Workforce Bulletin

USCIS Will Increase Filing Fees as of October 2, 2020

On July 31, 2020, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) announced it will increase filing fees effective October 2, 2020. The fee increases will impact U.S. employers that hire foreign national workers by adding to the cost of sponsoring employment. The increases most applicable to U.S. employers are:

• H-1B sponsorship: Fee raised an additional $95.
• L-1 sponsorship: Fee raised an additional $345.
• O-1 sponsorship: Fee raised an additional $245.
• TN, H-1B1, and E-3 sponsorship: Fee raised an additional $235.

Trump Administration Amends Presidential Proclamation That Temporarily Suspends New H-1B, H2B, J-1, and L-1 Visa and Travel from Abroad

On June 29, 2020, the Trump administration issued an amendment to Section 3(a)(ii) of Proclamation 10052 (“Proclamation”) to suspend and limit foreign nationals attempting to enter the United States in H-1B/H-2B/H-4, L-1/L-2, or J-1/J-2 employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories.

The original language in the Proclamation read as follows:

Sec. 3. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry. (a) The suspension and limitation on ...

Our colleagues in Epstein Becker Green’s Immigration Law Group recently published a special client alert: "USCIS Announces That the Congressionally Mandated H-1B Cap for Fiscal Year 2017 Has Been Reached."

Following is an excerpt:

On April 7, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it had reached the Congressionally mandated H-1B cap for fiscal year 2017 (“FY17”). This announcement applies to both the general cap of 65,000 and the additional cap of 20,000 for those with advanced degrees from U.S. universities.

Read the full alert ...

Our colleagues in Epstein Becker Green’s Immigration Law Group recently published a special client alert: “USCIS Announces That Current Form I-9 Remains in Effect Until Further Notice.”

Following is an excerpt:

On March 31, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that employers should continue using the current version of Form I-9 until further notice. USCIS guidance was required because the current Form I-9 bears an expiration date of March 31, 2016. The USCIS has proposed a new Form I-9 to replace the current version, but the agency has ...

Our colleagues in Epstein Becker Green’s Immigration Law Group recently published a special client alert: "DHS Releases New F-1 STEM OPT Regulations."

Following is an excerpt:

On March 11, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued its long-awaited final rule (the “2016 Rule”) allowing F-1 graduates to extend their Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) period if they have a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (“STEM”) from an accredited U.S. university and their prospective employer is registered in and using the ...

Robert S. Groban, Jr. and the Immigration Law Group of Epstein Becker Green recently issued an alert that will be of interest to employers. Following are the main topic headings:

• H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2015, for Fiscal Year 2016
• President Obama Issues Executive Order on Immigration
• States Sue to Enjoin the Executive Order
• Federal Court in the District of Columbia Allows Worker Challenge to OPT Program
• DOS Issues New J-1 Rules for 2015
• DOS Issues January 2015 Visa Bulletin 

Read the full alert here

Robert S. Groban, Jr. and the Immigration Law Group of Epstein Becker Green recently issued an alert that will be of interest to employers. Following are the main topic headings:

• H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2015, for Fiscal Year 2016
• President Obama Issues Executive Order on Immigration
• States Sue to Enjoin the Executive Order
• Federal Court in the District of Columbia Allows Worker Challenge to OPT Program
• DOS Issues New J-1 Rules for 2015
• DOS Issues January 2015 Visa Bulletin 

Read the full alert here

Robert S. Groban, Jr. and the Immigration Law Group of Epstein Becker Green recently issued an alert that will be of interest to employers. Following are the main topic headings:

• H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2015, for Fiscal Year 2016
• President Obama Issues Executive Order on Immigration
• States Sue to Enjoin the Executive Order
• Federal Court in the District of Columbia Allows Worker Challenge to OPT Program
• DOS Issues New J-1 Rules for 2015
• DOS Issues January 2015 Visa Bulletin 

Read the full alert here

Robert S. Groban, Jr. and the Immigration Law Group of Epstein Becker Green recently issued an alert that will be of interest to employers. Following are the main topic headings:

• H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2015, for Fiscal Year 2016
• President Obama Issues Executive Order on Immigration
• States Sue to Enjoin the Executive Order
• Federal Court in the District of Columbia Allows Worker Challenge to OPT Program
• DOS Issues New J-1 Rules for 2015
• DOS Issues January 2015 Visa Bulletin 

Read the full alert here

For the benefit of our readers, we have excerpted two issues from our April 2013 Immigration Alert of relevance for employers in the financial services industry:

USCIS Reports That H-1B Cap Is Reached in First Week

On April 8, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it had received sufficient H-1B petitions to reach the annual quota for fiscal 2014.  As most H-1B employers know, the quota is 65,000 for regular H-1B petitions, plus another 20,000 for H-1B petitions filed for foreign nationals (“FNs”) who have obtained a master’s (or higher ...