COVID-19 has changed U.S. passport renewal. In the past, U.S. citizens could renew a passport by mail if their current passport was issued on or after their sixteenth birthday and within the last 15 years, or apply for an initial passport or renew in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility (including many local post offices)
COVID-19
USCIS Issues Updated M-274, Handbook for Employers on Completing Form I-9
By Maggie Murphy on
The updated M-274, Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9, from USCIS offers some interesting substantive clarifications and developments.
Changes to match the most recent Form I-9 revisions include:
- Section 2.0 clarifies that any person can serve as an authorized representative of the employer to complete, update, or make corrections to Section 2
…
USCIS Seeks to Re-Open Offices for In-Person Services in June
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Due to COVID-19, USCIS field offices have been closed for in-person services since March 18, 2020. The closure will continue until on or about June 4, 2020 when USCIS hopes to re-open to the public. In preparation for re-opening:
- USCIS will send notices to applicants and petitioners with naturalization ceremonies or scheduled appointments that
…
White House’s Parade of Immigration Restrictions, Sanctions
By Alexandra LaCombe on
On April 23, 2020, at 11:59 p.m., President Donald Trump’s new proclamation limiting immigrant visa applications from foreign nationals living abroad became effective. That proclamation is hardly the only way the Administration is limiting immigration. Other restrictions on individuals include travel bans, the suspension of visa services, enhanced scrutiny of nonimmigrant visa petitions,…
Presidential Proclamation Suspends Entry by Certain Immigrants for 60 Days during COVID-19 Crisis
By Amy L. Peck & Michael H. Neifach on
A temporary suspension of entry by certain employment-based, family-based, and other immigrants has been enacted. For an analysis of the presidential proclamation suspending that immigration to the United States, please see our full publication here.
Temporary Suspension of All Immigration?
By Michael H. Neifach on
The administration appears to be close to issuing an executive order to broadly and temporarily suspend all immigration to the United States.
On the evening of April 20, 2020, President Donald Trump tweeted:
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT…
DHS Prepares to Loosen H-2A Rules Temporarily during COVID-19 Crisis
By Michael H. Neifach on
Recognizing that current travel restrictions and the closure of consulates and embassies abroad has made it nearly impossible to bring new H-2A workers to the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to release a rule in the Federal Register on April 20 to address this problem. The unpublished draft of the…
Legislators Urge Extension of Work Authorizations
By Amy L. Peck on
On the same day that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recapitulated its usual policies and procedures for dealing with delays in processing extensions and changes of status due to COVID-19, 100 Democrats in the House of Representatives joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to urge the Trump Administration to automatically extend work authorization for…
Delays in H-1B Processing, Suspension of Premium Processing, Closures Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 has created a multitude of unprecedented challenges for visa applicants, employers, and the government employees that process visa petitions and applications.
Employers face daily challenges balancing long-term strategies to maintain a complete workforce with short-term strategies to manage payroll and cash flow. While the government has issued certain temporary solutions to provide flexibility with…
State Department Tightens Standards for L Visa Transfers
By Brian E. Schield on
International companies rely on L visas to transfer managers, executives, and specialized knowledge employees to the United States. But the Department of State is changing the standards it uses to adjudicate those visas, making transfers more difficult.
L-1 visas are available to a company with a parent/subsidiary, affiliate, or branch office overseas that wishes to…