On June 22, 2020, a Presidential Proclamation announced an extension of the ban on green cards (“immigrant visas”) and added other temporary work visas to the freeze. The order affects H-1B visas for professional workers; H-2B visas for seasonal employees; L-1 visas for corporate executives; and J-1 visas for scholars and exchange programs. The Proclamation will temporarily suspend the issuance of visas for H-1B, H-2B, L-2 and J-1 visa workers and their families to the United States. The Proclamation takes effect on July 24, 2020 until December 31, 2020. Please note, this proclamation does not apply to: 1. Those already with valid visas outside the U.S. 2. Those who are already in valid s

June is Caribbean Heritage month in the United States. In honor of Caribbean Heritage month, Managing Attorney, Simone Williams appeared as a moderator for an Immigration Roundtable on current and relevant immigration issues affecting U.S. immigrants. Immigration issues particularly impacting those of Caribbean heritage were highlighted. The panelists were comprised of expert immigration attorneys and special guests from various sectors. The discussion was informative and insightful. The event was hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies and Invest SMART Caribbean. For those who missed the Live session, please see this link or watch below.

On June 18,The Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”), an Obama-era program that protects undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children, a reprieve for nearly 650,000 recipients known as “dreamers.” The 5 to 4 decision was written by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and joined by the court’s four liberals. The ruling emphasizes that the administration did not follow procedures required by law and did not properly weigh how ending the program would affect those who had come to rely on its protections against deportation, and the ability to work legally. However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

President Trump had announced on April 21, 2020 that he would “temporarily suspend immigration” into the United States, suggesting that foreigners could bring the virus into the country and displace U.S. workers distressed from the pandemic-induced economic crisis. The Administration proceeded to suspend the approval of green card requests to immigrants abroad seeking U.S. residency. This week the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it would apply a “general hold” on permanent residency applications filed from immigrants within the United States as well. The USCIS said the hold on processing green card applications from current U.S. residents stems from the

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that as of June 4, 2020, certain USCIS field offices and asylum offices have resumed non-emergency, in-person services to the public. Application support centers will resume services later. USCIS said it has enacted precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its reopened facilities, including social distancing, hand sanitizers provided at entry points, and mask requirements, among others. Individuals are encouraged to bring their own black or blue ink pens. Visitors may not enter the facility more than 15 minutes before their appointments, or 30 minutes before naturalization ceremonies. Please note that USCIS locations are not

After suspending all “premium processing” for more than two months during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced, May 30, 2020,  it will again accept premium fees (currently, $1,410 per form) and requests for expedited adjudication (currently, 15 calendar days) for Forms I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) and I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker). Premium service will resume in 4 phases over the next 3 weeks, with I-140 petitions first, followed by pending I-129 petitions, and then new I-129 petitions.  See our quick-reference Premium Phase-In Schedule below. USCIS warns that changes to this schedule may be announced as the month of J

On May 15, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a COVID-19 relief bill (H.R. 6800) that includes immigration provisions. Among them is a provision to reduce wait times for immigrant physicians battling COVID-19 in the United States who apply for green cards, and to expedite visas for health care workers applying for U.S. jobs from abroad. The chances for passage of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act in the Senate appear dim, although some provisions may be considered separately. Some of the House provisions are similar to legislation introduced in the Senate, such as S. 3599, introduced May 5, 2020, which would reallocate previously authorized

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), the federal agency responsible for visa and asylum processing, is expected to furlough part of its workforce this summer if Congress doesn't provide emergency funding to sustain operations during the coronavirus pandemic. Officials at USCIS, a fee-funded agency, told employees last month that a significant drop off in application receipts due to the novel coronavirus pandemic has led to an unexpected loss in revenue, potentially leaving the agency unable to meet payroll. USCIS is asking Congress for a $1.2 billion cash injection to help offset the losses and permission for a 10% increase its fees to reimburse the appropriation. The furlough

On May 29, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the admission of Chinese nationals seeking entry to the U.S. with F-1 or J-1 visas if those visa holders have been affiliated with certain institutions tied to the Chinese military. The premise for the proclamation is that China is engaged in a “wide-ranging and heavily resourced campaign to acquire sensitive United States technologies and intellectual property, in part to bolster the modernization and capability of its military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)” that represents “a threat to our Nation’s long-term economic vitality and the safety and security of the American people.” The order, which went into effect Jun

On May 21, 2020, The Trump administration announced that it was restricting entry for travelers from Brazil, one of the countries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. In a White House proclamation, President Donald Trump said he was restricting nearly all non-U.S. citizens from coming to the U.S. if they were physically present in Brazil during the 14-day period prior to travel. The travel ban does not apply to permanent U.S. residents, their spouses, legal guardians of permanent residents under the age of 21 and other groups. As of the day of the proclamation, Brazil had more than 347,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University. Only the U.S. has more,