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The Department of Homeland Security has extended Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for an additional period of 18 months, effective March 10, 2015, through Sept. 9, 2016. Continue reading “Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador”
USCIS recently published revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker with an Oct. 23, 2014 edition date. Continue reading “New Form I-129 Now Available”
The year 2009 marked a dramatic change in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) workforce enforcement strategy. Up until 2008, ICE focused its enforcement efforts almost exclusively on illegal workers. For instance, ICE made 6,000 workforce enforcement strategy-related arrests in 2008; only 135 of them involved employers. Starting in 2009, however, ICE shifted its focus from illegal workers to employers who knowingly hired unauthorized workers. As part of its strategy of targeting employers, ICE began setting up centers around the country that are fully dedicated to I-9 audit work. Continue reading “Five Things Employers Should Consider When Conducting an I-9 Self-Audit”
The following important highlights resulted from the November meeting between the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Verification and Documentation Liaison Committee, USCIS’s Verification Division, and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations: Continue reading “Form I-9 Verification Process Update”
On December 16, 2014, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in consultation with Department of State, added five new countries to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa programs for the coming year beginning January 18, 2015. Continue reading “USCIS Updates Its List of 68 Countries Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs”
As a reminder, following a meeting with President Xi Jinping from the People’s Republic of China to discuss U.S. and China foreign relations in November of this year, President Obama announced changes to certain visas issued to Chinese nationals in accordance with a new reciprocal arrangement. Continue reading “U.S. & China Extend Visas for Business Travelers, Tourists, and Students”
The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and the Department of State (“DOS”) have exercised their shared authority and collaborated in the development of a policy expanding the definitions of “mother” and “parent” under the Immigration & Nationality Act (“INA”) to include gestational mothers using Assisted Reproductive Technology (“ART”), regardless of whether they are also the genetic mother. Continue reading “USCIS Expands Definition of “Mother” and “Parent” Under the INA”
On October 17, 2014, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that he would be extending the Temporary Protected Status for eligible nationals from Honduras and Nicaragua for an additional 18 months, effective January 6, 2015 through July 5, 2016. Continue reading “Temporary Protected Status Extended for Honduras and Nicaragua”
On October 6, 2014, USCIS announced the launch of myE-Verify—a new website designed for employees. Having focused its previous efforts on employers, myE-Verify provides employees with the ability to create and maintain secure personal accounts and to access new features for identity protection. Continue reading “New USCIS System Dedicated to Employee I-9 Needs”
The State Department has released the Diversity Visa Program details for fiscal year 2016. Registration will open at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 and will close at noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Monday, November 3, 2014. Eligible applicants must submit applications electronically—paper submissions will not be accepted. Continue reading “2016 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Details Announced”