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 Dec. 31, 2020. Employers with employees taking physical[Read More]
Legal Alerts
DHS Proposes Sweeping regulatory changes in H-1B work visa program
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHL) has proposed sets of Interim Final Rules governing H-1B visa program and permanent labor certification program’s (PERM) prevailing wage system. These will restrict the definition of specialty occupation, limit the duration of approval for petition involving client-site (to 1 yr), and changing the[Read More]
Department of Labor issues Interim Final Rule governing the prevailing wage methodology for several foreign worker programs
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) in Federal Register governing prevailing wage methodology for several foreign worker programs, namely Permanent Employment Certification (PERM), H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa program. DOL has published the new regulations (effective from Oct 8th, 2020). The Department will be accepting public comments on the IFR for 30[Read More]
Court orders preliminary injunction in favor of Chamber and trade associations against President H, L, J visa ban
U.S. District Court has ordered a preliminary injunction against President’s Proclamation (10052) which banned a new issuance of H-1B, L-1, J-1 and H-2B work visa and banned the entry of these workers and their dependents. This order was made on a case, National Association of Manufacturers, et al. v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et[Read More]
President Trump issues Executive Order seeking to Review Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices on Temporary Foreign Workers
President Trump has issued an “Executive Order on Aligning Federal Contracting and Hiring Practices With the Interests of American Workers”. The Executive Order (“EO”) seeks to review the federal contracting and hiring practices in relation of use of foreign workers in the U.S. and abroad in government contracting and subcontracting. EO lays the policy objective[Read More]
SEVP plans to modify temporary exemptions for international students taking online courses during fall 2020 semester
[Updated July 24, 2020]. Good news! In response to Harvard/ MIT lawsuit, government has agreed to rescind SEVP’s July 6, 2020 policy which had proposed to limit online study from the fall semester by intl students in the U.S. and the incoming students would not have been able to come to study in the U.S.[Read More]
Section 212(f) Suspension of entry or imposition of visa restrictions by President
June 24, 2020. President Trump has issued the Executive Order temporarily suspending the entry of nonimmigrant workers (H-1B, H-2B, L-1, certain J-1 and their dependents) who are outside the U.S. and do not have valid visa at the time of this Order. The suspension will last until December 31, 2020 and may continue as Administration[Read More]
USCIS Rescinds memo on Employer-employee relationship, and Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petition Involving Third-Party Worksite
USCIS has issued a Policy Memo rescinding two of its policy memoranda (ITServe Settlement Policy Memo, June 17, 2020) regarding the adjudication of certain petitions for H-1B nonimmigrant classification. See memo here on USCIS website. Background USCIS has rescinded the following policy memoranda and has issued updated policy guidance in their place: Determining Employer-Employee Relationship[Read More]
Trump administration suspends the entry of Certain Students and Researchers from China
Trump administration suspends the entry Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers (graduate level in F and J visa, undergrads are not affected) from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This restriction is narrow but the practical impact is going to be felt by others and those already in the U.S. too. Those studying or conducting[Read More]
President Trump has issued the Proclamations temporarily suspending the entry of new immigrants
President Trump has issued Presidential Proclamations on April 22, 2022 (PP 10014) suspending the entry of new immigrants by 60 days (those seeking permanent residency). Executive Order 10052 extended the validity of suspension till December, 31 2020. Current Executive Order (EO) impacts following group of individuals: Those who are outside the United States on the effective[Read More]