Our association, AILA, has filed a lawsuit against the USCIS today requesting the court to order the USCIS to freeze all immigration deadlines for:
Initial applications
Responses to all Requests for Evidence or other responses due on or after March 1, 2020
Requests for extension of status, maintenance of status
Reprieve from any expiration of status or employment authorization;
Maintaining the status quo for purposes of eligibility for protection from removal, work authorization,
Updates Align with Board of Immigration Appeals Decision and Statute
Department to Temporarily Amend Certain H-2A Requirements During COVID-19 National Emergency
Release Date: April 15, 2020
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizes that there are immigration-related challenges as a direct result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. USCIS continues to carefully analyze these issues and to leverage the resources to effectively address these challenges within USCIS's existing authorities. DHS also continues to take action to protect the American people and communities, and is considering a number of policies and procedures to improve the employment opportunities of U.S. workers during this pandemic.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that H-1B cap-subject petitions for fiscal year (FY) 2021, including those petitions eligible for the advanced degree exemption, may now be filed with USCIS if based on a valid selected registration.
A petitioner is only eligible to file an FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject petition if they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process and USCIS selected the registration submitted for the beneficiary through the random selection process.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 2 April 2020
FAQs related to Covid Caronavirus:
Loss of job while in AOS I-485 period || Question from Employers about Payroll for H-1B and others L-1, E, etc. employees || Extension of B-1-B2 (tourist visas or business visas) ||
H-1B employee furlough's impact on green card and H-1B || Converting to B-1 B-2 status || H-1B denial || Changing H-1B home office location ||
Other FAQs: Accepting Unemployment Payments on nonimmigrant visas (H-1B, L-1, E visas, etc.) and/or on green card || Applying for green card for parents who are visiting/in the USA || H-1B lottery winner employee change of employers
April 16 Call, Discussion Topics and FAQs
Applying for tourist, visitors, B-1, B-2 to maintain status || Effect of take over on L-1 || EB-1C International Managers/Executive Green Card portability || I-140 revocation || Aged out disabled children || Losing job after AOS I-485 interview || H1b visa holders during COVID
Canadians living in USA || False claim to US Citizenship || Joint affidavit of support || Expired green card || Impact of NOIR on approved H-1B ||Maintaing H-1B during AOS
FAQs:
-B-1/B-2 visitors visa extension
-Effect of immigration proclamation/executive order on green cards
-H-1B furlough or temporary lay off
-Implications of the 240 days grace period
-I-485 pending laid off/AC21/Supplement J
Other topics of discussion:
-Public charge rule
-H-1-H4-H4 EAD extension concurrently
Executive Office for Immigration Review of the DOJ issued a fact sheet on its Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO). This office hears immigration cases related to employer sanctions, document fraud, unfair employment practices, and international marriage brokerage.
For detail information please check attachment.
We were retained by a corporate client to process several E-3 petitions for nationals of Australia. All of the visas were issued at the Australian consulates without any problem. One applicant has already entered the U.S is currently working on E-3 status. We have also submitted a petition for an E-3 amendment with USCIS, which was also approved without any issues.
This update will share information on current trends and issues to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with USCIS.
FDNS H1B Assessment Overview and History:
The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), a Division of the National Security and Records Verification (NSRV) Directorate, drafted this report, in collaboration with the other USCIS Directorates and the USCIS Office of Chief Counsel. All USCIS components reviewed the cases involving fraud or technical violations and the proposed enhancements to the H-1B program and concurred on the report.
For more information on this report please check the attachment.
This report from GAO describes: (1) how Labor carries out its H-1B program responsibilities; and (2) how Labor works with other agencies involved in the H-1B program.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978.
This report addresses the Fraud Detection and National Security program of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The program endeavors to detect and deter immigration benefit fraud. This report is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents.
This document was released by USCIS by mistake in March 2009 and contains the criteria USCIS uses to refer cases for fraud investigations.
USCIS has revised Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (Revision Date 04/06/09 N, OMB Expiration Date 04/30/11) to make it easier for applicants to complete. Applicants may now select from a list of grounds of inadmissibility on the form itself and mark all which apply to them in order to request a waiver. In addition to the list, the form includes a section where applicants can describe, in their own words, why they believe they are inadmissible.