Business Immigration Articles

Business Immigration Articles

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election 1280 853 Josie Gonzalez

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election

Presented by: Josie Gonzalez Two Wednesdays: May 15 and 22 • 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara Immigration is one of the top three issues impacting the outcome of the elections. Unquestionably, it is a contentious, divisive, emotionally charged, multi-faceted and seemingly insoluble issue. This two-part seminar…

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USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024 1000 559 Kathleen Grzegorek

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024

The USCIS has announced an increase of the Premium Processing fee that applies to requests for expedited adjudications of eligible applications and petitions. The premium processing service is only available for applications/petitions and categories identified as eligible on the USCIS website. Any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, received on or after February 26,…

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Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek

Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023

Background DHS recently announced that the temporary flexibilities for virtual Form I-9 document review (temporary virtual option) will end on July 31, 2023, and employers must complete the required physical inspection for all Forms I-9 created under the temporary policy no later than August 30, 2023. Failure to timely complete inspection is a substantive I-9…

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Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek

Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing

The Department of State is currently working on a pilot program to test the viability of renewing certain petition based NIV categories without having to leave the United States. The pilot program will initially include H-1B and L visas and is anticipated to roll out in Fall 2023, however the exact timeline and scope have…

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California’s Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act and impact on Permanent Labor Certification Programs (PERM) 1920 1220 Kathleen Grzegorek

California’s Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act and impact on Permanent Labor Certification Programs (PERM)

On September 27, 2022, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1162, a broad pay transparency bill requiring employers to include pay ranges in all job advertisements effective January 1, 2023. It also requires employers to report mean and median pay data to “better identify gender and race-based pay disparities.” In addition to California, other states…

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Major lawsuit settlement changes EAD policies for H-4 and L-2 spouses 1920 1440 Michele Franchett

Major lawsuit settlement changes EAD policies for H-4 and L-2 spouses

Plaintiffs in Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, No. 21-cv-1295-RSM reached a settlement today with the Department of Homeland Security that represents a major victory for H-4 and L-2 spouses in need of employment authorization. The settlement provides: L-2 spouses (not H-4 spouses) will have employment authorization incident to status[1], and Both L-2 and H-4 spouses…

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U.S. Borders Reopening to Fully Vaccinated Travelers on November 8, 2021 1920 1231 Susan Pilcher

U.S. Borders Reopening to Fully Vaccinated Travelers on November 8, 2021

The White House has announced that widespread country-specific travel bans will be rescinded effective November 8, 2021 for fully vaccinated travelers.   Formal guidance has not yet been issued, but it is expected to apply equally to air travel and land borders.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), COVID-19 vaccines accepted…

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