ImmigrationBlog Posts
ICE Issues 1,000 Audit Notices to Employers in FebruaryThe Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office has told 1,000 employers across the country the agency will audit their hiring records to determine compliance with employment eligibility verification laws. These Notices of Inspection (NOIs) often request not only I-9 documentation, but payroll records, copies of immigration filings, copies of Social Security … Continue reading ICE Issues 1,000 Audit Notices to Employers in FebruaryMarch 1, 2011 |
Export Controls and New Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker Form I-129USCIS has began accepting the revised version of the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129 (dated November 23, 2010). The new version of the form requires employers petitioning for H-1B, H-1B1, L-1 and O-1A nonimmigrants to make specific attestations related to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). … Continue reading Export Controls and New Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker Form I-129December 16, 2010 |
ICE Announces Record-Breaking Enforcement ResultsApproximately $50 million in financial sanctions for worksite enforcement violations were imposed by the federal government in fiscal year (FY) 2010, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton. The agencies announced record-breaking immigration enforcement results that reflect the aggressive stance taken under … Continue reading ICE Announces Record-Breaking Enforcement ResultsOctober 7, 2010 |
USCIS Releases New E-Verify User ManualsUSCIS has released its new E-Verify User Manuals for Employers, Employer E-Verify Agents, and Federal Contractors. E-Verify is the online verification system that complements I-9 employment eligibility review and allows employers to check the legality of their workforce. The manuals provide guidance for employers enrolled in E-Verify. The new manuals reflect recent changes to the … Continue reading USCIS Releases New E-Verify User ManualsOctober 7, 2010 |
H-1B Update: Cap-gap Students Lose Work Authorization October 1stDespite a marked decrease in H-1B petitions filed to date, USCIS is making little effort to adjudicate its current caseload of H-1B petitions in a timely fashion. The USCIS’s stated processing times for H-1B’s are more than two months off the actual processing times, which are approaching five months and increasing. The effect of the … Continue reading H-1B Update: Cap-gap Students Lose Work Authorization October 1stSeptember 30, 2010 |
Employers Are On Notice!Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has served more than 500 Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to U.S. companies over the past week. According to the agency, allegations that employers are hiring unauthorized workers and paying employees unfair wages or otherwise exploiting workers set off this latest round of inspection notices. With this move, ICE furthers its … Continue reading Employers Are On Notice!September 29, 2010 |
USCIS Filing Fees to Increase on November 23, 2010On September 23, 2010, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced a fee increase for immigration benefits. Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS is primarily a fee-based organization, with 90% of its approximately $2.7 billion budget paid for by user fees. The economic downturn has meant that fewer employers were petitioning for foreign national … Continue reading USCIS Filing Fees to Increase on November 23, 2010September 28, 2010 |
U.S. Department of Justice Sues Arizona Sheriff for Records Relating to Potential Civil Rights AbusesThe U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has filed a lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and its well known County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for his refusal to hand over documents in the DOJ’s long running civil rights probe. The complaint alleges that the Sheriff’s Office is in violation of Title VI of the Civil … Continue reading U.S. Department of Justice Sues Arizona Sheriff for Records Relating to Potential Civil Rights AbusesSeptember 14, 2010 |
Neufeld “Employer-Employee Relationship” Memorandum UpheldIn a blow to employers, a federal district court has upheld a USCIS memorandum that set out factors to determine whether an employer-employee relationship existed for H-1B nonimmigrant visa petition adjudication purposes. The case was brought by an IT staffing firm that, along with other IT staffing firms and trade associations, challenged the validity of … Continue reading Neufeld “Employer-Employee Relationship” Memorandum UpheldAugust 26, 2010 |
Major filing fee increases for employers who use substantial H-1B and L-1 visasImplementing a portion of the Border Security funding bill (Public Law 111-230) signed by President Barack Obama on August 13, USCIS has announced a new fee, in addition to existing fees, for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. The new fee is $2,000 for certain H-1B and $2,250 for certain L-1 petitions. The fee applies to … Continue reading Major filing fee increases for employers who use substantial H-1B and L-1 visasAugust 22, 2010 |