ATTENTION: New Form I-9 Released On January 31, 2020 by USCIS

This new version contains minor changes to the form and its instructions. Employers should begin using this updated form as of Jan. 31, 2020 | DHS.gov On January 31, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the newly updated Form I-9.  All U.S. employers must properly complete the Form I-9 for each individual they …

Listen to our Podcast on Strategies for Responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) from USCIS

Join Beverly Hills immigration attorneys, Jennifer Grady, Esq. and Anthony Mance, Esq. as they share tips and insight into how to prepare a winning RFE response that will stand out and position your application for an approval. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new data confirming that employment-based immigration applications have seen a sharp increase …

USCIS Continues to make Marijuana Activity a “Conditional Bar” to Obtaining U.S. Citizenship Despite Local Decriminalization

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels Thirty-three US states, The District of Columbia, and at least 26 countries around the world have legalized the production and use of cannabis for medical, and, in some jurisdictions, for recreational use.  This wave of legalization has led to a growing and dynamic industry that employs thousands of individuals …

Canadian Citizens Will No Longer Be Permitted To Extend or Renew L-1 Status at the US Border

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently implemented a major policy change to the adjudication process of L-1 Intracompany Transferee petitions filed by Canadian citizens.  Beginning in March of 2019, CBP officers at all ports of entry and pre-clearance facilities ceased adjudicating L-1 petitions for extension or renewal, …

Is Your Company Prepared for an I-9 Audit? What to Expect During and After a Visit from ICE or DHS

While immigration enforcement and oversight have occurred under the purview of all past presidents, the Trump Administration has publicly made them a leading policy priority.  Immigration raids and detentions at the border are the most visible aspects of this policy, but administrative oversight of employment documentation has also increased and will likely have the greatest …

USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fee by 15% on October 1, 2018

On August 31, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will adjust the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, beginning on October 1, 2018, to "more effectively adjudicate petitions and maintain effective service to petitioners. " These forms are …

USCIS Temporarily Suspends Premium Processing for Fiscal Year 2019 H-1B Cap Petitions

As of April 2, 2018, USCIS began accepting H-1B petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 cap.  This cap was reached in just four days, by April 6, 2018. USCIS has temporarily suspended premium processing for all FY 2019 cap-subject petitions, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or …

Clarification of STEM OPT Extension Reporting Responsibilities and Training Obligations

Certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT).  On August 17, 2018, USCIS updated the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) page of its website to clarify the reporting responsibilities for participation in the STEM …

Conduct Your Own I-9 Audit Before ICE Does: 6 Tips for Avoiding Costly Mistakes

  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a two-phase nationwide operation in which I-9 audit notices were served to more than 5,200 businesses around the country since January 2018. A notice of inspection (NOI) informs business owners that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether they …

Immigration As Usual? Moving Forward in Times of Uncertainty

by Anthony Mance, Esq. and Jennifer Grady, Esq. Recent announcements by the Trump Administration declaring enhanced vetting of current immigration cases; talks in Congress about major proposed changes to the immigration laws; and constant media discourse regarding the future of DACA, the Travel Ban, employment-based visas, and increased waiting times, may have the effect of …

USCIS Will Now Require Interviews for Adjustment of Status to Permanent Residency Applications (I-485)

According to the USCIS website: WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain immigration benefit applicants whose benefit, if granted, would allow them to permanently reside in the United States. This change complies with Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” …

Visa Options for Fashion Models (O-1B, H-1B3, and P-3 Visas)

Do you dream of walking down the runway at New York Fashion Week?  Are you interested in becoming a brand ambassador for a prestigious luxury brand?  Whether you’ve mastered the catwalk or discovered your niche in commercial modelling, several visa options are available depending on your level of achievement and reason for coming to the …

O-1B Visa for Artists or Actors with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement in the Arts or Motion Pictures

Calling all talented artists and actors!  Are you an actor trying to make a breakthrough in Hollywood?  Or perhaps you are a renowned violinist, famous choreographer, or an award-winning pastry chef?  If you excel in your field of arts or the motion picture industry, you may be eligible for the O-1B visa.  The O-1B visa …

Q-1 Visa is an Opportunity to Share Your Culture through an Employer’s International Exchange Program

Are you interested in sharing your home country’s cultures and traditions while working in the U.S.?  Are you an employer interested in obtaining approval for an exchange program in your company so that you can hire international employees on a Q-1 visa? If so, the Q-1 visa may be available to meet your company’s specific …

Professional Athletes, Gamers, and Entertainers who are Internationally Recognized are Eligible for the P-1 Visa

The P-1 visa is a viable alternative for athletes and entertainers who may not meet the “extraordinary ability or achievement” requirement of the O-1 visas.  If you are an internationally recognized athlete coming to the U.S. to perform individually or as part of a team, you may be eligible for the P-1A visa. Professional athletes …