The Department of State released guidance on June 24, 2021, on restrictions and exceptions under four presidential proclamations that suspend entry into the United States of noncitizens who were physically present in any of 33 countries during the 14-day period...
Topic: Immigration Updates
USCIS Releases Guidance Following June 30 Expiration of EB-5 Regional Center Program
The EB-5 immigrant investor regional center program expired on June 30, 2021. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released related guidance on July 1, 2021, noting that the lapse does not affect EB-5 petitions filed by investors who are not seeking a visa under...
District Court Vacates Final Rule Affecting Wages for H-1B, PERM Workers; OFLC Updates Implementation
On June 23, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Chamber of Commerce v. DHS, vacating the final rule, "Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States"...
Biden Administration Kicks Off Cross-Agency Naturalization Campaign
On July 2, 2021, the Biden administration announced an interagency campaign to promote naturalization "to all who are eligible." Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that the strategy "will ensure that aspiring citizens are able to pursue...
Webinar: Travel During COVID-19 – Immigration Options and Updates
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...
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,...
