Do you have questions regarding travel during COVID-19? Are you unsure of your immigration options as a result of being stuck outside the US during COVID? This webinar, held on June 30, 2021, discussed immigration issues resulting from restricted travel during...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Afghans to be Evacuated Who Worked to Help United States, Biden Says
Following urgent pleas from lawmakers and affected Afghans, the United States will evacuate some Afghans who helped the country by working as interpreters and translators for the U.S. military and in other roles, officials said on June 24, 2021. "Those who helped us...
Labor Dept. Announces H-2B Application Filing Timeline for 2021 Peak Filing Season
The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) reminded employers and other interested stakeholders on June 23, 2021, that the three-day filing window to submit an H-2B Application for Temporary Employment Certification (Form ETA-9142B and...
Employers Encouraged to Consider Supplemental H-2B Allocation in Filling Positions
Following up on a temporary final rule issued on May 25, 2021, that made available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year 2021 to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without the additional workers, U.S....
Flexibilities Extended for Responding to Certain USCIS Requests
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending to September 30, 2021, the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors responding to certain requests, including:...
USCIS Allows Resubmission of Certain FY 2021 H-1B Petitions Rejected or Closed Due to Start Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on June 23, 2021, that it will accept resubmitted fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were rejected or administratively closed solely because the requested start date was after October 1,...
EB-5 Program to Expire June 30 After Efforts Fail in Senate; Reauthorization Still Possible Later
The EB-5 regional center program, under which foreign investors indirectly finance projects in the United States in exchange for green cards, is set to expire on June 30, 2021. An effort to extend the program failed in the Senate on June 24, 2021, because Sen. Lindsey...
Justice Dept. Settles with Texas-Based Industrial Contractor to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim
The Department of Justice announced on June 15, 2021, that it reached a settlement with Tecon Services Inc. (Tecon), an industrial insulation, fireproofing, and painting contractor based in Texas. The settlement resolves claims that Tecon discriminated against a...
Vermont Service Center Address Changes
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of June 25, 2021, the Vermont Service Center will no longer receive any incoming mail at the St. Albans, Vermont, facility, which is being decommissioned. Mail sent to the previous address will be...
USCIS Reports on FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registration Process
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported that the H-1B cap electronic registration process was "again well-received by users, who provided a high satisfaction score with the system for FY [fiscal year] 2022 (4.87 out of 5)." USCIS received 308,613...
