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
On January 21, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced updated guidance on adjudicating requests for “National Interest Waivers” of the job offer and labor certification requirements for certain advanced degree professionals and individuals of exceptional ability. This guidance includes a new emphasis on the unique considerations involving persons with advanced degrees in science, technology, … Read more
On November 12, 2021 USCIS issued a comprehensive Policy Memorandum which provides immediate relief for the H-4, E, and L Dependent Spouses who seek to engage in employment in the U.S. Certain H-4 spouses* who have been granted employment authorization and are seeking to extend their permission to work, are now eligible for an automatic … Read more
The State Department has announced that through December 2022, U.S. Consulates may now waive the in-person interview requirement for the above-named temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants. The conditions for a waiver to be granted include the following: The Applicant must have been previously issued a visa of any type, and never refused a visa, unless … Read more
The Department of State has announced the procedures for the upcoming Visa Lottery. Detailed information is available on the Department of State website at: www.travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Diversity-Visa/DV-Instructions-Translations/DV-2023-Instructions-Translations/DV-2023-Instructions-English.pdf The registration period opens Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00 noon, EDT. Entries must be submitted online by 12:00 noon, EST on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. The Visa Lottery enables … Read more
Presidential Proclamation 10052, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J (for certain categories within the Exchange Visitor Program), and L nonimmigrants, expired on March 31, 2021 and has not been extended. Visa applicants who have not yet been interviewed or scheduled for an interview will have their applications prioritized and processed in … Read more
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, has designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a period of 18 months, until September 2022. The designation was based on Venezuela’s unsafe conditions including, a complex humanitarian crisis marked by widespread hunger and malnutrition, increasing influence and involvement of non-state armed groups, repression, and collapsing … Read more
Yesterday, President Biden rescinded Proclamation 10014. Proclamation 10014 suspended the entry of certain immigrants until March 31, 2021. This immigrant visa ban affected employment-based, family-based and Diversity Lottery immigrant visa (green card) applications, with limited exceptions. Effective immediately, consulates are permitted to resume processing affected immigrant visa applications. The nonimmigrant ban affecting certain H-1B, H-2B, … Read more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it will delay the H-1B Selection final rule, which amends the regulations governing the process by which USCIS selects H-1B registrations for the filing of H-1B cap-subject petitions, until December 31, 2021. The final rule, which was to take effect on March 9, 2021, would replace … Read more
USCIS has just announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap will open at 12pm EST on March 9 and run through 12pm EST on March 25. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to fill out petitioner and beneficiary information and submit their registrations online. As before, there will be a $10 registration fee. USCIS intends to complete selections and notify registrants of … Read more