Immigration - General

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may no longer be simultaneously adjudicating dependent status and work permit applications after January 18, 2025.

Americans traveling to the UK as tourists or business visitors are generally visa-exempt. Starting on Jan. 8, 2025, visa-exempt Americans traveling to the

United States technology employers increasingly look to add skilled AI talent to their ranks, including J-1 research scholars and F-1 STEM students. For organizations who do, it’s crucial to consider recent United States Citizenship and Immigration Services policy changes and upcoming regulations wh

E-Verify+ is a new voluntary employee verification process that allows employees to complete their Forms I-9 through E-Verify. The process has benefits and detriments, so employers invited to participate in the program should discuss E-Verify+ with their immigration counsel to determine whether it i

Immigration attorney David Garrett shares how his practice centers on both helping international companies grow in the United States as well as helping American companies access top talent in the foreign labor market.

U.S. law has long provided a border search exception to the Fourth Amendment warrant or probable cause requirement, allowing federal agents to search people, and their electronic devices, at border crossings without a warrant or probable cause. The scope of the exception may be narrowing under incre

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published updated guidance clarifying its expedite request criteria. The latest changes primarily focus on expedite requests related to government interests and travel-related requests for planned or unplanned events. The revisions also prov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part F, Chapter 2 , to further clarify the types of evidence that may be used when USCIS determines eligibility for the EB-1A extraordinary ability immigrant visa category.

Noncitizens present in the United States illegally and facing deportation can request voluntary departure instead of a removal order under certain circumstances. If granted, an individual who follows the court’s directive will not be subject to the usual repercussions of deportation. Indeed, they mi

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will publish a new edition of Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, on October 11, 2024, and will not accept the previous version of the form postmarked on or after that date.

In good news, the State Department has announced the roll-out of its new online passport renewal system. Eligible individuals can renew their 10-year passports online without having to mail in any documentation. Be sure to plan ahead if you are using the online service because only routine service i

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an enforcement agency that does much more than deal with immigration. This summer, CBP made the largest fentanyl seizure in its history – approximately 4 million blue fentanyl pills weighing more than 1,000 pounds. The fentanyl was found at the Port of Lukevill

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will automatically extend the validity of permanent resident cards (green cards) for lawful permanent residents who have filed Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card , for thirty-six months beyond the green ca

USCIS is processing naturalization cases faster than they have in years, and the agency is managing to cut down on its naturalization backlog. Given the current average timing, eligible green card holders who applied early in the summer 2024 might be sworn in in time to vote in the upcoming

On August 26, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued an administrative stay enjoining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from granting parole-in-place requests under the Biden administration’s “ Keeping Families Together ” initiative for fourteen days. The

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced that the legacy iCERT system for the preparation and submission of labor certification applications will be fully decommissioned on December 1, 2024, as part of the DOL’s permanent labor certification (PERM)

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in SEC v. Jarkesy held that certain Securities and Exchange Commission adjudications must take place in court because defendants are entitled to a jury trial. It will be interesting to see whether the principles of Jarkesy will apply such that complaints initiated

On August 5, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had completed the much-anticipated second round of the annual H-1B registration lottery. USCIS also confirmed that the agency had notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations from this round th

On June 18, 2024, the White House unveiled two new initiatives to provide a faster path to work authorization for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients—also called Dreamers—and other undocumented individuals, and to provide a pathway for legal permanent residency for undocumented

Starting on Aug. 1, 2024, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is simplifying its regulations regarding the entry of dogs into the United States. CBP still wants to be sure that rabies does not “enter” the United States because the entrance of just one dog with the disease can cost