Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians, a humanitarian relief program similar to TPS (Temporary Protected Status), will terminate on March 31, 2019 according to a formal memo released by President Donald Trump. Liberian DED was set to expire on March 31, 2018. President Trump announced that there will be twelve-month wind down period to ease
ALERT: Possible Change in Processing of L-1 NAFTA Applications
According to CBP personnel, a pilot program is being developed that would eliminate “instant” border adjudications of L-1 NAFTA applications. The pilot program is expected to be introduced at the Blaine, Washington port of entry. At this time, processes and procedures are still under review and consideration but it appears that the current CBP border…
USCIS Green Card Processing Time Information Poor, Inspector General Reports, and USCIS Agrees
By Jackson Lewis P.C. on
Posted in Green Cards, USCIS
Since 2011, government processing of green card applications has taken longer and longer. Concerns expressed by lawmakers, immigration advocates, and the public prompted Senator and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in late-2016 to ask the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the DHS to review…
New USCIS Guidance Clarifies Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites
By Otieno B. Ombok on
Further to President Donald Trump’s Buy American and Hire American executive order, which directs the DHS to protect the interests of U.S. workers and make sure that there is no fraud, abuse, or circumvention of the laws, USCIS has issued a new policy memorandum, “Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites.”
The…
Important E-Verify Announcement: All Regular Timelines Will Remain in Force, For Now
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Posted in I-9 and E-Verify, USCIS
Despite its prior announcement, USCIS has just notified the public that the E-Verify enhancements will be postponed. Accordingly the system will remain in operation through this weekend and until further notice and all regular timelines will remain in force.
Jackson Lewis will continue to provide updates as they become available.
H-2B Visa Shortage and Other Immigration Issues Hold Up U.S. Budget as Deadline Nears
By Jessica Feinstein on
The H-2B visa shortage continues, impacting thousands of U.S. businesses around the country. H-2B visas are used widely in hospitality and tourism, landscaping and the construction industry to hire foreign workers for temporary nonagricultural work. There are 66,000 available annually – half for the winter season and half for the summer season.
The first step…
USCIS Suspends Premium Processing Service for Cap-Subject H-1B Cases
By Forrest G. Read IV on
USCIS has once again announced the temporary suspension of the Premium Processing service for all cap-subject H-1B cases, including “Master’s Cap” cases.
The suspension is expected to last until September 10, 2018, but USCIS will notify the public before lifting the suspension. Unlike last year, at least for now, USCIS will continue to accept premium…
Update: USCIS Denies Creating an Oversight Division
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Posted in USCIS
As we recently noted, the Washington Post reported that USCIS was creating an employee oversight division to monitor staff who might be perceived as too lenient in their adjudications of requested immigration benefits. USCIS has now specifically denied that claim: “Contrary to recent news reporting, USCIS is not creating an oversight division to…
E-Verify to be Temporarily Suspended for System Upgrade, USCIS Announces
By Michael H. Neifach on
Posted in I-9 and E-Verify, USCIS
Some E-Verify timeframes will be suspended temporarily, USCIS has announced. E-Verify services will be unavailable from midnight March 23 (Friday) to 8:00 a.m. March 26 (Monday) due to system upgrades. The agency has provided a Fact Sheet on E-Verify requirements and other issues during the outage.
During the suspension, employers will not be able to…
Report: New Internal Oversight Division within USCIS to be Established
By Forrest G. Read IV on
Posted in USCIS
The Washington Post has reported that USCIS is establishing an internal oversight division. The new division’s purpose, in part, would be to monitor more closely officers who are too lenient in assessing applications for permanent residence and citizenship, including overlooking negative factors such as misdemeanors and the receipt of government benefits (e.g., food stamps).…