As the COVID-19 crisis evolves, several businesses and employees have been impacted. Several questions arise in this context regarding status, unemployment benefits and the all-important question as to whether seeking and receiving unemployment benefits would be considered a public benefit under the public charge rule. To address the possibility that some aliens impacted by [...]
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) is making this public service announcement to alert employers and other interested stakeholders that, beginning March 25, 2020, and through June 30, 2020, the Atlanta National Processing Center (NPC) will issue PERM labor certification documents electronically to employers and their [...]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Read the USCIS announcement
USCIS today announced that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 National Emergency announced by President Trump on March 13, 2020, they will accept all benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures, including the Form I-129, Petition for Non immigrant Worker, for submissions dated March 21, 2020, and beyond. USCIS already accepts various petitions, applications and [...]
The USCIS Registration for CAP subject H-1Bs ends at noon ET today. Registration Selection Notifications As stated on the USCIS website, the Service intends to notify registrants and their representatives with selected registrations via their USCIS online accounts no later than March 31, 2020. April 1st will be the earliest a selected petition may be [...]
DHS Announces Flexibility in Requirements Related to Form I-9 Compliance Due to precautions being implemented by employers and employees related to physical proximity associated with COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it will exercise discretion to defer the physical presence requirements associated with Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) under Section [...]
DOS announced that in response to COVID-19, it is suspending routine visa services in most countries worldwide. Embassies and consulates in these countries will cancel all routine visa appointments as of March 18, 2020. Check the website of the embassy or consulate for its current operating status.
USCIS H-1B Registration Closes at Noon (ET), March 20. Other Key Dates: March 1: H-1B registration period opens at noon ET. March 20: H-1B registration period closes at noon ET. March 31: Date by which USCIS intends to notify selected registrants. April 1: The earliest date that FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions may be filed.
USCIS announced the temporary suspension of premium processing service for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions. Petitioners filing FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions will not be able to request premium processing when USCIS begins accepting cap-subject petitions on April 1. Until premium processing resumes for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS will reject any Form I-907 [...]
Effective March 18, USCIS is suspending in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19). This suspension of services will be effective until at least April 1. In the meantime, USCIS will provide limited emergency services. Please call the Contact Center for [...]