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A recent decision from the USCIS Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”) provides some fresh insight for international companies seeking to transfer executives or managers under the L-1A visa from one affiliated foreign office to open new offices in the U.S. and keep their fledgling offices in business after the initial year.

“New office” petitions for L-1A

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E-Verify had experienced a serious technical glitch on October 22, 2013, and the online system used to verify workers’ identity and employment authorization erroneously gave employers Tentative Nonconfirmations for all employees who provided U.S. Passports or U.S. Passport Cards. For some employers, that meant a nearly 40-percent TNC rate.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has

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Applicants for B-1 Business Visitor/B-2 Tourist Visa Waivers should be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly objects to an assistant, rather than the actual traveler, completing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) on-line registration for her boss.

Recently, an assistant completed ESTA registrations for two of her bosses using her own

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In the wake of Janet Napolitano’s September departure from the top spot at the Department of Homeland Security, who President Obama would nominate as her replacement has been the subject of much anticipation.  With immigration reform legislation discussions somewhat sidelined in Congress due to the government shutdown and debt ceiling debates, the President’s tapping of…

As furloughed workers returned to their government posts on October 17, following the end of the government shutdown, access to the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify database also resumed.  Although users were reporting slower-than-usual performance, all features and services are operational and available to registered users.  The E-Verify home page offers guidance for working through…

I tend look on the bright side of things.  Although the government shutdown has halted our ability to file PERMs, LCAs and prevailing wages (to name a few) and tested our faith in the political system, I see a silver lining.  This shutdown allows a little “me” time.  It is a time to review lately…

The failure of Congress to agree on a new budget for the Fiscal Year (beginning October 1) is resulting in a furlough of more than 800,000 federal workers and government agencies temporarily closing or cutting back the operations of numerous federal facilities and the suspension of many services. This is the first government shutdown in…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is requiring customers to verify their identities at USCIS field offices to obtain   interviews or “to receive evidence of an immigration benefit.”  Customers must submit biometric data in the form of fingerprints and photographs at USCIS offices.

When customers arrive at a USCIS field office, they must clear security

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