Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize the H-1B specialty occupation worker program. One item of particular importance in the proposed rule is that the government seeks to change how USCIS conducts the H-1B registration selection process, and … Read more

On October 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Israeli citizens and nationals are now eligible to travel to the U.S. as part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. Eligible Israeli citizens and nationals may apply for authorization to travel to the United States through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) … Read more

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers must use Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees.  Beginning November 1, 2023, only the new Form I-9 dated “08/01/2023” may be used.  The version date can be found at the lower left … Read more

Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent individuals from safely returning. This redesignation provides temporary protection from removal, as well as employment authorization for individuals in the United States before July 31, 2023. … Read more

TPS for Afghanistan Extended, Redesignated Department of Homeland Security announced Extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, beginning on November 21, 2023, and ending on May 20, 2025. This extension allows existing TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through May 20, 2025, so long as they otherwise continue to meet … Read more

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced extension of maximum validity periods for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs, Form I-766) issued to refugees and asylees, noncitizens paroled as refugees, noncitizens granted withholding of removal, noncitizens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal, noncitizens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245, and … Read more

Beginning Oct. 1, 2023, USCIS is exempting the $85 biometric services fee as part of the application process for Form I-539. You do not need to pay the fee if your application is postmarked Oct. 1 or later. However, if you file Form I-539 prior to Oct. 1, certain filers will still be scheduled for … Read more

USCIS has officially announced that it has 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, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2023. No additional selections from this year’s lottery will be made. USCIS has … Read more

USCIS has announced that effective tomorrow, May 4, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is temporarily amending existing DHS regulations related to expiring employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain renewal applicants. The prior extension period of up to 180 days will automatically increase to up to 540 days from the expiration … Read more

Beginning on January 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security now requires non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States from Canada or Mexico by land or ferry to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.  These new restrictions apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent … Read more