July 2023

Transcending Borders^SM

In this issue:

Policy Updates

• I-9 Alerts
• Stateside Visa Revalidation for H and L Visa Holders
• ESTA Ineligibility for Travelers Who Were in Cuba
• Re-Parole for Afghan Nationals
• New Fields of Study now Qualify for STEM OPT
• New Online Tool for Rescheduling Biometrics Appointments

Original Content

• Consular Practice Handbook
• Cannabis: Potential Immigration Consequences from Use, Possession, or Sale

Firm News:

• New Attorneys at GYH!
• Webinars
• Visa Options for Foreign Investors
• Extraordinary Ability Visas
• Religious Worker Green Card Retrogression
• Accolades

Policy Updates

I-9 Alerts

• Starting July 1, Florida is requiring private employers with at least 25 employees to use E-Verify, the digital I-9 verification tool, during their onboarding processes. Read more.

• On August 1, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will publish a revised version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The new form will include a check box to indicate whether the new employee’s documents were remotely examined, an alternate procedure that was authorized due to COVID, known in this context as the “COVID-19 Flexibilities.” The flexibilities expire on July 31 and employers are being asked to reverify the documents by August 30 for employees who were verified remotely during the flexibility period.

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also announced that it is offering employers using E-Verify an alternate procedure to reverify documents remotely. Employers who were not enrolled in E-Verify during the COVID-19 flexibilities must complete an in-person physical examination by Aug. 30, 2023 and will not have the option to use the alternative I-9 procedures.

Video: I-9 Verification of Remote Employees

What if you're an employer who's not enrolled in E-Verify but you cannot examine the employees documents in person?

Attorney Harisa Henderson explains a method for verification for employers who do not qualify for the new method but are unable to complete the verification themselves.

Stateside Visa Revalidation for H and L Visa Holders

The Department of State (DOS) recently announced that it will begin allowing certain H and L visa holders to renew their visa stamps without leaving the country. This is extremely welcome news, but only limited information is available. Attorney Sofia Hassander explains what we know so far about this program. 

ESTA Ineligibility for Travelers Who Were in Cuba

Customs and Border Protection( CBP) announced announced that, with limited exceptions, travelers who visited Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 are not eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program using an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a visa to travel to the U.S.

This also applies to travelers who hold dual nationality with both a Visa Waiver Program country and Cuba. If an ESTA has already been approved, it will likely be revoked. 

Re-Parole for Afghan Nationals

In June, DHS announced a new process enabling Afghan nationals to renew their parole, allowing them to continue living and working in the U.S. The new process is free and will provide  a two -year parole renewal for qualifying individuals.

DHS will also consider a two-year extension of parole for Afghan parolees who applied and continue to apply for asylum or for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. The extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons and for a significant public benefit.

New Fields of Study Now Qualify for STEM OPT

Good news for international students! DHS announced that it is adding eight new degree fields that qualify for STEM OPT. OPT allows eligible F-1 students to obtain real-world work experience directly related to their major area of study. The STEM OPT extension is available to F-1 students who have completed 12 months of OPT and received a degree in an approved STEM field of study as designated by the STEM OPT list.

The newly added fields are:

• Landscape Architecture
• Institutional Research
• Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
• Composite Materials Technology/Technician
• Linguistics and Computer Science
• Developmental and Adolescent Psychology
• Geospatial Intelligence
• Demography and Population Studies

The full list of qualifying STEM fields can be found here: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stemList2022.pdf

New Online Tool for Rescheduling Biometrics Appointments

Earlier this month, USCIS launched a new self-service tool that allows applicants (and their attorneys/representatives)  to reschedule most biometric services appointments for immigration benefits in advance.

Previously, applicants could only reschedule a biometric services appointment by calling the USCIS Contact Center. With this new tool, individuals with a USCIS online account can reschedule most requests for biometric services appointments without having to call the Contact Center. However, the self-service tool cannot be used to reschedule an appointment that already has been rescheduled two or more times, an appointment that begins is within 12 hours, or an appointment that has already passed.

Original Content

Consular Practice Handbook

In light of the newly published Consular Practice Handbook from American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Sandra Grossman answers questions about her chapter on the intersection of Interpol and Consular Processing.

Cannabis: Potential Immigration Consequences from Use, Possession, or Sale

Although an increasing number of states have legalized marijuana, noncitizens may still face severe immigration consequences if found to use, possess, or engage in the sale of it. This is because immigration law is governed by federal, not state law.

Read More...

Firm News

New Attorneys at GYH!

The firm excitedly welcomed two new attorneys this summer – Harisa Henderson and Christian Gonzalez Chacon!  

Attorney Harisa Henderson handles a wide variety of employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions including “extraordinary ability” visas, “outstanding researcher” visas, L-1 intra-company transferee visas, and H-1B visas. She has extensive experience representing a wide range of industries including financial services, technology and data sciences, and healthcare.

Christian Gonzalez Chacon, Of Counsel, specializes in international human rights law. He brings to the firm more than a decade of experience as a human rights advocate, having worked with prominent international human rights organizations and tribunals.

Webinars

Don’t miss our upcoming webinars!

Visa Options for Foreign Investors

Wednesday August 16th | 12:00pm ET | via Zoom

The United States offers two primary visa options to foreign investors and entrepreneurs seeking to start a new business or buying an existing business. The E-2 non-immigrant investor visa program is extremely flexible. For example, there is no minimum capital investment test and no minimum job creation requirements. Alternatively, the EB-5 immigrant investor program is a slower and more structured process but yields Green Card status. Each has pros and cons, and both options are often pursued in parallel to maximize immigration benefits.

In this webinar, Partner Becki Young and EB-5 Authority David Morris will explain the ins-and-outs of visa options for foreign investors, including:

• What is the E-2 visa category? Which countries / citizens qualify? How much do I have to invest?
• How to create a successful E-2 business plan.
• How to prepare for the E-2 visa interview.
• What are the tax benefits of E-2 status?
• The basics of the EB-5 program, process, and overall timeline.
• What funding sources are allowed?

Extraordinary Ability Visa Options

Tuesday September 19th | 10:00am ET | via Zoom

The U.S. has multiple immigration options available for foreign nationals of “extraordinary ability” in a wide array of categories from arts to STEM to sports. For employers whose employees missed the H-1B cap or those frustrated with U.S. visa options, extraordinary ability visas may be worth exploring. Some of these visa categories require a U.S. employer sponsor while others allow self-sponsorship. This webinar will explain the various immigration pathways for foreign nationals with outstanding careers, special skills, and formidable aspirations.

Attendees will learn about:

• What are the extraordinary ability visa categories?

• Explanation of O-1 visas and EB-1 green cards.

• What is the difference between O-1A & O-1B?

• What is included in expert opinion letters?

• Which category should I apply for?

• Considerations when moving from a visa to a green card.

Religious Worker Green Card Retrogression

Did you miss Attorney Yeon Me Kim's webinar about Religious Worker Green Card Retrogression? You can find a copy of the slides here.

Reach out to info@grossmanyoug.com with questions.

Accolades



• Grossman Young & Hammond was included in DC Magazine’s “Best of the City” issue as Best Immigration Law Firm.

• Becki Young was recognized as a "Top 10 Most Influential Immigration Business Lawyer" in the US by Business Today! Congratulations, Becki, and to the other exceptional attorneys included in this list.

• Sandra Grossman, Becki Young and Denise Hammond were included in the Lawdragon 2023 list of the 100 Leading Immigration Lawyers in America.

• Who’s Who Legal 2023 recognized Denise Hammond as a Global Leader in Corporate Immigration as well as a Thought Leader in Corporate Immigration both nationally and globally.

• Sandra Grossman and Becki Young were also recognized as 2023 Global Leaders in Corporate Immigration by Who's Who Legal 2023.

www.grossmanyoung.com