President Biden has issued a presidential proclamation (P.P.) resuming the global travel into the U.S. effective from November 8, 2021, at 12:01 am (ET). The proclamation moves away from country-by-country travel restrictions and adopts an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination (accepted COVID-19 vaccines), with limited exceptions. The memo states: This proclamation governs[Read More]
Legal Alerts
ICE announces extension, new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility
Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the DHS will extend this policy until August 31, 2021. The current extension includes guidance[Read More]
DHS Announces Continuation of International Entrepreneur Parole Program
Washington, D.C. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced today that the Department of Homeland Security is withdrawing a 2018 notice of proposed rulemaking that proposed to remove the International Entrepreneur program from DHS regulations. The International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program, first introduced in 2017, will remain a viable program for foreign entrepreneurs to create[Read More]
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility until May 31, 2021
Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the DHS will extend this policy until May 31, 2021. The current extension includes guidance[Read More]
DOL announces additional 18 months delay in effective date of prevailing wage rule affecting H-1B and PERM Workers
Washington, D.C. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Federal Register notice proposing to further delay the effective date of the Final Rule, Strengthening Wage Protections (i.e. prevailing wage calculation method from the OES source) for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States, for a period of eighteen[Read More]
USCIS May Reopen H-1B Petitions Denied Under Three Rescinded Policy Memos
Washington, D.C. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse decisions on H-1B petitions made based on three rescinded policy memos. USCIS will generally use its discretion to accept a motion to reopen filed more than 30 days after the decision, if filed before the end of the validity[Read More]
Department of Labor announces delay in Effective Date of Final Rule affecting Prevailing Wages for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM Workers
DOL has issued notice informing the public that the previously published Final Rule would be delayed from March 15, 2021 to May 14, 2021. On January 20, 2021, Ronald A. Klain, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, issued a memo titled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” that directed federal agencies to consider postponing the[Read More]
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility until March 31, 2021
Washington, D.C.– U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until March 31, 2021. Employers with employees taking physical proximity precautions due[Read More]
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule to Reform Prevailing Wages For Foreign Worker Programs
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) today announced a Final Rule to reform the wage methodology it uses to set prevailing wage rates for Permanent Employment Certification, H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Visa foreign worker programs. The Department’s Employment and Training Administration administers the foreign labor programs covered by the Department’s wage methodology. On Oct. 8, 2020, the[Read More]
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility until January 31, 2021
Washington, D.C.– U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until January 31, 2021. Employers with employees taking physical[Read More]