ICE Extends Form I-9 Compliance Timeframe to Provide Employers with Additional Flexibility. ICE has announced that employers will be granted a 30-day window to comply with Form I-9 requirements after the expiration of COVID-19 flexibilities on July 31, 2023. It is strongly recommended that employers ensure all necessary physical inspections of identity and employment eligibility documents are conducted by August…
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has implemented a final rule that increases several application processing fees and the fee for a Border Crossing Card for Mexican citizens aged 15 and above. The rule will come into effect on May 30, 2023, as documented in the Federal Register (88 FR 18243, March 28, 2023). The following fee changes have been…
According to a report by Bloomberg, immigration officials have made significant strides in reducing the processing time for work permits of asylum seekers, following an unsuccessful attempt to hold the government accountable for worsening delays. Last year, the percentage of work permit applications processed by USCIS within the court-mandated 30-day timeframe dropped to less than 5% due to a surge…
Economists suggest that increasing immigration can help reduce inflation by expanding legal channels for temporary workers and admitting more family and employment-based immigrants. Polls show that Americans prioritize the issue of inflation over immigration. Research indicates that higher legal admissions can deter illegal entry. Recent economic news highlights the strong demand for labor. The decline in immigration due to Trump…
In April 2022, CBP launched “Simplified Arrival” across 238 airports and 34 seaports to simplify and digitize the legal entry process. As part of this program, CBP introduced a pilot program called “Stampless Entry” in August 2022 to eliminate ink stamps in passports upon entry. Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
USCIS provides specific guidelines for applicants when submitting Form I-129 petitions, including H-1B petitions. As USCIS is moving towards electronic processing of immigration benefit requests and using multiple systems to process applications, each filing fee must be paid separately for any form submitted. If applicants submit a single payment for multiple forms, USCIS may reject the entire package. Remzi Guvenc…
