Immigration Blog

Alexander J. Segal's picture

Coronavirus-Related Immigration and Travel Updates

In this post, we will discuss recent immigration- and travel-related developments regarding the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Melsida Asatrian's picture

Registration Period for FY 2021 H1B Cap Begins on March 1, 2020

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY 2021 H1B cap will open at noon EST on March 1, 2020. This initial registration period will end on March 20, 2020.

Melsida Asatrian's picture

H1B Registration Period for FY 2021 Cap Season

On January 9, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the implementation of an H1B registration process for all H1B cap-subject petitions. The registration period will run from March 1, 2020, thru March 20, 2020. In this article, we will review the Federal Register notice regarding H1B registration for H1B petitions subject to the FY 2021 H1B cap.

Alexander J. Segal's picture

Justice Sotomayor Dissents from Decision to Lift Public Charge Stay

On February 21, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States stayed a statewide injunction entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the implementation of the public charge rule in Illinois by a vote of 5-4. In opposing the stay of the Illinois injunction, Justice Sotomayor wrote critically of both the Government’s myriad emergency applications to the Supreme Court to stay district court injunctions and the Supreme Court’s willingness to grant those stay requests. In this post, we will examine Justice Sotomayor’s dissent briefly.

Eliza Grinberg's picture

USCIS Accepting CW-1 Petitions Under CNMI Disaster Recovery Act

On February 19, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is now accepting CW1 nonimmigrant visa petitions under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act. The CW1 nonimmigrant visa category is a special classification for nonimmigrants working in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Eliza Grinberg's picture

Supreme Court Stays Illinois-Specific Injunction Against Public Charge Rule

On February 21, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States granted the Federal Government’s application to stay the preliminary injunction entered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the enforcement of its public charge final rule in Illinois. With the Court’s decision to stay the injunction that applied to Illinois alone, the Government will now apply the public charge final rule nationwide.

Melsida Asatrian's picture

New Public Charge Rule Takes Effect Nationwide

On February 24, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began implementing the public charge final rule, which it had published in August 2019, nationwide.

Alexander J. Segal's picture

USCIS Will Not Pre-Paid Mailers for FY 2021 Cap Subject H1B Petitions

On February 14, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it “will not use pre-paid mailers to send out any communications or final notices for fiscal year 2021 cap-subject H1B petitions, including those requesting consideration under the advanced degree exemption.”

Eliza Grinberg's picture

USCIS Response to Coronavirus Outbreak in China

On February 5, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a news update detailing its response to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak in China.

Melsida Asatrian's picture

DHS Publishes New Forms Due to Public Charge Rule

The USCIS has published new editions of all of its forms affected by the new public charge final rule, which will take effect outside of Illinois on February 24, 2020.

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