On August 2, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a rule allowing the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the United States. In doing so, the Court rejected a longstanding challenge which originated in 2015 from Save Jobs USA (“Save Jobs”)
Continue Reading Victory for H-1B Visa Spouses: U.S. Court Upholds Work AuthorizationReady or Not: Form I-9 Flexibilities are Winding Down
By: Dawn Lurie, Matthew Parker* and Amber Stokes*
On May 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the official sunset date for COVID-19 related Form I-9 physical inspection flexibilities: July 31, 2023. Additionally, ICE advised that employers would have 30 days, or until August 30, 2023, to complete an in-person verification of all employees that were virtually verified since March 2020. Yesterday’s announcement put an end to the speculation of whether the remote policy would run past July, and whether employers would only have three days after the termination of the flexibilities in which to update I-9s. No and No.Continue Reading Ready or Not: Form I-9 Flexibilities are Winding Down
May 2023 U.S. Immigration Alert
By: Mary Honeychurch, Steven Brouillard, Weijia (Victoria) Ma, and Jake Campbell
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration:
1. USCIS Releases FY2024 H-1B Initial Registration Period Updates
On April 28, USCIS announced that it received 780,884 registrations for the FY2024 H-1B initial…
Continue Reading May 2023 U.S. Immigration AlertMay 2023 Global Immigration Alert
By: Rania Abboud, Nelli Shevchenko, and Gabriele Vennewald
Please note: while we address some country-specific updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Alert contains information regarding global restrictions and closures as they stand today. Given the constantly changing nature of this situation, we highly recommend reviewing any global…
Continue Reading May 2023 Global Immigration AlertApril 2023 U.S. Immigration Alert
By: Jake Campbell and Weijia (Victoria) Ma
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration:
1. FY2024 H-1B Cap Registration
On March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that initial registration was complete and that all prospective petitioners with selected registrations selected in…
Continue Reading April 2023 U.S. Immigration AlertUK Right to Work Checks Guidance Changes: Clarifications and Legal Updates
By: Nelli Shevchenko
The U.K. Home Office has updated the Employer’s Guidance on Right to Work Checks on 28 February 2023. The guidance contains important information about obligations and compliance processes for UK right to work applications made by UK-based employers. Changes include clarifications on eVisa and BRPs checks, use…
Continue Reading UK Right to Work Checks Guidance Changes: Clarifications and Legal UpdatesMarch 2023 U.S. Immigration Alert
By: Jake Campbell and Victoria Ma
Seyfarth Synopsis: The below summarizes recent legal updates that impact U.S. immigration:
1. H-1B Cap Registration is Live
H-1B cap registration opened on March 1, 2023 at noon EST and closes on March 17, 2023 at noon EST. Employers should be prepared to submit…
Continue Reading March 2023 U.S. Immigration AlertMarch 2023 Global Immigration Alert
By: Gabriele Vennewald and Rania Abboud
Please note: while we address some country-specific updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Alert contains information regarding 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…
Continue Reading March 2023 Global Immigration AlertGetting Ready for the FY 2024 H-1B Cap Registration
By: Mia Batista, Steven R. Brouillard, and Victoria Ma
Seyfarth Synopsis: H-1B Registration is approaching! Employers should identify any current employees and employment candidates who may require H-1B visa sponsorship.
This Legal Update is intended to assist employers with understanding the general process of the H-1B electronic registration…
Continue Reading Getting Ready for the FY 2024 H-1B Cap RegistrationUSCIS Agrees to Bundle Adjudication for H-4/H-4 EADs and L-2 Dependent Applications When Filed Concurrently with Form I-129
By: Steven Brouillard and Jake Campbell
Seyfarth Synopsis: Starting January 25, 2023, USCIS will adjudicate I-539 and I-765 applications for H-4 and L-2 dependents when those applications are filed concurrently with the I-129 petition. The bundling of those applications applies to both regular and premium processed H-1B or L-1 petitions.…
Continue Reading USCIS Agrees to Bundle Adjudication for H-4/H-4 EADs and L-2 Dependent Applications When Filed Concurrently with Form I-129