DHS Memo on DACA and DAPA signed by Secretary Kelly
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New DHS memo seals fate of DAPA. DACA remains, but future uncertain.
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Additional Screening for Selected Visa Applicants
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A new questionnaire for visa applicants worldwide calls for data such as social media user names and extensive travel history information.
Read MoreNew Functions Added to the I-94 Online System
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CBP announces helpful new features added to the online I-94 system, including upcoming email reminders.
Read MoreDHS Extends TPS for Haitians
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Homeland Security Secretary Kelly recently announced an extension of Haiti's TPS designation with an eye to phase out the program in six months.
Read MoreNewly Naturalized Citizens are Urged to Apply Early for Passports
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Apply early! Recently naturalized US Citizens or those with expiring passports should expect a record-breaking passport application season.
Read MoreNew Criteria for Texas J-1 Waiver Program
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Considering a J-1 waiver in Texas this year? Revised selection criteria details were recently announced.
Read MoreH-1B Cap Lottery Concluded, Unselected Cases Being Returned
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Data entry of all fiscal year 2018 H-1B cap-subject petitions has been completed. USCIS will now begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected.
Read MoreA Lottery of a Different Sort
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Millions of would-be immigrants are checking their entries to see whether they were selected for the annual Green Card Lottery. But recent bills raise fears that this could be the final year of the program.
Read MoreRedesigned Green Cards and EAD's
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Newly designed Green Cards and EAD's go into production today and will include enhanced security features. Employers should expect to see the updated design during the Form I-9 completion process.
Read MoreTrump's "Hire American" Executive Order Light on H-1B Specifics; USCIS Confirms H-1B Cap Reached
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President Trump's latest Executive Order was issued yesterday. While it did address immigration and the H-1B program superficially, no actual changes to existing immigration policy will result directly from this Executive Order.
Also, as expected, the H-1B cap was met within the first week of filing, but in a bit of a surprise, reported application volumes were down from last year.
Read MoreTrump Administration Announces Increased H-1B Compliance and Enforcement Activities
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Just after the H-1B cap filing period kicked off on April 3, a series of announcements by USCIS, DOL and DOJ this week confirmed the Trump Administration’s aim to increase H-1B visa enforcement and compliance efforts.
Read MoreFAQ: Revised Travel Ban Executive Order
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President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban is set to take effect tomorrow, March 16, 2017. This second Executive Order (EO) completely revokes and takes the place of the first order, which was widely derided and ultimately halted by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in early February. The revised travel ban raises many new questions, which Ellis Porter answers in this helpful FAQ.
Read MoreFAQ: H-1B Premium Processing Suspension
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The unexpected suspension of H-1B Premium Processing has left many unanswered questions for clients relying on speedy adjudications to plan for employment and travel in the upcoming months. Our team of experts at Ellis Porter is here for you to examine these and other questions while planning your personalized strategy.
Read MoreTrump Signs Revised Travel Ban Executive Order
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The revised travel ban drops Iraq from the list of banned countries. It also does not cover individuals from the "list of six" countries (Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) who are green card holders, dual citizens or have already been issued valid visas.
Read MoreUSCIS Temporarily Suspends H-1B Premium Processing
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Yesterday, USCIS announced that it will suspend premium processing for all H-1B applications starting April 3, 2017 and it stated the suspension could last up to six months.
Read MoreCourt of Appeals Rules Against Trump Administration; Travel Ban Remains Halted
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In a unanimous ruling, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has decided not to reinstate President Trump's Executive Order suspending the travel ban.
Read MoreTrump Administration Appeals Travel Ban Temporary Restraining Order
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The Justice Department has filed an appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to overrule the nationwide temporary restraining order that has halted implementation of the travel ban Executive Order.
Read MoreFederal Judge Halts Travel Ban Executive Order Nationwide
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A temporary restraining order issued by a federal District Court judge in Washington state immediately halts further implementation of the travel ban Executive Order nationwide.
Read MoreDHS Announces that Green Card Holders are Exempted from the Travel Ban
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Department of Homeland Secretary John Kelly announced today that he deems the admission of Green Card holders from the "list of seven" countries to qualify for the national interest exception to the travel ban.
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