Updates to USCIS Policy on New Forms, Premium Processing, and Filing Fee Increases Take Effect on October 2, 2020
As previously reported in Epstein Becker Green’s August 2020 Immigration Alert, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it will increase filing fees effective October 2, 2020. In line with the announcement, USCIS has updated its Policy Manual and the Federal Register with the following changes:
- USCIS will revise the edition date of certain forms. As a result, any affected form filed on or after October 2, 2020, that does not possess the ...
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.
President Trump Signs Executive Order to “Temporarily Suspend Immigration into the United States”
On April 20, 2020, President Trump tweeted, “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” The vague tweet triggered many questions and concerns as to the scope of the immigration suspension and the impact it would have on many foreign nationals and their respective U.S. employers.
On the afternoon of April 22 ...
USCIS Completes the Initial Selection Process
On April 1, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (‘USCIS”) announced that the initial selection of H-1B cap-subject registrations for fiscal year (“FY”) 2021 was completed. Petitioners who electronically registered beneficiaries in the H-1B registration process and were selected through the random selection process may file their H-1B cap petition within the period indicated on the relevant registration selection notice. The filing period for the H-1B cap-subject petition will be at least 90 days
Our colleague Jang H. Im recently published an article, "The $34 Million Question: What All IT Consulting Companies Should Learn from the Infosys Settlement," pointing out key lessons that all companies, including financial services employers may learn from InfoSys’ immigration issues with the U.S. Department of Justice and the precautionary measures employers should take.
The article is broken down as follows:
1) Beware the Whistleblower
2) Do Not Neglect the Legal Limits on the B-1 Visa Classification
3) Follow the H-1B Requirements Even After Approval
4) Follow the I-9 ...
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