Reminder of the Automatic EAD Extension for Certain TPS Beneficiaries

By Sarah E. Amendola on Posted in Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), Temporary Protected Status

E-Verify released a reminder on Sept. 27, 2019, that certain employment authorization documents (EADs) issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries from Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador are automatically extended through Jan. 2, 2020. We reported the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) notice of their action to extend the TPS designation for these individuals earlier this year (See Temporary Protected Status Extended for Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti, and Nicaragua). The same DHS announcement promulgated the automatic EAD extension.

The chart below lists the expiration dates printed on the EADs that have been granted an extension:

2017 2018 2019
07/22/2017 01/05/2018 01/05/2019
11/02/2017 01/22/2018 04/02/2019
  03/09/2018 07/22/2019
  11/02/2018 09/09/2019

Employers should not reverify the I-9s for employees with these EADs until Jan. 3, 2020.

For more on employment authorization documents, click here.

President Trump Issues Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who May Burden the U.S. Healthcare System

By Kristen W. Ng on Posted in President Trump's Administration

On Oct. 4, 2019, President Trump issued a Proclamation, that will be effective on Nov. 3, 2019, suspending the entry of immigrants who will financially burden the United States healthcare system. The reasoning behind the issuance of this Proclamation is to not burden American taxpayers with immigrants who utilize the U.S. healthcare system without payment and who allegedly contribute to overcrowding of emergency rooms and hospitals. The Proclamation includes a reference to data that shows lawful immigrants being three times more likely than U.S. citizens to lack health insurance, and while the United States will still continue to welcome immigrants, the country must protect its own citizens.

Continue Reading

Trump Administration Nominates Poland for U.S. Visa Waiver Program

By Robert Y. Maples˘ and Anna H. Morzy on Posted in Department of Homeland Security, President Trump's Administration, Visa Waiver Program

Today, President Trump announced that his administration has nominated Poland as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating country. Entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism, business, or in transit for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa.

President Trump stated: “…This is an important step in continuing to increase economic, security, cultural, and people-to-people connections between our two nations. Now that Poland has been nominated, the Department of Homeland Security will take necessary action, as soon as possible, to assess Poland’s entry into the program. If Poland is designated as a Visa Waiver Program country, its nationals would be authorized for visa-free travel to the United States for business and tourism. The bilateral relationship between the United States and Poland has never been stronger, and this would serve as a remarkable accomplishment for both countries.” Continue Reading

President Signs Continuing Resolution Into Law

By Robert Y. Maples˘ on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5 Program

President Trump signed the latest Continuing Resolution into law Friday night (Sept. 27) extending government operations and vital programs, such as EB-5,  through Nov. 21 –

Bill Announcement

Healthcare

Issued on: September 27, 2019

All News

On Friday, September 27, 2019, the President signed into law:

H.R. 4378, the “Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019,” which provides FY 2020 appropriations to Federal agencies through November 21, 2019, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government. Also extends authority for a broad range Medicare, Medicaid, public health, and human services activities. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/bill-announcement-54/ 

Please consult your GT attorney with specific questions and check back as this blog is updated as events warrant.

Senate Approves CR to Fund Government, Including Vital Programs Like EB-5

By Robert Y. Maples˘ on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5 Program

Today, the U.S. Senate approved the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR; H.R. 4378 ) to fund the U.S. government through Nov. 21 by a bipartisan vote of 82-15. The last step in the process is the president’s signature which, according to media reports, remains likely.   

Please contact your GT attorney with any specific questions and check back as matters are updated.

For more on continuing resolutions, click here.

Administration Concludes Rulemaking Providing Temporary Protected Status for Syria

By Robert Y. Maples˘ on Posted in President Trump's Administration, Syria, Temporary Protected Status

As previously reported, the rulemaking extending TPS for Syria has concluded:

AGENCY: DHS-USCIS RIN: 1615-ZB72 Status: Concluded
TITLE: Extension of the Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status
STAGE: Notice ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT: No
RECEIVED DATE: 09/19/2019 LEGAL DEADLINE: None
** COMPLETED: 09/20/2019 COMPLETED ACTION: Consistent with Change

DATES: Extension of Designation of Syria for TPS: The 18-month extension of the TPS designation of Syria is effective Oct. 1, 2019, and will remain in effect through March 31, 2021. The 60-day re-registration period runs from Sept. 23, 2019, through Nov. 22, 2019. (Note: It is important for re-registrants to timely re-register during this 60-day period and not to wait until their EADs expire.) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/23/2019-20457/extension-of-the-designation-of-syria-for-temporary-protected-status

For more information on Syria or other TPS matters, please contact your GT attorney or click here. This blog will be updated as information becomes available, so please check back regularly.

Greenberg Traurig Sponsors 2019 Samsung Gives Charity Gala

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Events, General, Uncategorized

Greenberg Traurig recently sponsored the 2019 Samsung Gives Charity Gala in New York City. With hundreds of guests in attendance, including musicians, athletes, and celebrities, this program is dedicated to celebrating worthy causes, furthering community impact, and honoring organizations and the people who work so hard every single day to make the world a better place.

Greenberg Traurig Sponsors 2019 Samsung Gives Charity Gala

Greenberg Traurig’s Senator Tim Hutchinson, Martha Schoonover, Mike Mason, Kristen Ng, John Scalia, Barbara Kaplan and Laura Reiff

 

For more events-related posts, click here.

House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund Government, Including Vital Programs Such as EB-5

By Robert Y. Maples˘ on Posted in Continuing Resolution (CR), EB-5 Program

Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to fund government from end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, until Nov. 21, 2019. By a vote of 301-123, the House today passed H.R. 4378, the CR that will fund the government through Nov. 21.

To EB-5 advocates, this timing is significant in that this CR extends the program coterminous with implementation of the recent Obama-era regulations. This timing continues to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to advocate and negotiate needed legislated industry reforms and a programmatic “better way forward” from the Obama-era regulations. Continue Reading

Greenberg Traurig’s Jennifer Hermansky Named Law360 Rising Star

By Greenberg Traurig on Posted in Awards, Immigration Law

Jennifer Hermansky and Fang Xie, Ph.D., attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, have been named to Law360’s 2019 Rising Stars. Hermansky and Xie, named an Immigration Rising Star and a Life Sciences Rising Star respectively, were recognized among 175 attorneys from 1,300 submissions, spanning 39 practice areas. The list highlights attorneys “whose legal accomplishments transcend their age,” according to Law360.

To read the full press release, titled “Jennifer Hermansky & Fang Xie Named Law360 Rising Stars,” click here.

Update: U.S. to Reduce E-Visa Validity for French Nationals Effective Sept. 26, 2019

By Agnes Cha Rudinsky on Posted in E Visa, E visa reciprocity, E-Visas, French Nationals

On Aug. 23, 2019, our firm wrote about the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) announcement that the validity period of E-1 and E-2 visas for French Nationals would be reduced from 60 months to 15 months effective Aug 29, 2019. The effective date has now been postponed to Sept. 26, 2019.

The general rule is that different types of U.S. visas have different visa validity periods depending on the nationality of the visa applicant because the Immigration and Nationality Act requires the DOS to set country-specific visa policies on a reciprocal basis. The validity periods are based on each country’s treatment of similar classes of U.S. visitors to its territory. In other words, if a country imposes restrictive visa requirements on U.S. citizens, the U.S. reciprocates with more restrictive requirements on that country’s citizens. Continue Reading

LexBlog