Jan 18, 2022
On December 29, 2021, the DOS issued a proposal raising the Consular Service fees for Nonimmigrant (NIV) and Special Visas. Comments on the proposed rule are due February 28, 2022. Learn more in this blog.
Nov 12, 2021
A recent settlement between the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will result in two major changes to the way that USCIS treats L-2, H-4, and E Dependent Spouse work authorization: L-2 and E Dependent Spouse holders will be granted automatic employment authorization incident to their status. H-4 holders will be granted automatic renewals of employment authorization for applicants that already have valid H-4 status (but an expired EAD card). Learn more in this blog.
Nov 10, 2021
A recent settlement between the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will result in two major changes to the way that USCIS treats L-2 and H-4 work authorization. Learn more in this blog.
Aug 23, 2021
While the push for complete immigration reform is slow-going in Congress, with some bipartisan effort, there may be hope for the next letter in the alphabet to make its way into U.S. Immigration Law: the W-1 visa. Learn more in this blog.
Jul 09, 2021
On Tuesday July 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of State issued guidance extending the validity of National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) given to travelers through U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Learn more in this blog.
Apr 07, 2021
Presidential Proclamation 10052, suspending H-1B, H-2B, J and L admissions, expired March 31, 2021. Ongoing 2019 novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) public health travel restrictions remain in place requiring travelers from certain areas to qualify for national interest exceptions. U.S. Consulates are still operating at reduced levels and will have to work through backlogs as the pandemic ends. Learn more in this blog.
Feb 05, 2021
President Joe Biden wasted no time when, on February 2nd, just two weeks after taking office, he followed through on some of his campaign promises through three executive orders aimed at dismantling the Trump administration’s ‘America First’ immigration agenda. The three orders bring the total number of executive orders on immigration to nine in just two weeks since he’s been in office. Learn more in this blog.
Mar 20, 2020
The United States Department of State has announced that all routine visa services will be suspended on a temporary and indefinite basis, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, multiple countries have announced a hold on non-emergency services and appointments. This is the first announcement putting a hold on all routine services around the world. Learn more in this blog.
Feb 05, 2020
On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced a revised reciprocity schedule for the Netherlands. In short, the revisions include fee increases and validity period decreases for specific visa classifications (E-1/E-2, F-1/F-2, L-1, and R-1). Learn more in this blog.
Nov 01, 2019
It was announced yesterday that the reciprocity schedules for various visa classifications for French nationals have once again changed. The visa categories which will be affected by this proposed change are as follows: E, F, H, L, and R. Learn more in this blog.
Oct 29, 2019
The proposed change to the E visa validity period for French nationals will not take effect. Green and Spiegel has confirmed that the proposed change has been put on hold and French nationals can continue to obtain the E-1 and E-2 visa classification for up to 60 months at a time. Learn more in this blog.
Aug 29, 2019
The revised reciprocity schedule for E visa classifications for France announced that the validity period of E-1 and E-2 visas issued to French foreign nationals would be reduced to 15 months, down significantly from a maximum validity period of five years (or 60 months). The roll-out date has been pushed back. Learn more.
Aug 21, 2019
On August 20, 2019, the U.S. Department of State announced a revised reciprocity schedule for France for the E visa classification. Specifically, the validity period of E-1 and E-2 visas issued to French foreign nationals has been drastically reduced to a mere 15 months. Learn more in this blog.
Jun 06, 2019
On Tuesday, June 4th, the majority Democratic House of Representatives passed legislation to open up a pathway to citizenship for roughly 2.5 million immigrants. The bill, H.R.6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, was introduced in March of this year and passed 237 to 187. Learn more in this blog.
May 30, 2019
A bill with the potential to grant thousands of visas to Irish workers each year has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives. House Democrat Richard Neal brought the bill, H.R. 2418, back in early May in the wake of renewed efforts to win congressional support for the measure. Learn more in this blog.
Apr 25, 2019
Earlier this month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that beginning in May 2019, I-94 numbers will be alphanumeric. Learn more in this blog.
Apr 24, 2019
On April 22, 2019, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum instructing top officials to do everything in their power to curb the number of nonimmigrant individuals who overstay their visas. Learn more in this blog.
Nov 15, 2018
When Congress reconvenes in Washington following the Thanksgiving holiday, it may be Irish Nationals that have most cause to be grateful.
Oct 04, 2018
In a move consistent with the Trump Administration’s push to broaden USCIS’ enforcement mandate, USCIS began implementing a Policy Memo...
Sep 05, 2018
On August 31, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would be increasing the premium processing filing fee from ...
Aug 13, 2018
On August 1, 2018, the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors Act, or the KIWI Act, having already passed both the US House o...
Apr 04, 2018
In yet another effort to impose ‘extreme vetting’ of foreign nationals entering the United States, on Friday March 30, 2018, The Depart...
Mar 21, 2018
Effective March 12, 2018, the US Embassy in Paris terminated the “Golden Arrow” program. The Golden Arrow program was created as ...
Dec 06, 2017
Foreign-owned start-up companies seeking to establish their headquarters in the United States received a bit of positive news on Friday when the U....
Oct 24, 2017
On October 23, 2017, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum rescinding previous guidance that directed adjudicators to defer to prior determinations of e...
Oct 02, 2017
Failure to comply with Immigration and Nationality Act rules regarding unauthorized workers has resulted in a guilty plea to a federal criminal charge for Philadelphia-area company, Asplundh Tree Experts, Co., and monetary penalties totaling $95 million....
Sep 15, 2017
Starting Monday, September 18, USCIS will no longer accept previous versions of Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification. As of this date, all employers must begin using the latest edition (edition date (7/17/2017) for all new-hire verifications. The new Form I-9 is available on the USCIS website.
The revisions to the form were largely technical in nature. The specific modifications to Form I-9 have been documented in greater detail in a post we published on July 21.
Contact Green and Spiegel today if you have any questions or concerns relating to Form I-9 or your company’s employment verification processes.
Jul 21, 2017
This week, USCIS issued a new Form I-9 (edition date: 7/17/2017) that all employers must begin using for new-hire verifications starting on or afte...
Jul 17, 2017
In what will surely be a blow to the tech industry, which relies heavily on foreign-owned start-up companies as innovators and job creators, the U....
Jul 11, 2017
The Department of Justice recently announced that it had reached a settlement agreement with Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. (Panda Express) over the ...
May 20, 2016
May 20, 2016 – The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Visa Office has recently instructed consular officers to revoke the visas of visa-hold...