October is Pro Bono Month, a time to reflect on contributions making a positive impact on the lives of those in need of legal assistance. At GT, we are proud
Continue Reading Celebrating Pro Bono Month: Changing Lives Through Immigration Advocacyemployment authorization
International Entrepreneur Parole Program: USCIS Issues Policy Guidance
On March 10, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued an announcement with comprehensive guidance on parole for international entrepreneurs. This program provides an opportunity for some foreign nationals who…
Continue Reading International Entrepreneur Parole Program: USCIS Issues Policy GuidanceAvailable Options for Completing Form I-9 in Remote-Work Scenarios
The American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA), through its Verification and Documentation Liaison Committee (“Verification Committee”) recently issued an FAQ compiling updated information related to employment verification (I-9) compliance requirements during…
Continue Reading Available Options for Completing Form I-9 in Remote-Work ScenariosKate Kalmykov Presents at AILA RDC Fall Conference in Paris
On Nov. 29, Kate Kalmykov, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Immigration & Compliance Practice, presented on a panel at the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) Rome District Chapter –…
Continue Reading Kate Kalmykov Presents at AILA RDC Fall Conference in ParisUSCIS Announces New Measures to Reduce Immigration Backlog
On March 29, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced three measures that seek to reduce wait times, expand premium processing to additional form types, and streamline the process for…
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Preparing for the End of the Form I-9 Flexibility Provisions and the Return of Compliance Enforcement
DHS has extended its I-9 flexibility provisions repeatedly since March 2020, and recently extended them once again until August 31, 2021. However, employers should start planning now for how they…
Continue Reading Preparing for the End of the Form I-9 Flexibility Provisions and the Return of Compliance Enforcement
USCIS Expands Online Filing to F-1 Students Seeking OPT
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization online if they are filing…
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OMB OIRA Releases Unified Agenda and USCIS Regulatory Priorities, Including H-1B, EB-5, and More
On Dec. 14, the Office of Management and Budget Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OMB) published the biennial Unified Agenda. A long-standing outgrowth of previous regulatory reform efforts, the Unified Agenda offers the public the “current thinking” of federal agencies on upcoming Agency regulatory priorities.
Of importance to the immigration community, DHS USCIS posed the following regulatory priorities-
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. USCIS’s role is to efficiently adjudicate and manage petitions, applications, and requests for immigration benefits for foreign nationals seeking lawful immigration status in the United States and for individuals seeking to become citizens of the United States, and other matters within the jurisdiction of the agency, in a manner that detects, deters, and prevents fraud, protects the jobs and working conditions of American workers as appropriate, and ensures the national security, public safety, and welfare of the American people. In the coming year, USCIS will promulgate several regulatory and deregulatory actions to directly support these commitments and goals.Continue Reading OMB OIRA Releases Unified Agenda and USCIS Regulatory Priorities, Including H-1B, EB-5, and More
USCIS Approval Notices Cause Confusion due to Inconsistent Validity Periods
USCIS has begun issuing I-797A, Notice of Action Approval Notices containing inconsistent validity periods on the face of the document. Specifically, the top portion of the I-797A approval notices lists the approved visa classification (e.g., H-1B) and the authorized validity period of that visa classification (e.g., from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 11, 2020). The bottom portion of the approval notice, containing Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Records, now lists different validity periods – generally an additional 10 days of validity in comparison to the validity dates listed on the top of the approval notice (e.g., from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 21, 2020). This change in the approval notices is causing confusion for both employers and employees.
Continue Reading USCIS Approval Notices Cause Confusion due to Inconsistent Validity Periods
DHS Extends TPS Status for Citizens of Yemen
By notice published in the Federal Register on Jan. 4, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of…
Continue Reading DHS Extends TPS Status for Citizens of Yemen