After enduring several years of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court has concluded the legal saga surrounding the Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT programs. In a decisive move on October 2, 2023, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge mounted by a technology workers’ union against the Obama-era program. The OPT and STEM…
The United States State Department, in collaboration with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), recently announced essential updates regarding the 2025 Diversity Lottery Program, as well as an extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela. This significant immigration update could potentially provide thousands of Venezuelans with extended security within U.S. borders,…
In September 2023, significant changes and updates were witnessed in immigration laws both within the United States and globally. As per Cozen O’Connor’s Immigration Catch Up, these changes have the potential to have extensive implications on businesses and individuals alike. As legal professionals, it is crucial to comprehend these new developments and assess how they…
In a significant move towards the benefit of employment-authorized noncitizens, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued an update to the USCIS Policy Manual, expanding the maximum validity period to five years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). This policy change, which came into effect on September 27, 2023, applies to particular…
Health care professionals from diverse fields are invited to an informative webinar titled “Key Immigration Takeaways for Health Care Professionals: H-1B, J-1, and Conrad/National Interest Waivers“. This one-hour session is set to take place on October 19th, between 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT. It is structured specifically for health care professionals seeking tailored immigration…
Those following American immigration news will want to take note of some recent changes from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), particularly regarding the Employment Authorization Documents (EAD). Specifically, USCIS has increased the validity period of these documents for certain classes of applicants, according to a report from Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP…
October 2023 had a significant impact on U.S. immigration law and policy, according to insights highlighted on JD Supra. With critical legal updates, the landscape for legal professionals, corporate businesses, and immigrants continues to shift. The most prominent development in October was the Congressional passing of a stopgap bill on September 30, 2023. This measure…
The U.S. Department of State has announced that registration for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will open at noon ET on October 4, 2023, and conclude at noon ET on November 7, 2023. Designed to increase cultural diversity within the U.S., the DV Program is offering 55,000 visas for FY 2025….
On October 4, 2023, at noon EDT, the U.S. Department of State will commence the annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery registration period for fiscal year (FY) 2025. As reported by JD Supra, the online registration for the lottery program is freely accessible to all registrants, with the process permitting only one registration per individual. The…
It is essential to note a significant change put forth by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS has augmented the maximum validity period of initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from one to two years to five years for certain categories of applicants. This includes noncitizens who have pending applications for…
The U.S. Department of State has officially opened the online registration for the 2025 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery starting Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at 12:00 PM EDT. Notably, the DV program, often known as the “Green Card Lottery,” allows nationals from certain countries with low immigration rates to the United States to potentially secure permanent…
The 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery (DV2025) is breaking new ground this year, as registration will commence online starting Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4). This registration process will run for a little over a month, closing on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Standard Time…
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs has announced the commencement date for the registration period of the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the Diversity Visa Lottery. As the department outlines, the registration period is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT),…
In the event of a governmental shutdown, as projected if Congress does not pass appropriations legislation or a stopgap spending bill by September 30, 2023, certain U.S. immigration processes and visa programs are expected to be disrupted, but not all of them. This scenario, set to commence on October 1, 2023, would see immigration agencies…
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to influence global business, it is critical for international corporations and law firms to stay informed on the evolving immigration landscape. Information pertaining to the current status of global restrictions and closures are included in Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s most recent October 2023 Global Immigration Alert. While some country-specific COVID-19 related…
Understanding the potential immigration impacts of the impending federal government shutdown could be crucial for legal professionals working in immigration law, corporate legal departments and multinational corporations. In the wake of reports of Congress failing to reach a budget agreement by September 30, 2023, speculation has grown around the shutdown’s likely effects. According to an…
As legal professionals observing the ever-changing landscape of immigration policy, it’s increasingly important to understand how potential government shutdowns can affect pivotal U.S. governmental operations. Specifically, several immigration processes stand to be disrupted, should the U.S. government fail to reach a budget agreement to fund federal government operations. This issue can no longer be considered…
Addressing the unique hurdles of the U.S. immigration system for foreign nationals eager to secure employment within the United States can be considerably challenging. The requirement for employer sponsorship, with few exceptions, can prove to be a significant obstacle. The main route to obtain temporary work authorization is often through the H-1B category. However, the…
The potential United Auto Workers (UAW) strike and a looming government shutdown pose significant immigration implications for employers in the automotive industry. There’s a need for these organizations to understand the possible impacts these scenarios could have on staff members with immigration considerations. The UAW strike, which the members of the powerful automotive industry labor…
The potential of a government shutdown is looming large and a host of federal government programs and agencies are expected to feel the impact, notably immigration. The immigration-related programs, employers, and foreign workers could face significant implications due to such a shutdown. An insightful examination by Miles & Stockbridge P.C, sheds ample clarity on the…
The legal landscape in Luxembourg has seen recent adjustment due to the enactment of a new law on August 7, 2023. Eminent law firm Allen & Overy previously reported, in their article about hiring third-country nationals in Luxembourg, that this legislation has implications for Luxembourg employers intending to hire a third-country national (TCN) — defined…
In our conclusion to the three-part series discussing changes to U.S. immigration policies, today’s update focuses on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their recent amendments in relation to Red Notices. The ICE issued new agency-wide guidelines on September 29, 2023, aiming to streamline how immigration officers handle cases where Red Notices and…
In anticipation of a possible 2023 government shutdown, concerns are arising about the impact on U.S. immigration processing. Primarily handled by federal agencies, any prolonged cessation could significantly affect or delay immigration-related procedures. Evaluating the potential consequences, this situation may mimic past scenarios when federal operations faced similar interruptions. Notably, experiences from the 2018-2019 shutdown…
In an important move, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released updated agency-wide guidelines on September 29, 2023. The guidelines detail how ICE employees must handle cases involving Red Notices and Diffusions. Published by Estlund Law, P.A., the detailed new protocols affect all ICE officials, regardless of their department or specialty. The guidelines render…
In what marks a significant development for the world of global corporate law and international relations, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued new, agency-wide guidelines. These guidelines, specifically, pertain to how its employees will tackle scenarios involving the existence of Red Notices and Diffusions. As many legal professionals may know, Interpol issues…