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Seyfarth Synopsis:  The U.S. announced on April 30, 2021 that most travel from India will be restricted effective May 4, 2021, due to rising COVID-19 infections in India.

On April 30, 2021, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that following advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the U.S. will restrict

Please note, while we address some country-specific updates related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the below is a list of global restrictions and closures as they stand today. Given the constantly changing nature of this situation, we highly recommend reviewing any global mobility inquiries on a case-by-case basis, including any consulate-specific or immigration authority resources in real-time before traveling internationally. Please reach out to our Global Mobility Team in advance of any international travel.
Continue Reading Seyfarth Global Immigration Update: April 2020

By Jason E. Burritt and Michelle Gergerian

Seyfarth Synopsis: President Trump expanded the order restricting travel to the United States from most European countries — the Schengen Area, specifically —  to now include the UK and Ireland.

On Saturday, March 14, 2020, President Trump revised the proclamation to suspend travel to the US by

By: Deirdre M. Murphy

The following is directed to organizations with a presence in the UK or who anticipate the need to place talent at a UK work site.

Seyfarth Shaw’s Global Mobility Practice hosts attorneys licensed to practice in the UK, Canada, Ireland and Germany. The group has the capability to assist clients with obtaining work and residence visas for over 70 jurisdictions around the world.  If we can assist you in placing talent, please call your Seyfarth attorney. We will be happy to help you.

Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 14th, the UK Parliament voted in favor of an extension to Article 50, which is the legal mechanism to enable the UK’s exit from the EU. The non-binding vote seeks to delay the departure date by three months, from March 29th to June 30th, 2019. However, any extension must be agreed upon by the other 27 EU countries.
Continue Reading Brexit: UK Parliament Votes to Delay Departure

By: Dawn Lurie and Alexander Madrak

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Homeland Security ends Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Haiti, affecting close to 300,000 individuals.  Employers should be prepared to handle the influx of work authorization automatic extensions, expiring work authorizations, and other Form I-9 issues that may arise.

What Happened?

On Monday, January 8, 2018, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador.  El Salvador’s TPS designation was set to expire on March 9, 2018, but Secretary Nielsen delayed termination for 18 months to September 9, 2019 in order to “provide for an orderly transition.”  This decision affects an estimated 200,000 Salvadoran foreign nationals.

Similarly, Nicaragua’s TPS was set to expire on January 5, 2018, but was extended to January 5, 2019.   The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also previously announced the termination of TPS for Haiti.  Haiti’s TPS termination was delayed for 18 months from the original expiration, with TPS now terminating on July 22, 2019.  Together, these decisions affect an estimated 5,300 Nicaraguan and 59,000 Haitian foreign nationals.Continue Reading TPS Ending for El Salvador, Haiti & Nicaragua, and a Short Reprieve for Hondurans Still Waiting to Know Their Fate – Now What?

By: Angelo Paparello

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers take note. The April 18, 2017 “Presidential Executive Order on Buy American and Hire American,” has unleashed an array of legally dubious grounds from officials at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as their basis to ask for burdensome additional evidence and to deny requests for work visas and employment-based green cards on behalf of both existing and prospective employees.Continue Reading Revanchist Immigration: The Aftermath of “Buy American, Hire American”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has launched a Global Skills Strategy to facilitate the entry of skilled workers to Canada, which is effective immediately. The Strategy focuses on a two-week processing standard for certain Labour Market Impact Assessment (“LMIA”)-exempt work permit applications and two brand new work permit exemptions, as part of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy.

Two-Week Work Permit Processing Standard

Certain LMIA-exempt work permit applications made outside of Canada at a Canadian Consulate are now eligible for expedited two-week processing, including LMIA-exempt work permit applications for employees performing work at Skill Level 0 or A of the National Occupational Classification (“NOC”). Therefore, NAFTA Professionals and Intra-company Transferees in high-skilled occupations, such as IT professionals, Management Consultants and senior managers, can benefit from this new processing standard. Historically, and for those not eligible for the new two-week standard, it would typically take about ten weeks at the Consulate General of Canada in New York.

In addition, corresponding applications for any accompanying family members, including open work permits for spouses and study permits for dependents, are eligible for two-week processing. Applications made inside Canada are not eligible for this new, expedited two-week processing.

Please note there is no additional premium processing fee for applications eligible for expedited two-week processing.

Single-Entry Short-Term Work Permit Exemption for High Skilled Workers

Workers with a job offer for a position under NOC Skill Level 0 or A are now eligible for a work permit exemption of up to 15 consecutive calendar days every six (6) months, or up to 30 consecutive calendar days every 12 months. This means that workers who qualify for this exemption may work in Canada within these timeframes without first obtaining a work permit. Individuals must apply for this exemption from outside of Canada or at a port of entry. This exemption is not available for applicants submitting applications from within Canada.Continue Reading Canada Launches Global Skills Strategy to Fast-Track Short-Term Entry of High-Skilled Workers