The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released their final rule on Jan. 31, 2024, adjusting the price for certain immigration and naturalization fees. Every two years, the USCIS conducts a fee review. In the most recent biennial review, they determined that the “fees do not recover the full cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services.” In tandem with USCIS, DHS READ MORE READ MORE

Under a newly proposed rule issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), employers will have more options when conducting the I-9 verification process for newly hired employees. The proposal promises to extend alternative options, including making some COVID-19-related flexibilities permanent. The proposed changes could have significant repercussions for employers and I-9 compliance practices. The I-9 Verification Process Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is a standardized form used READ MORE READ MORE

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently announced several updates to Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”), which clarify immigration issues for nationals of qualifying countries. These announcements highlight the fluid nature of immigration status for countries in crisis and the power of the Department of Homeland Security to respond to urgent humanitarian needs. What is TPS? TPS is a temporary immigration status created by Congress under the Immigration READ MORE READ MORE

Every year, approximately 5,000 people enter the United States from abroad to be religious workers. However, extensive immigration backlogs are forcing religious workers out of work, and in some cases, even forcing them to leave the country. The R-1 Visa Process One mechanism through which religious workers gain legal status in the United States is the R-1 visa. The R-1 visa permits nonimmigrants to enter the United READ MORE READ MORE

The L-1B nonimmigrant visa program is regularly utilized by companies to transfer employees with specialized knowledge from foreign countries to the United States. According to a recent analysis, the program continues to experience significant denial rates, raising questions about the underlying causes of the phenomenon.  L1-B Visa Program The L1-B Visa Program allows employers to transfer certain nonimmigrant employees from foreign offices to offices within the United READ MORE READ MORE