The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched USCIS E-COA (Enterprise Change of Address), a new self-service tool to simplify the process for foreign nationals to update their addresses. The update is particularly notable for all foreign nationals, including those bearing green cards, as they are obliged to report any changes in address to…
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK along with the US and EU significantly expanded its sanctions against Russia. This major move included imposing wide restrictions on various sectors, including trade, aviation, shipping, immigration, and finance, reportsFaegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. These measures were far-reaching in that they include…
Legal professionals worldwide should take note of recent guidance from US authorities concerning the use of immigration status in credit decisions. On October 12, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a joint statement emphasizing the risk associated with considering an applicant’s immigration status when making credit decisions. The…
Recent months have seen the Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcing further backlogs in the permanent residence quota system, also known as the Green Card quota. This alarming development compelled many employers, as well as their foreign national employees, to re-evaluate their strategies when it comes to applying for…
October 8, 2023, marked a shift in California’s legal framework around consumer privacy. On this day, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 947 (AB 947), a modification to the existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). This bill expansively added citizenship and immigration status to the CCPA’s definition of “sensitive personal information.” This indicates…
In the latest developments from the legal and financial sector, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have released a joint declaration, focusing on the civil rights implications of a lender’s consideration of an individual’s immigration status under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). This joint statement could have significant…
The U.S. Department of State has released the November 2023 Visa Bulletin, indicating little movement from the October figures. In a report by JD Supra, the notable absence of significant shifts in visa categories continues a trend observable in previous months. This constant stagnation speaks to the multifaceted and intricate nature of immigration processes and…
On Monday, the US government reported it will settle a 2018 class-action lawsuit after the controversial family separation practice during the Trump era at the US-Mexico border. A joint petition has been filed to court, asking for approval of the settlement. The proposed settlement would establish a systematic procedure to reunify the families separated due…
On September 30, 2023, President Joe Biden enacted stopgap funding legislation that derailed a potentially disastrous government shutdown. Garnering bipartisan backing within the U.S. Congress, this legislation secures continued funding for federal government operations for a span of forty-five days, thus ensuring the government’s functioning until November 17, 2023. Much speculation surrounds the potential repercussions…
Last week marked a significant shift in the examination of creditors’ utilization of immigration status to determine the eligibility for credit transactions, with some long-awaited guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). According to a joint statement by the agencies, this issue has been amidst private litigation…
In the realm of immigration, autumn often brings a renewed sense of optimism, marking the beginning of a fresh US government fiscal year on October 1 and a new cycle of green card allocations. However, recent developments in application backlogs, particularly for applicants from mainland China and India, may have somewhat dampened this annual wave…
California has made notable modifications to two key privacy laws, AB 947 and AB 1194. Governor Gavin Newsom signed both bills into law on October 8 according to a recent update released by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. The first bill, AB 947, amends the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA). This amendment redefines…
In a recent move to strengthen privacy laws in the United States, the state of California continues to expand privacy protections under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, now amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (the “CCPA”). Regarded as one of the most comprehensive privacy laws in the country, the CCPA,…
In a stark reversal, the Biden administration announced changes to its border wall strategy last week. According to the latest updates, it’s evident that they are planning to work on the border wall construction project that was initially brought to life during Trump’s tenure. The current administration has admitted that it was unable to redirect…
In recent developments, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new set of guidance and clarifications concerning several facets of the EB-5 program. This comes in response to the enactment of the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) on March 15, 2022. To better understand the possible implications of the…
One among a handful of Republicans stands ready to replace Jim Jordan as chairman of the high-profile House Judiciary Committee if Jordan secures enough backing to become the House speaker. The decision will rest with the party to determine if they select someone as defiant as Jordan, who utilised his position to confront Democrats, and…
As of October 12, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the United States Department of Justice have released a joint statement to remind institutions in the financial sector about the anti-discrimination rights of all credit applicants. According to the statement, these protections are ensured by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and cover characteristics including…
A former immigration coordinator employed by Fragomen LLP has received a professional ban after sharing confidential client details on social media platforms, namely Twitter, along with the contribution of inappropriate comments. As reported on Law360, the punishment was announced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority last Thursday. The individual in question previously occupied a role at…
In a recent ruling, the UK High Court supported the Home Office’s decision to return asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge. The Home Office had initially evacuated this barge in August due to a legionella bacteria contamination in its water supply the UK Home Office announced. Local councillor and Portland mayor Carralyn Parkes sought…
In an unprecedented move intended to address persistent delays in the processing of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced an extension of the maximum validity period for specific EAD categories to five years. The development is a welcome change for global employers as well as foreign nationals who…
The issues related to immigration in the corporate and legal world are complex, with every new policy and change in administration bringing its own challenges and opportunities. The period of October-November 2023 was no different, and there were significant developments that are worthy of attention and examination. The focus of these insights is going to…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently announced some significant changes regarding the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from Cameroon. The TPS has not only been extended but also redesignated, with these changes remaining effective from December 8, 2023, until June 7, 2025. As explicated by Jackson Lewis P.C., the extension directly affects…
Each month, federal immigration authorities share critical information that aids immigrant visa applicants in understanding when they should be prepared to compile and submit essential documentation to government officials. One such invaluable resource is the Visa Bulletin, issued by the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs. The November edition of the Visa…
On October 8, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 947 into law. Set to take effect as of January 1, 2024, this new law significantly broadens the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)’s definition of “sensitive personal information.” Specifically, the revised language of the act will now include personal information revealing an individual’s…
The UK government’s appeal case concerning its Rwanda asylum policy commenced on Monday in the UK Supreme Court in a fresh and critical step in the country’s ongoing immigration initiatives. The case saw prolonged legal analysis, as the Home Office attempted to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision in June that deemed the plan unlawful….