On June 14, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the implementation of the "Presidential Memorandum on Enforcing the Legal Responsibilities of Sponsors of Aliens," issued May 23, 2019. USCIS officers will now be required to remind...
Topic: Immigration Updates
SSA Responds to California Lawmakers’ Questions on ‘No-Match’ Letters
The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently responded to a letter sent on April 11, 2019, from Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Cal.), along with several California legislators, questioning the decision to reinstate the practice of sending "no match" letters to...
New Zealand Nationals Eligible for E-1 (Treaty Trader) and E-2 (Treaty Investor) Visas
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective June 10, 2019, certain New Zealand nationals can request a change of status to E-1 treaty trader or E-2 treaty investor. This means that New Zealand nationals now have enhanced access to pursue...
Visa Bulletin for July Notes Slowdowns or Retrogressions (Visa Unavailability) in Several Employment-Based Immigrant Visa Categories Before End of Fiscal Year
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for July 2019 includes the following notes: It has been necessary to retrogress the Mexico E4 and SR final action dates for July to keep visa issuances within the annual numerical limits. With the start of the new fiscal year in...
Ken Cuccinelli Named Acting Director of USCIS
Ken Cuccinelli has been appointed acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), effective June 10, 2019. He succeeds Francis Cissna, who left the agency as of June 1, 2019. Mr. Cuccinelli will lead an agency of 19,000 employees and contractors....
Miller Mayer partner Kristal Ozmun named Incoming Co-chair of IIUSA Best Practices Committee
Miller Mayer is pleased to announce that partner Kristal Ozmun will serve as Co-chair of Invest In the USA (IIUSA)’s Best Practices Committee. Kristal is a partner in the firm’s Immigration Group, with extensive experience in representing EB-5 regional centers,...
Cap Reached for Additional H-2B Visas for FY 2019
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough petitions to reach the additional maximum 30,000 visas made available under the H-2B numerical limit (cap) for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The H-2B visa program permits employers to...
USCIS Invites Public Comments on Extension of Form I-9
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has invited public comments on its proposed extension of the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) before it expires on August 31, 2019. According to a USCIS announcement, the 30-day comment period will be...
OFLC’s New Online ‘FLAG’ Portal to Replace iCERT
The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has announced a new cloud-based online portal, the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG). The newly modernized portal is intended to "help U.S. employers find qualified workers while ensuring...
Premium Processing Begins for Remaining H-1B Cap-Subject (Lottery) Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will resume premium processing for all remaining fiscal year (FY) 2020 H-1B lottery petitions, starting on June 10, 2019. Employers may file a request for premium processing conversion with the USCIS...
