Tag: Corporate Immigration

Posted January 22, 2025 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

2025 Executive Orders and Their Potential Impact on Business Immigration

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued more than 45 Executive Orders, many of which contain directives related to immigration. The immigration team at Nilan Johnson Lewis will be monitoring updates related to these executive orders and …

Posted December 17, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

ALERT: Simultaneous Adjudication of H-4 and L-2 Status Extensions and Employment Authorization Applications Will Expire on January 18, 2025

A settlement agreement in the case of Edakunni v. Mayorkas was reached in January 2023. As part of the settlement agreement, USCIS agreed to: “bundle” the adjudication of Forms I-539 and I-765 for H-4 and L-2 derivatives with the underlying …

Posted October 4, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Everything You Need for the 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2026)

At the beginning of each federal fiscal year (October), the Department of State conducts a lottery called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. If a person is selected, they are eligible to submit an application for permanent residence (i.e., a green …

Posted September 25, 2024 with Tags Immigration Law, Corporate Immigration

REMINDER: USCIS Changed its Premium Processing of Certain Immigration Petitions to 15 Business Days (instead of Calendar Days)

On April 1, 2024, pursuant a final DHS rule, the immigration agency USCIS changed its premium processing time for certain immigration petitions from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. This is the same rule that increased substantially many government …

Posted July 11, 2024 with Tags Immigration Law, Corporate Immigration

Haiti TPS Extended by Federal Register

Through Federal Register notice, The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) is extending the designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and redesignating Haiti for TPS for 18 months, beginning on August 4, 2024, and ending on February 3, 2026. …

Posted June 28, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Certain TPS EADs Extended through March 9, 2025

On June 20, 2024, USCIS announced that they are extending the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries under the designations of El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan through March 9, 2025. …

Posted April 9, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Department of Homeland Security Increases Automatic Extension Period for Certain Employment Authorization Documents from 180 Days to 540 Days

On April 8, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security issued a Temporary Final Rule increasing the automatic extension period for expiring Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) of renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, from up to …

Posted January 11, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

The Department of State has Expanded the Authority of Consular Officers to Waive Interviews for Certain Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

On December 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of State announced the expansion of consular officer authority to waive interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa applicants. When nonimmigrant visa applicants are applying for a visa to enter the United States, the final …

Posted January 8, 2024 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

USCIS Set to Increase Premium Processing Fee (Again) For Qualifying Immigration Petitions In February 2024

On December 27, 2023, USCIS announced it will increase the premium processing government fee to $2,805. Currently, the premium processing fee is $2,500, so it is an increase of $305. The new fee will go into effect Monday, February 26, …

Posted December 29, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Stateside Visa Renewals for H-1B Applicants – a Welcome Start!

On December 21, 2023, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced a pilot program to implement limited stateside visa renewal processing for certain qualified H-1B visa applicants. The application period begins January 29, 2024 and will go through April 1, …

Posted August 22, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace

In July 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court gravely restricted the use of affirmative action in college admissions when it handed down its decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Since that decision, many questions have arisen over how the …

Posted August 4, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

EMPLOYERS TAKE NOTE: Temporary Final Rule Extending Certain Employment Authorization Cards by Up to 540 Days Will Sunset on October 26, 2023

As part of their I-9 obligations, many employees provide an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as evidence of their authorization to work in the United States. Such EADs have an expiration date, and those dates can vary based on the category …

Posted July 28, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Important Changes to the I-9 Process

There are several important changes to the I-9 process that all employers should be aware of. The immigration team at Nilan Johnson Lewis has prepared the following summary below. DHS TO PUBLISH NEW FORM I-9 On August 1, 2023, U.S. …

Posted June 5, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Florida Passes Strict Employer Compliance Law

On May 9, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718 (FL 1718) into law. FL 1718 is described on Governor DeSantis’ website as the “Strongest Anti-Illegal Immigration Legislation in the Country.” The law, among other things, requires private …

Posted May 9, 2023 with Tags Immigration Law, Corporate Immigration

U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for International Air Travelers

In a statement issued last week, the Biden administration announced the end of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international air travelers. The requirement will officially lift at the end of the day on May 11, 2023, meaning that any non-U.S. …

Posted May 8, 2023 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Employers Beware: COVID-19 Flexibilities To Form I-9 to End On July 31, 2023

WHAT IS THE COVID-19 FLEXIBILITY POLICY? With the onset of COVID-19, in March 2020, ICE began providing flexibility to the in-person verification of identity and employment eligibility documentation for completing Form I-9. Under that COVID-19 Flexibility Policy guidance, employers were allowed to verify I-9 …

Posted December 30, 2022 with Tags Immigration Law, Corporate Immigration

CDC Announces COVID-19 Test Requirement for Travelers From China, Hong Kong, and Macau

On December 28, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a press release that it will require all air passengers two years and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, and Macau …

Posted November 28, 2022 with Tags Immigration, Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

Let’s Be Real: Managing Immigration Sponsorship Requirements During Company Layoffs

Over the course of the past few months, several major tech companies in the United States have announced large-scale layoffs. Major companies announcing such layoffs include Meta (formerly Facebook), Amazon, HP, Google, and Twitter. While we cannot comment on the …

Posted October 27, 2022 with Tags Corporate Immigration, Immigration Law

I-9 Remote Document Inspection Flexibility Policy Extended to July 31, 2023

UPDATE: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted an additional extension of the I-9 remote document inspection flexibility policy until July 31, 2023. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is encouraging employers to begin, at their discretion, the in-person verification …

Posted October 13, 2022 with Tags Immigration Law, Corporate Immigration

Form I-9 Alert: Continue to Use Current Form I-9

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Expires on October 31, 2022. Employers should continue to use the current Form I-9 after its expiration date of October 31, 2022, until further notice. DHS will publish a Federal Register notice to announce the …