Headlines:
1. U.S. Implements VWP Changes in Response to Terrorism Concerns -Under the new “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015,” travelers in several categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the VWP.
2. USCIS Advises Employers To Identify Returning Workers Who Are Exempt From FY 2016 H-2B Cap -USCIS reminds employers that H-2B workers identified as “returning workers” are exempt from the FY 2016 annual H-2B cap. USCIS is urging H-2B employers to identify returning workers when filing petitions.
3. State Dept. Estimates Visa Number Availability in the Coming Months -The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for March 2016 includes estimates of visa number availability (potential monthly movement) in the coming months.
4. DHS Extends TPS for Sudan -Last month, DHS announced that it was extending and redesignating temporary protected status (TPS) for South Sudan. DHS has also announced that it is extending the designation of Sudan for TPS for 18 months, from May 3, 2016, through November 2, 2017.
5. New Publications and Items of Interest -New Publications and Items of Interest
6. ABIL Member/Firm News -ABIL Member/Firm News
7. Government Agency Links -Government Agency Links
Details:
1. U.S. Implements VWP Changes in Response to Terrorism Concerns
On January 21, 2016, the United States began implementing changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) under the “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015.” Under this new law, travelers in the following categories are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted to the United States under the VWP:
- Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country)
- Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said these individuals will still be able to apply for visas using the regular immigration process at U.S. embassies or consulates. For those who need a U.S. visa for urgent business, medical, or humanitarian travel to the United States, U.S. embassies and consulates will process applications on an expedited basis.
Under the new law, travelers who currently have valid Electronic System for Travel Authorizations (ESTAs) and who have previously indicated holding dual nationality with one of the four countries listed above on their ESTA applications will have their ESTAs revoked.
The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive these restrictions if he determines that such a waiver is in the law enforcement or national security interests of the United States. Such waivers will be granted on a case-by-case basis. As a general matter, categories of travelers who may be eligible for a waiver include:
- Individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on behalf of international organizations, regional organizations, and sub-national governments on official duty;
- Individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on behalf of a humanitarian nongovernmental organization (NGO) on official duty;
- Individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria as journalists for reporting purposes;
- Individuals who traveled to Iran for legitimate business-related purposes following the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (July 14, 2015); and
- Individuals who traveled to Iraq for legitimate business-related purposes.
In addition, DHS said it will continue to explore whether and how the waivers can be used for dual nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Sudan. The Department of State has recommended including waivers for dual nationals who emigrated from Iran in the aftermath of the Revolution, dual-Iranian nationals who were born outside of Iran, and dual-Iranian nationals traveling to the United States for business purposes or as part of official duties as an employee of a humanitarian NGO.
Any travelers who receive notification that they are no longer eligible to travel under the VWP are still eligible to travel to the United States with valid nonimmigrant visas issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate. Such travelers must appear for interviews and obtain visas in their passports at a U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling to the United States.
The new law does not ban travel to the United States, or admission into the United States, and most VWP travelers will not be affected by the legislation.
An updated ESTA application with additional questions is expected to be released in late February 2016 to address exceptions for diplomatic and military-related travel provided for in the new law.
2. USCIS Advises Employers To Identify Returning Workers Who Are Exempt From FY 2016 H-2B Cap
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently reminded employers that effective December 18, 2015, H-2B workers identified as “returning workers” are exempt from the fiscal year (FY) 2016 annual H-2B cap of 66,000 visas. USCIS urges H-2B employers to identify returning workers when filing petitions.
A returning worker is defined as an H-2B worker who was previously counted against the annual H-2B cap of 66,000 visas during FYs 2013, 2014, or 2015. USCIS noted that this means:
- In general, if the employer submits a petition requesting an employment start date in FY 2016 (from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016) for an
H-2B worker, the H-2B worker can only be considered a returning worker if he or she had been previously issued an H-2B visa or provided H-2B status between October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2015. - If the prospective worker is in the United States in H-2B status, and is seeking to extend his or her stay, change employers, or change the terms and conditions of employment, then the worker would not be counted toward the H-2B cap and the employer would not need to request classification of the person as a returning worker.
- Any prospective H-2B worker who does not qualify as a returning worker will be subject to the FY 2016 H-2B cap unless he or she has previously been counted toward the H-2B cap or is cap-exempt.
USCIS noted that under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, the returning worker program only applies to petitions pending or approved on or after December 18, 2015, requesting named H-2B workers with an employment start date beginning in FY 2016.
Filing Requirements
In addition to the current rules regarding the filing and processing of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, the following additional requirements apply for H-2B returning workers, USCIS said:
- Certification: In the petition, the employer must complete and include the H-2B Returning Worker Certification, which must be signed by the same person who signed Part 7 of the I-129. The certification states: “As a supplement to the certification made on the attached Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, I further certify that the workers listed below have been issued an H-2B visa or changed to H-2B status during one of the last three (3) fiscal years.”
- Named workers: The H-2B Returning Worker Certification must include the full name of the returning worker. If the returning worker is in the United States and the employer is petitioning to change his or her status to H-2B, it may be in in the employer’s interest to include evidence of previous H-2B admissions, such as a copy of the worker’s visa, to prevent processing delays.
- Multiple workers: A single petition may be filed on behalf of more than one worker. However, any returning workers must be listed on the H-2B Returning Worker Certification. For multiple named workers, “Attachment 1” to the I-129 (pages 35 and 36) must also be completed, and USCIS recommends that employers file petitions for returning workers separately from petitions for new
H-2B workers.
- If the petition is approved: The U.S. Consulate may deny visas, or a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port inspector may refuse admission, if workers cannot be confirmed as returning workers, or are otherwise ineligible for admission or visa issuance. USCIS said the Departments of Homeland Security and State will work together to confirm that all certified returning workers qualify for the program.
Petitioners: An employer may request to designate H-2B workers as returning workers if the employer named beneficiaries who meet the definition of returning workers on an H-2B petition that was pending or approved on or after December 18, 2015, but did not include the required certification. In such cases, the employer should submit by March 4, 2016, the H-2B Returning Worker Certification with a copy of the Form I-797 receipt notice to the address where the employer filed the petition. The employer should write “Attn: H-2B Supervisor” on the envelope. This certification must meet the signature and named worker requirements listed above.
Each petition must include a temporary labor certification (TLC) from the Department of Labor (DOL). The process for TLCs is described on the DOL website. USCIS will accept a copy of the TLC in cases where the original TLC has previously been accepted by USCIS.
H-2B Returning Worker Certification
3. State Dept. Estimates Visa Number Availability in the Coming Months
The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for March 2016 includes estimates of visa number availability (potential monthly movement) in the coming months. Estimates for the employment-based categories include:
Employment First: Current
Employment Second:
Worldwide: Current
China: Up to five months
India: Up to three months
Employment Third:
Worldwide: The rapid forward movement of this cut-off date during the past 10 months should generate a significant amount of demand for numbers. When such demand begins to materialize, it will be necessary to limit movement of this cut-off date.
China: Up to five months
India: Up to one month
Mexico: Will remain at the Worldwide date
Philippines: Up to four months
Employment Fourth: Current for most countries
Employment Fifth: This category will remain “Current” for most countries.
China-mainland born: Slow forward movement
The above projections for the employment categories indicate what is likely to happen on a monthly basis through June based on current applicant demand patterns, the Visa Bulletin explains. Recent trends in cut-off date movements are not guaranteed for the future, and it is possible that “corrective” action may be required to maintain number use within the applicable annual limits. The Visa Bulletin notes that determinations of the actual monthly cut-off dates are subject to fluctuations in applicant demand and a number of other variables.
4. DHS Extends TPS for Sudan
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it was extending and redesignating temporary protected status (TPS) for South Sudan. DHS has also announced that it is extending the designation of Sudan for TPS for 18 months, from May 3, 2016, through November 2, 2017. DHS said it determined that an extension of the current designation was warranted because of the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Sudan’s nationals from returning safely.
Current TPS Sudan beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during a 60-day period that began January 25, 2016, and runs through March 25, 2016. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to re-register as soon as possible.
The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new employment authorization document (EAD). Eligible Sudan TPS beneficiaries who re-register during the 60-day period and request a new EAD will receive one with an expiration date of November 2, 2017. USCIS said it recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EADs until after their current work permits expire. Therefore, USCIS is automatically extending current TPS Sudan EADs bearing a May 2, 2016, expiration date for an additional 6 months. These existing EADs are now valid through November 2, 2016.
RELATED FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO FILE
5. New Publications and Items of Interest
The latest E-Verify webinar schedule from USCIS is available HERE.
The 2015 edition of the Global Business Immigration Practice Guide has been released by LexisNexis. Dozens of members of the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (ABIL) co-authored and edited the guide, which is a one-stop resource for dealing with questions related to business immigration issues in immigration hotspots around the world.
The latest edition adds chapters on Ghana and Peru. Other chapters cover Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European Union, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Latchi Delchev, a global mobility and immigration specialist for Boeing, called the guide “first-rate” and said the key strong point of the book is its “outstanding usability.” She said she highly recommends the book and notes that it “is helpful even to seasoned professionals, as it provides a level of detail which is not easily gained from daily case management.”
Mireya Serra-Janer, head of European immigration for a multinational IT company, says she particularly likes “the fact that the [guide] focuses not just on each country’s immigration law itself but also addresses related matters such as tax and social security issues.” She noted that the India chapter “is particularly good. The immigration regulations in India have always been hard to understand. Having a clear explanation of the rules there helps us sort out many mobility challenges.”
Charles Gould, Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance, said the guide is “an invaluable resource for both legal practitioners and business professionals. The country-specific chapters are comprehensive and answer the vast majority of questions that arise in immigration practice. Its clear and easy-to-follow structure and format make it the one volume to keep close at hand.”
This comprehensive guide is designed to be used by:
- Human resources professionals and in-house attorneys who need to instruct, understand, and liaise with immigration lawyers licensed in other countries;
- Business immigration attorneys who regularly work with multinational corporations and their employees and HR professionals; and
- Attorneys interested in expanding their practice to include global business immigration services.
This publication provides:
- An overview of the immigration law requirements and procedures for over 20 countries;
- Practical information and tips for obtaining visas, work permits, resident status, naturalization, and other nonimmigrant and immigrant pathways to conducting business, investing, and working in those countries;
- A general overview of the appropriate options for a particular employee; and
- Information on how an employee can obtain and maintain authorization to work in a target country.
Each chapter follows a similar format, making it easy to compare practices and procedures from country to country. Useful links to additional resources and forms are included. Collected in this Practice Guide, the expertise of ABIL’s attorney members across the globe will serve as an ideal starting point in your research into global business immigration issues.
The list price is $359, but a 15% discount is available by visiting LexisNexis and entering discount code “ABIL15”. Contact your Lexis/Nexis sales representative; call 1-800-833-9844 (United States), 1-518-487-3385 (international); fax 1-518-487-3584
ABIL on Twitter. The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers is available on Twitter: @ABILImmigration. RECENT ABIL BLOGS
6. ABIL Member/Firm News
Several ABIL members or members of ABIL firms are featured in new videos and training sessions from the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers. The videos include:
- Stephen Yale-Loehr —EB-5 Immigrant Visa Category
- David Fullmer, Vince Lau, Lois Magee, Mi-Rang Yoon—Training Visas
Steven Garfinkel has published an article, “Corporate Immigration Policies: A Survey”
Ronald Klasko and Dan Lundy of Klasko Immigration Law Partners received awards for their expertise and leadership in the EB-5 industry during the Third Annual Las Vegas EB-5 Conference sponsored by EB5 Investors Magazine. Mr. Klasko was recognized as the “thought leader” in EB-5, and Mr. Lundy was recognized as the “go to” attorney for complex EB-5 legal matters. Featuring keynote speaker Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and the first-ever migration agent training workshop, the conference welcomed 800 regional centers, attorneys, and EB-5 program stakeholders.
Mr. Klasko was recently interviewed on the expiration of the present regional center program and changes that are likely to occur in the EB-5 program, published in “It may get harder for rich Chinese to buy green cards,” CNNMoney.
Charles Kuck was featured in a podcast on growing an immigration law firm, “Charles Kuck: The Power of Serving in a National Association.”
Mr. Kuck was quoted in International Business Times in “Immigration Reform 2016: Do Federal Raids Need Warrants? Undocumented Immigrants Denied Civil Rights, Advocates Say,” published on January 28, 2016. Mr. Kuck said, “It just doesn’t seem right to send back women and children who were truly fleeing for their lives, especially since the Obama administration rigged the system against these people. You are enforcing the law, but you are doing it at the consequence of human rights.”
Robert Loughran was quoted in the Dallas Morning News on Texas’ efforts to halt placement of Syrian refugees. Mr. Loughran offered his expertise on the merits of the case and reasons why the state withdrew its request for a temporary restraining order.
Cyrus Mehta has co-authored a new blog entry. “The H-1B and L-1 Punitive Super Fee Rears Its Ugly Head Again.” Mr. Mehta has also authored a new blog entry. “A Trap For The Unwary: Equivalent Degrees and Alternate Requirements in Labor Certification Applications.”
Bernard Wolfsdorf, Mr. Klasko, and Mr. Yale-Loehr will speak on various EB-5 issues at the sixth annual Invest in America Summit in Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen, China, between March 12 and 19, 2016. For more details or to register.
Mr. Yale-Loehr will speak at an EB-5 seminar offered by iGlobal Forum at the Pierre Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, February 24, 2016. For more details or to register.
Mr. Yale-Loehr will speak on advanced asylum issues at a conference sponsored by the New England chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association on Friday, March 4, 2016, at the Federal Reserve Bank building in Boston, Massachusetts. For more details or to register.
7. Government Agency Links
Follow these links to access current processing times of the USCIS Service Centers and the Department of Labor, or the Department of State’s latest Visa Bulletin with the most recent cut-off dates for visa numbers:
USCIS Service Center processing times online
Department of Labor processing times and information on backlogs
Department of State Visa Bulletin
Visa application wait times for any post
