ImmigrationBlog Posts
Some Travel Restrictions to Relax for Fully Vaccinated in November, Administration AnnouncesAs President Joe Biden travelled to a meeting of the United National General Assembly, the Administration announced that, in early November, COVID-19 travel restrictions would be relaxed for fully vaccinated travelers from all the previously restricted countries: the UK and Ireland, the 26 Schengen Zone countries, Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa. The details... Continue ReadingSeptember 20, 2021 |
Qualifying International Entrepreneurs Must Meet New Dollar Amounts Beginning October 2022New dollar eligibility criteria for investment amounts, qualifying investors, and re-parole considerations under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) will take effect on October 1, 2022. The Biden Administration relaunched the IER in May to grow the economy through job creation. The IER makes it possible for certain promising start-up founders and entrepreneurs to come to... Continue ReadingSeptember 16, 2021 |
CDC Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Applicants for Green CardsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of October 1, 2021, all applicants for Green Cards must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There are some exemptions from the requirement, but anyone who does not qualify for an exemption and refuses vaccination will be inadmissible. The COVID-19 vaccine joins the list of... Continue ReadingSeptember 14, 2021 |
Manufacturers Can Leverage Immigration to Fill Labor Gaps, Address Prevailing Skills ShortageIn June 2021, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released the America Works Report, which is based on an analysis of more than 20 years of federal jobs and employment data. Among the findings is that there are approximately half as many available workers for every open job and the ratio continues to fall. While the COVID-19... Continue ReadingSeptember 13, 2021 |
TPS Extended Through 2022 for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, SudanThe Department of Homeland Security has issued a notice extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan through December 31, 2022. The automatic extension is intended to ensure continued compliance with preliminary injunction orders that have been entered in the various cases challenging... Continue ReadingSeptember 10, 2021 |
ICE: I-9 Flexibility to Continue Through 2021Once again, at the last moment, ICE has extended “flexibility” for I-9 employment verification. This time, for four more months, until the end of the year, December 31, 2021, due to continuing COVID-19 precautions. Employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, who work exclusively in a remote setting are temporarily exempt from the physical... Continue ReadingSeptember 1, 2021 |
Illinois Adds Protection for Dreamers, Other Non-U.S. Citizens to State’s Human Rights ActIllinois has amended the Illinois Human Rights Act to make “work authorization status” a protected category. The amendment, Public Act 102-0233, became effective immediately upon the governor’s signing in early-August. Under the amendment, “work authorization status” is defined as the status of a person born outside of the United States, and not a U.S. citizen,... Continue ReadingAugust 27, 2021 |
Immigration and Labor ShortagesThe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far reaching. The labor shortage plaguing America has been one of the most publicized. Why is it so difficult for some employers to find employees? The 2020 United States Census offers possible reasons: an aging population, decreased fertility rates, and low rates of immigration. The 7.4% population increase... Continue ReadingAugust 26, 2021 |
Transmission of Citizenship to Children Born Abroad Through Assisted Reproductive TechnologyA non-genetic, non-gestational legal parent of a child born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) outside of the United States may transmit U.S. citizenship to the child under certain circumstances, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Mendoza Jaddou has announced. Director Jaddou, the first woman to be appointed to that position, made the announcement... Continue ReadingAugust 25, 2021 |
Uncertain Fate of H-1B Modification RuleApproximately 27,000 additional Cap H-1B cases were selected in a second-round lottery for fiscal year 2022. The selected petitions must be filed by November 3, 2021. In the meantime, litigation challenging the validity of the Modification of Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions Rule (Modification Rule), for next year’s petitions, are... Continue ReadingAugust 24, 2021 |