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On October 20, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the H-1B Specialty Occupation Program. With these proposed rules, DHS hopes to modernize the program “by streamlining eligibility requirements, improving program efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities for employers and workers, and strengthening integrity measures.” The […]
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On December 04, 2020, a U.S. District Court in the state of New York ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fully reinstate the DACA Program. The order, which was effective immediately, requires DHS to start accepting new initial DACA applications, issue work permits with a validity period of two years, and allow DACA […]
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On September 05, 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Now, nearly two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the legal challenges to the program. The Supreme Court will hear arguments from parties from both sides of the issue on November […]
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Temporary Protected Status or TPS, is a temporary immigration benefit for individuals from a country that is experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or another temporary serious condition. Individuals who are granted TPS receive two main benefits: 1) protection from deportation/removal; and 2) authorization to work in the United States. In September 2017 the Trump […]
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has advised that it is on track to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the end of the year that would rescind the rule permitting employment authorization for certain H-4 spouses. This timeline was announced in a court filing last month by DHS in the ongoing litigation […]
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Due to a Federal Court Order directing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to resume accepting renewal applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), individuals currently holding DACA and people whose DACA expired on or after September 5, 2016 are encouraged to submit DACA renewal applications to USCIS immediately. It is widely known […]
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On November 20, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary, Elaine Duke announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Haiti is the third country to have TPS terminated under the Trump Administration, following announcements to terminate TPS for Sudan and Nicaragua in September and November 2017. TPS was established by […]
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On July 17, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) updated Federal Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. Between July 17, 2017 and September 17, 2017, U.S. employers may use either the Form I-9 version date November 14, 2017 or version date July 17, 2017 for their newly hired employees. However, starting on September 18, […]
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced regulatory changes that apply to certain individuals’ work authorization in the United States. These changes will go into effect on January 17, 2017. The first major change eliminates the requirement under the old regulations that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) adjudicate Employment Authorization Document […]
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The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program was implemented by executive order by President Obama in June of 2012. Under this program, qualified individuals receive reprieve from any immigration enforcement action against them and an employment authorization document (EAD) valid for two years. DACA has been renewable every two years for qualified individuals. […]
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On August 25, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security approved a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. USCIS is scheduled to publish the new form by late November 2016. Employers are permitted to continue to use the current version of Form I-9 (version date 03/08/2013) until January 21, 2017. After that date, all prior Form I-9 […]
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It’s tax time again! The start of a new year brings responsibility to file income taxes with the IRS. Immigrants have tax responsibilities, too. There is no substitute for quality tax advice from a tax professional, and this is not meant to replace that advice. But, generally speaking, immigrants earning money in the United States, […]
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