On Wednesday Dec. 28, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new COVID-19 testing requirement for air passengers traveling from China to the United States. Specifically, the CDC will require all air passengers aged two and older traveling on flights from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, or Macau…

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…

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…

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:

  1. If an individual has a valid U.S. visa, they should plan to

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The Biden administration has revoked Presidential Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020 -Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (PP 10014).

PP 10014 was intended to stop the issuance of immigrant visas at embassies and consulates abroad…