Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
There are further updates from the CDC for all air travelers.
Now, most travelers will have to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 and contact information to board an airplane for the United States. As before, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those entering the United…
As of May 4, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing the automatic extension of work authorization from 180 days to 540 days for certain individuals.
Currently, certain individuals with expiring employment authorization documents (EADs) can continue working for an additional 180 days as long as they have timely submitted for a…
On April 14, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its post-arrival recommendations.
Almost everyone (unless specifically exempted) who is at least 2 years old must have a negative COVID-19 test (tests include an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test) to board an airplane for the United States. Travelers fall into two…
I-9 flexibility is extended until October 31, 2022, due to continuing COVID-19 precautions.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance remains the same and preparing for the possible end of the flexibility is still advised. Indeed, DHS stated, “[E]mployers are encouraged to begin, at their discretion, the in-person verification of identity and employment eligibility for…
When a district court judge in Florida lifted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) federal COVID-19 mask mandate on April 19, 2022, the Transportation Safety Administration stopped enforcing it. However, the judge’s ruling left it up to airlines and local transit agencies to decide how to respond.
Many airlines immediately lifted the mandate…
The Jumpstart Our Legal Immigration System Act (Jumpstart), introduced by Zoe Lofgren (D-Calf.) in the House of Representatives, if passed, could revolutionize the green card process. The legislation would recapture thousands of unused family- and employment-based visas and allow beneficiaries to expedite their processes by paying additional fees.
The Jumpstart Act would help to…
On April 18, 2022, USCIS announced that it had received 483,927 registrations for the FY 2023 H-1B Cap. This is the largest number ever received – almost 200,000 more than the total count of 308,613 for FY 2022.
Out of the 487,927 registration applications, USCIS selected 127,600 to fill the 85,000 available spots. Employers whose…
A new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification is in the works. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking comments on its proposed changes to the form.
Used by all employers, Form I-9 has always had many traps for the unwary. DHS, with its proposed changes, is trying to simplify and clarify things.
The proposed…
The United States has joined many European countries that are opening their doors and offering humanitarian assistance to fleeing Ukrainians.
Ireland, Great Britain and Canada have all started private sponsorship programs for Ukrainians. That assistance is not necessarily a one-way street. Easing the way for incoming Ukrainians may help those nations deal with their own…
As of May 1, 2022, employers can no longer accept expired List B documents for Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification purposes, and any expired List B documents that were previously accepted must be updated by July 31, 2022.
Allowing employees to present these expired documents was a temporary policy instituted by the Department of…
