The STEM OPT program allows foreign students who have graduated from a U.S. STEM-degree program to gain paid, on-the-job “Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) that supplements and directly relates to the knowledge and skills gained in their academic studies. In order to engage in post-graduation practical training, foreign students must select an appropriate STEM employer who
On August 27, 2019, USCIS announced that, until further notice, employers should continue using the current version of the Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification, even after the form’s expiration date of August 31, 2019 has passed.
USCIS has further clarified that it will provide updated information about the new version of the Form I-9
As of 2019, employers are receiving letters from the Social Security Administration entitled “Employer Correction Requests.” These letters, also known as “mismatch” letters, are sent when the names or social security numbers listed on an employer’s W-2 forms do not match the names and social security numbers that the Administration has on file. While these
The Conflict between U.S. and Foreign Marijuana Legalization Laws and U.S. Federal Drug and Immigration Laws
The use of legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and the recreational use of marijuana is legal in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Other U.S. states are currently considering the enactment of similar legalization of marijuana laws. Numerous foreign countries, such as Canada where the Cannabis Act came into effect on October 17, 2018, also have decriminalized marijuana use.
Continue Reading Beware of the Dangers of Marijuana Legalization Laws for Non-U.S. Citizen Workers
On April 1, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new rule for the lottery process for H-lB cap-subject petitions will become final. The significant changes are as follows:
Join Shipman & Goodwin Immigration attorneys Brenda Eckert and Ashley Mendoza for this complimentary CLE webinar addressing what you need to know about recent changes in the interpretation, application and enforcement of immigration laws and regulations as they impact the employment of foreign nationals by all U.S. employers, including those in the healthcare, software and
On Friday, April 27, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that as of April 30th it will begin phasing in use of the U.S. Postal Service’s (“USPS”) Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery Service for certain benefit-conferring immigration documents. The affected documents include permanent resident cards (e.g. “green cards”), employment authorization cards (“EAD”) and
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced on April 11 that the agency had randomly selected enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for FY2019. USCIS received 190,098 H-1B petitions during the filing period which began April 2, including petitions filed
Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-lB visa holders have been eligible for U.S. employment authorization, following a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) rule change in May 2015[1]. Since that time, thousands of spouses with H-4 classifications have applied for and obtained employment authorization documents (“EAD”). With these EADs, they have entered the
On January 31, 2018, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that an extension of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Syria was warranted, given that the armed conflict and extraordinary conditions supporting Syria’s original designation for TPS are ongoing. Having reached this determination after discussion with interagency partners, Syria’s TPS designation has been extended