COVID-19Emergency Immigration Alert

Immigration Update: COVID-19 Pandemic

Nonimmigrant Status Management at Times of COVID-19 Lay-Offs and Satisfactory Departure •  Individuals on employment-based work visas (H-1Bs, TNs, E-1s, E-2s, E-3s, O-1s, L-1s) who are suddenly laid off due to the impact of COVID-19 can still afford themselves a one-time 60 day grace period to change status to another employer-sponsored visa or apply for

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Legislative News

President Trump announced that Chad is no longer subject to the U.S. entry restrictions of Presidential Proclamation 9645 (commonly referred to as the “travel ban”). The President noted that Chad has made significant improvements in its identity-management and information-sharing practices. Specifically, the President stated that Chad is issuing more secure passports and sharing updated passport

Department of State

DOS Visa Bulletin

Travel Ban: The DOS has clarified the waiver process for individuals impacted by President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation 9645 (i.e., the “travel ban”). The Proclamation specified that entry restrictions may be waived on a case-by-case basis if a consular officer or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official determines, in their discretion, that an application meets the

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Travel Update

CBP has stepped up scrutiny of foreign nationals entering the U.S. on a visa or without a visa under the U.S. Electronic Systems for Travel Authorization (ESTA) program. Travelers should be prepared for more extensive questioning if a CBP inspector decides that they had not been properly and sufficiently vetted prior to travel.

U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Migration Drops At U.S. Southwest Border

CBP recently released statistical data regarding the migration at the U.S. Southwest border. The data suggests a drastic decline in traffic, evidenced by a significant (i.e., nearly 40 percent) decline in arrests. The number of border apprehensions from January to February usually increases by approximately 10 to 20 percent, thus making the current decrease highly