Word to the Wise

WORD TO THE WISE Many employers wait until one year before the end of the authorized nonimmigrant status or even afterwards to start the immigrant visa processing for H and L visa holders. Our staff is finding that the US Department of Labor processing of a labor certification will take more than one year to […]

COVID-19 Testing For Travelers from China to U.S.

COVID-19 Testing For Travelers from China to U.S.   Due to the recent volume of COVID-19 cases in China, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is requiring certain travelers to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of recent recovery effective January 5, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time.   Specifically, this policy applies […]

New Process for Venezuelans with Gee & Zhang

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new process that allows certain Venezuelan nationals and immediate family members to come to the United States. The new Process for Venezuelans is intended to provide a safe and orderly way for people from Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and lack U.S. entry documents to […]

The United States designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status

The United States designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status On 03/03/2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Ukraine was designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, due to the ongoing armed conflict preventing safe return to the country. To be eligible for TPS under the Ukraine designation, individuals must have continuously […]

EAD & Advance Parole Card Changes

EAD & Advance Parole Card Changes   USCIS recently indicated a significant change in policy regarding issuance of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Advance Parole for green card applicants. “Combination cards” have been issued for many years as part of the green card process and serve as proof of both employment and travel authorization during […]

Spouses of H-1B and L-1 Workers Benefit from Lawsuit Settlement Regarding Work Authorization Rules

Spouses of H-1B and L-1 Workers Benefit from Lawsuit Settlement Regarding Work Authorization Rules Certain spouses of high-skilled H-1B and L-1 workers have been negatively impacted by extended USCIS delays in processing Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications. Because of these delays, many spouses have been forced to stop working while waiting for USCIS to approve […]

New U.S. COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Effective November 8, 2021

New U.S. COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Effective November 8, 2021   For several weeks, the Biden Administration has signaled it will replace the Trump-era geographic based travel restrictions with vaccination and testing requirements.   On October 25, 2021, President Biden issued a new Presidential Proclamation formalizing these indications for air travelers. The Centers for Disease Control […]

Opportunities to streamline Immigration processing

Opportunities to streamline Immigration processing Biden’s Philosophy The new era ushered in by the Biden administration brings with it encouraging signs that the government, including USCIS, is starting to emphasize operational efficiency in its policies and practices, focusing on building a fair and accessible system of legal immigration. Por ejemplo, in his first 100 days […]

Breaking: U.S. Adds India to COVID-19 Travel Ban

Breaking: U.S. Adds India to COVID-19 Travel Ban   In breaking news, the White House stated that India will be added to the list of countries subject to the U.S. COVID-19 travel ban as of May 4, 2021. This announcement comes as India is experiencing a record surge in COVID-19 cases.   While official details […]

Expiration of H/L/J Travel Ban & Continued Visa Obstacles

Expiration of H/L/J Travel Ban & Continued Visa Obstacles The Trump era “H/L/J” travel ban that was most recently extended through March 31, 2021 expired last night at midnight. This positive development means that there are no longer any nonimmigrant visa category-based U.S. travel bans in effect. Now, individuals seeking H-1B, L-1, and J-1 visas […]