Immigration

E-Verify Updates and Immigration Enforcement News

Social Security Administration Resumes Regular E-Verify Timeframes and Operations The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) has resumed its regular E-Verify operations and is no longer providing extended timeframes to resolve employment eligibility verification mismatches for cases referred on or after July 15, 2022. As such, any mismatches referred on or after July 15th must be resolved

Department of Homeland SecurityImmigration

Department of Homeland Security Updates: May 20, 2022

Relief for Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”) Applicants Effective May 4, 2022 On May 3, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced a Temporary Final Rule (“TFR”) to increase the automatic extension period for certain EAD categories. The temporary extension period (initially 180 days from the expiration date listed on the EAD) has been

Immigration

USCIS Updates

USCIS Announces Completion of H-1B Cap Lottery The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced the completion of its H-1B initial electronic registration selection process for fiscal year 2023 (“FY 2023”) after receiving enough electronic registrations to reach the H-1B numerical allocations (“H-1B Cap”), including the advanced degree exemption (“Master’s Cap”). Selected H-1B Cap

Immigration

Department of Labor & USCIS Update

Department of Labor Update: Form I-9 COVID Policy: The Department of Labor has announced that starting May 1, 2022, employers will no longer be able to accept expired List B documents for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification purposes—ending a temporary policy enacted in response to stay-at-home orders and document renewal difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigration

USCIS Updates

H-1B CAP: On February 28, 2022, almost a full year since the H-1B CAP lottery took place for fiscal year (“FY”) 2022, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it had reached the congressionally mandated 85,000 H-1B visa cap. Individuals who were not selected for the FY 2022 cap season will now

COVID-19Immigration

USCIS Updates

Receipt Notice Delays Due to COVID-19 restrictions and filing increases, USCIS is currently experiencing a four to six week delay in issuing receipt notices for applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility. The delay period varies according to the lockbox facility and application/petition filed, with more significant delays for individuals filing Form I-485,

Immigration

Department of State and Homeland Security Updates

Department of State Update: In light of the severe backlogs in visa interview scheduling and in an effort to expedite visa issuance to qualified applicants, the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has extended the Interview Waiver Program for certain nonimmigrants (H-1, H-3, H-4, L, O, P, and Q) and their dependents through December 31, 2022.

Immigration

USCIS Updates

– Applicants that file for lawful permanent resident status using USCIS’s Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status, will now be able to apply for a social security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of the adjustment of status application process. Previously, these individuals had to apply for an SSN at a Social Security office.

Immigration

Updates from the DOS and USCIS + Updated Guidance for Form I-9

DOS Update The Department of State (DOS) has extended the validity of National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) for travelers subject to restrictions under Presidential Proclamations banning entry into the U.S. due to presence in China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and the Schengen area. Existing NIEs and newly-issued NIEs will be valid

Department of StateH-1BImmigration

Department of State Update

As U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance bans imposed by the Trump administration have lapsed and U.S. consulates abroad have restarted routine visa appointments, most applicants for popular work visas, such as H-1B and L-1, and their U.S. employers do not realize that the current visa backlog includes nearly half a million applicants who meet