On Monday, October 23, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register that, if implemented in its current form, would both codify a number of existing rules and make a number of significant changes...
On October 12, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) launched the new Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool for an individual to notify the USCIS of a change in address. The tool is intended to improve the speed and efficiency of updating...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that, effective immediately, the maximum validity period of certain categories of employment authorization documents (EADs) will increase from one or two years to five years. This procedural change should help to reduce burdens on applicants and...
Any foreign national who wishes to practice medicine in the United States must take into account certain immigration considerations. For Canadian citizens, however, there are a number of unique issues that tend to arise. Canadian Physicians Do Not Need to Obtain ECFMG A physician who graduates from...
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the November 2023 Visa Bulletin earlier today. There is very little movement in the latest visa bulletin. All cutoff dates listed refer to those in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based, First...
On September 12, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released guidance clarifying how it evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for two EB1 immigrant subcategories, for a person of extraordinary ability (EB1(b). This policy update provides guidance on types of evidence for EB1 petitions...
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is responsible for investigating and enforcing federal minimum wage, overtime pay, and record-keeping requirements, as well as various employment standards and worker protections required under U.S. immigration law. Such investigations are often...
Beginning October 1, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will exempt all I-539 applicants from paying the $85 biometrics service fee. This exemption will apply indefinitely. Background Information In 2019, the USCIS implemented a policy that required most form I-539 applicants to complete biometrics screening...
Congress must pass a spending bill to extend government operations before October 1, 2023, or else a temporary shutdown of the federal government will go into effect. This would be the first shutdown of the Biden Administration. Annual Budget Process and History of Shutdowns The money needed...
On September 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of States (DOS) issued a reminder to visa applicants that all machine-readable visa fee receipts issued prior to October 1, 2022, will expire on September 30, 2023, unless immediate action is taken. If an affected individual does not...
