COVID Testing Mandate for International Air Travel into the U.S. Lifted
On June 12, 2022, the Biden Administration lifted coronavirus (“COVID-19”) testing mandates for air travel into the U.S. after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials determined the requirement was no longer needed because of widely available COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Since January 2021, international travelers into the U.S. were required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to international air travel with timelines tightening from three (3) days to one (1) day prior to travel with the December 2021 surge of the omicron variant. The CDC will reassess their decision in ninety (90) days and may reinstate the mandate if necessary.
USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Certain Pending I-140 Petitions.
USCIS has announced the expansion of their premium processing program for certain petitions as part of their efforts to increase efficiency within the legal immigration system. Expanded premium processing eligibility applies to Form I-140 petitions previously filed under the E-13 classification for multinational executives and managers (“E-13”) or the E-21 classification for members of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (“E-21 NIW”)—categories which have experienced lengthy delays in recent years. The expansion, which will occur in two phases, began on June 1, 2022 for E-13 petitions received on or before January 1, 2021 and will begin on July 1, 2022 for E-21 NIW received on or before June 1, 2021 and E-13 petitions received on or before March 1, 2021. Continue to monitor Immigration Insights for updates as to the next phase of relief for new I-140, I-539, and I-765 applications, as noted in USCIS’s announcement regarding new actions to reduce backlogs and provide relief to work permit holders.
DID YOU KNOW? In the wake of supply chain disruptions due to manufacturing delays and labor shortages within the global economy, Munsch Hardt’s immigration team represented an international food producer and distributor in obtaining visas for the international transfer of critical personnel.