By: Marcus Hobson and Mahsa Aliaskari
October 1 marks the start of the government’s fiscal year, signaling the release of at least 140,000 new employment-based immigrant visa numbers to be allocated across categories and nationalities in the new fiscal year. With the exception of one particular subsection, the October 2024
Continue Reading October 2024 Visa Bulletin: Key Highlights and Implications
The recent settlement agreement between the Department of Justice and SP Plus Corporation, a Chicago based transportation and parking management company, serves as a critical reminder for employers of their responsibilities under U.S. immigration and anti-discrimination laws. The settlement highlights the potential pitfalls employers may encounter when handling employment verification
Continue Reading Minor Missteps, Major Consequences: Avoiding Big Trouble from Seemingly Small I-9 Errors
Navigating the complex intersection of employment practices, technology, and the evolving legal landscape has become increasingly vital for those specializing in immigration compliance and related discrimination law. This intersection is shaped by key players such as the Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) Section and the Equal Employment
Continue Reading Aligning Enforcement: EEOC’s High-Tech Report and IER’s Growing Interest on AI Compliance
On August 2, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a rule allowing the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the United States. In doing so, the Court rejected a longstanding challenge which originated in 2015 from Save Jobs USA (“Save Jobs”)
Continue Reading Victory for H-1B Visa Spouses: U.S. Court Upholds Work Authorization
A recent update and clarification from the Department of State (DOS) on waiver eligibility expands opportunities for visa applicants facing difficulties in obtaining visa stamps for entry to the U.S. This clarification, specifically on the “significant public interest” category in the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), provides valuable guidance for individuals
Continue Reading Navigating Visa Challenges: DOS Updates on Inadmissibility Waivers
After the Parole in Place Program (“Keeping Families Together”) went into effect on August 19, 2024, sixteen State Attorneys General filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) et. al. The complaint alleges that the program is unlawful and will cause irreparable harm to the states that
Continue Reading Judge Temporarily Pauses Parole in Place Program for Undocumented Spouses and Stepchildren
In an effort to introduce a fully digital immigration system, the UK Government has announced that Biometric Residence Permits (BRP), Biometric Residence Cards (BRC) and any other legacy paper documents with ink stamp or visa vignette will be phased out, and that as of January 1, 2025, they will no
Continue Reading “Goodbye BRP, Hello eVisa”: The UK’s Leap into a Digital Immigration Era
Additional contributing author: Isabella Cohen
Seyfarth Synopsis: On Aug. 19, 2024, DHS posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice implementing the “Keeping Families Together” process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. “Keeping Families Together” enables noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to apply for lawful
Continue Reading New DHS Parole Policy for Long-Term Undocumented Spouses, Stepchildren
Where are we next month?
The United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) has announced that for the September 2024 Visa Bulletin, applicants must use the Final Action Dates chart for employment-based preference categories, and the Dates for Filing chart for family-sponsored preference categories when filing adjustment of status
Continue Reading Visa Bulletin Updates
In a significant development for H-1B visa hopefuls, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has completed a second lottery for the Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B cap. The H-1B program enables U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for roles that typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in the
Continue Reading Second USCIS FY 2025 Cap Lottery: A New Opportunity for H-1B Applicants