The global demand for non-immigrant U.S. visas skyrocketed during the COVID-19 health emergency, when travel was halted and U.S. embassies and consulates closed. Even after reopening, U.S. embassies and consulates are still reporting significant delays in many locations including Brazil, India, Mexico, and others. More recently, the U.S. State Department announced that new processing initiatives, including
Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers found the extensive and nuanced Form I-9 and Public Access File (PAF) compliance requirements challenging. Once the pandemic set in, keeping up with these requirements got even more complicated, with the resulting implementation of remote work and numerous other pandemic-related difficulties.
Currently, in the winddown
As of June 12, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer requires air passengers traveling to the United States from a foreign country to show a negative COVID-19 test.
To advance the safe resumption of global travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Oct. 25 President Biden issued a Proclamation emphasizing the continued enhanced measures against the spread of the virus. The Proclamation quotes data indicating that the most effective way to control the spread amongst international travelers is to get vaccinated, in addition to
On Sept. 3, 2021, USCIS announced that Petitioners who file a Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or a Form I-829 Petition by Entrepreneur to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status will receive a Form I-797 receipt notice that can be presented with their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, as evidence of continued
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that, effective Oct. 1, the COVID-19 vaccine is included in the list of vaccines required for applicants to obtain permanent residence and refugee status. By way of background, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), at section 212(a)(1)(A)(ii), sets out the requirement that, in order to
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted immigration processes considerably over the past 18 months. Now that COVID-19 vaccines are broadly available and as people start to return to the pre-COVID-19 way of life, it is important to reevaluate immigration practices to ensure they are in line with legal requirements, and review issues that
By statute, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman submits an Annual Report to Congress by June 30 of each year. The Office of the Ombudsman’s Annual Report provides a summary of the most pervasive and serious problems encountered by individuals and employers applying for immigration benefits with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
As an update to our previous blog, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 30, 2021, that will be effective May 4, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. The Proclamation will prohibit the entry of nonimmigrants and noncitizens of the U.S. into the United States, who were physically present within India during the 14-day preceding
Beginning Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the United States may well restrict travel from India due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 cases in India. If you have employees or family members who have recently traveled to India, the following actions can be taken: