- The United States continues to attract the largest share of international graduate students, particularly in STEM fields, but its dominance may be slipping.
- Other countries are expanding their post-study work options and streamlining their immigration pathways to compete for the world’s best and brightest.
- U.S. employers seeking to secure international talent should act early
US Immigration
Employers Must Adapt to Worksite Raid Surge: Sanctuary Cities Face Intensified Enforcement Efforts
Takeaways:
- Increased Worksite Enforcement: Businesses can expect a surge in ICE raids and I-9 audits at workplaces.
- Impact on Sanctuary Cities: Federal agents will target sanctuary cities for immigration enforcement operations.
- Employer Preparedness: Businesses, especially those operating in sanctuary cities, should have an action plan ready for potential ICE enforcement actions.
Tom Homan, President Donald…
Staying I-9 and E-Verify Compliant: Updates for Employers
USCIS has published a new version of Form I-9 and effected new updates to the form and E-Verify.
Employers can use the new 01/20/2025 edition date (expiring 5/31/2027) Form I-9, but the following previous versions continue to be valid:
- 08/01/23 edition date, valid until 05/31/2027; and
- 08/01/23 edition date, valid until 07/31/2026.
Employers using an…
Federal Court to Block Termination of Humanitarian Parole for Citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela
On Apr. 10, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani stated her intention to block DHS’s Mar. 25, 2025, decision to terminate Humanitarian Parole for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, also known as the CHNV program. The program allows approximately 450,000 people to live and work legally in the United States. It is…
USCIS Provides Updated Guidance on Venezuela TPS After Court Intervention
USCIS has issued guidance stating that the expiration dates for Venezuelan Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will revert to those in place on Jan. 17, 2025, when former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended the designation by 18 months. The move is pursuant to the Mar. 31, 2025, district court order temporarily halting…
‘Catch and Revoke’ Program Takes Off: State Department AI-Driven Visa Crackdown
The U.S. State Department’s “Catch and Revoke” program uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor foreign nationals, particularly student visa holders. The program aims to identify individuals who express support for Hamas, Hezbollah, or other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations through social media activity or participation in protests and revoke their visas. To date, approximately 300 foreign nationals…
No ‘X’ Marks: USCIS No Longer Issuing Documents with ‘X’ Gender
Effective April 2, 2025, all documents issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will identify individuals as either male or female. Previously, USCIS-issued documents also listed “X” as a gender.
This policy change is a direct response to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025, executive order (EO) vowing to “defend women’s rights and protect…
USCIS Announces Initial FY 2026 H-1B Cap Selection: What Employers Need to Do Next
Takeaways
- The initial drawing includes registrants under both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master’s cap.
- Employers and attorneys have been notified of selection results through their myUSCIS accounts.
- H-1B petitions must be filed between 04.01.25 and 06.30.25 to use the cap selection.
USCIS announced on Mar. 31, 2025, that it has completed the…
Judge Blocks DHS Secretary Noem’s Termination of Venezuelan TPS
Recission of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans has been halted temporarily. U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen’s Order applies to Venezuelans who registered for TPS under the Oct. 3, 2023, designation of Venezuela for TPS. National TPS Alliance, et al. v. Noem, et al., No. 25-cv-01766 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2025).
Before…
What’s Changing to H-1B Cap Gap for F-1 Students?
Takeaways
- The new DHS rule extends the H-1B Cap Gap period from 10.1 to 04.1.
- F-1 students with pending or approved H-1B petitions benefit from this extension.
- Employers must adjust their processes to comply with the new rule.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule (89 FR 10354) that…