In a news release from Sep. 13, 2016, the USCIS urged prospective H2B employers seeking to hire “returning workers” with employment start dates in FY-2017 to identify those workers and provide the H2B Returning Worker Certification. There is uncertainty as to whether Congress will reauthorize the returning worker provisions, set to expire on September 30, 2016.

Ksena Karelina Freed From Russian Prison
Ksena Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russia citizen, was freed from Russian prison in a prisoner exchange after she had received a lengthy sentence for making a $52 donation to a charity conducting humanitarian work in Ukraine.