By way of background, under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each newly hired employee. The purpose of the Form I-9 is to verify the identity of each new employee and ensure that the new employee is authorized to work in the United States. The Form I-9 contains a list of acceptable documents for establishing an employee’s identity and authorization to work. Continue reading “DHS Provides Employers with Some I-9 Flexibility”
Category: U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)
USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for FY2021 Cap-Subject Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the temporary suspension of premium processing service for fiscal year (FY) 2021 cap-subject.Petitioners filing FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions will not be able to request premium processing when USCIS begins accepting cap-subject petitions on April 1. Until premium processing resumes for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS will reject any Form I-907 concurrently filed with a cap-subject H-1B Form I-129.
As USCIS has done in the past, premium processing will resume in a two-phased approach during the FY 2021 cap season so that USCIS can best manage premium processing requests. The first phase will include FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, requesting a change of status from F-1 nonimmigrant status. The second phase will include all other FY 2021 cap-subject petitions.
USCIS Announces Temporary Office Closure
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To protect our workforce and to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in our communities, effective immediately, USCIS is suspending all routine face-to-face services with applicants at all of our offices, including all interviews and naturalization ceremonies. All USCIS field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (ASCs) will not provide in-person services until at least April 1. This includes interviews, naturalization ceremonies and biometric collection appointments. However, we will continue to provide emergency services during this time. If you have an emergency service request, please contact the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS field offices will send de-scheduling notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by this closure. We will send de-scheduling notices to naturalization applicants scheduled for naturalization ceremonies. All applicants will be rescheduled when USCIS resumes normal operations. |
USCIS Will Once Again Start Requiring In-Person Interviews for Employment Based Adjustment of Status Applicants
Yesterday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” it would begin requiring in-person interviews for adjustment of status applications based on employment effective October 1. Continue reading “USCIS Will Once Again Start Requiring In-Person Interviews for Employment Based Adjustment of Status Applicants”
Alert: New Form I-9 is Now Available
Yesterday, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) released yet another updated version of the Form I-9. While employers are encouraged to start using the new Form I-9, employers are permitted to continue to use the Form I-9 with a revision date of 11/14/16 until September 17. As of September 18, 2017, however, employers are required to use the latest version of the Form I-9, dated 07/17/17 N. Continue reading “Alert: New Form I-9 is Now Available”
Alert: USCIS to Release New Form I-9
Just as employers were becoming used to the new Form I-9 released in January of this year, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced that it will be releasing yet another updated version of the Form I-9 on July 17. Continue reading “Alert: USCIS to Release New Form I-9”
DHS Freezes Implementation of the International Entrepreneur Rule and Threatens to Repeal It
In a surprising move to the startup community, the Trump administration has moved to delay and possibly repeal a rule that would help foreign entrepreneurs launching foreign startups apply for parole status to work in the United States. Continue reading “DHS Freezes Implementation of the International Entrepreneur Rule and Threatens to Repeal It”
Breaking News: USCIS continues to adjudicate cases
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services advised on its website that adjudications will continue regardless of your country of origin. Continue to check back with us for updates. For more information, please contact Mechelle Zarou at mzarou@slk-law.com.
USCIS releases a new version of Form I-9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is at it again. On November 14, 2016, USCIS published a new Form I-9 for employers to begin using immediately for new hires or re-verifications. Continue reading “USCIS releases a new version of Form I-9”
Plan Ahead: H-1B Season is Around the Corner
As a reminder to all U.S. employers, H-1B season is around the corner! United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will start accepting new H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2018 on Saturday, April 1, 2017. Continue reading “Plan Ahead: H-1B Season is Around the Corner”