. The new form’s “version date” is 10/21/2019 and is located in the lower left corner of the form. The notice allows employers to use the prior version of the form (version date 07/17/2017 N) until April […]

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Immigration Alert: USCIS to Destroy Important Undeliverable Documents

Employers may want to consider reminding their foreign national employees to formally notify USCIS of any change of address.  USCIS announced that beginning immediately, the agency will destroy permanent resident cards (“green cards”), employment authorization cards (EADs) and travel documents (including advance parole) returned as undeliverable by the post office after 60 business days if USCIS […]

Immigration Update: USCIS reaches FY 2019 H-1B Visa Cap

USCIS has reached the 65,000 H-1B visa cap and the 20,000 visa U.S. advanced degree exemption (the “master’s cap”) for fiscal year 2019. The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not prohibited multiple filings. USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from […]

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Immigration Alert: Re-Registration for El Salvador TPS Beneficiaries

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under El Salvador’s designation who want to maintain their status through the effective  termination date of Sept. 9, 2019, must re-register between Jan. 18, 2018 and March 19, 2018. Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents, have […]

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