While the Administration and Congress work to reconcile the needs of DACA recipients with concerns over border security and illegal immigration, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) have introduced a bill to reform immigration programs for high-skilled workers. If the bill passes, it would go a long way to maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the global economy. President Donald Trump has long talked about taking a merit-based approach to immigration, and, according to Senator…

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order striking the 80-percent/three-week goal for interviewing nonimmigrant visa applicants following submission of applications. Since September 11, 2001, the State Department has given priority to security over quick visa adjudications. For many reasons, including heightened security, between 2001 and 2010, the U.S. share of the global tourism market had dropped markedly. The Obama Administration, concerned about the effect on the U.S. economy, took measures to “support a prosperous…

While daily governmental guidance for affected individuals, in the United States and abroad, has followed the signing of Executive Order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” on January 27, 2017, reports of inconsistent treatment of individuals abound. The following illustrates some of the confusion regarding individuals “from” Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Please see our Travel Update.    …

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) announced on April 5, 2016, that the “University of Northern New Jersey” (“UNNJ”) had been a sting operation for the past two-and-a-half years. Run by Homeland Security Investigations Newark, UNNJ had a plausible website and an address in Cranford, New Jersey. Twenty-one persons, characterized as brokers, recruiters, and employers, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and alien harboring. Over 1,000 foreign students had been enrolled at…

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has announced that Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for eligible Haitians will be extended for an additional 18 months, from July 23, 2014, to January 22, 2016. Current Haitian TPS beneficiaries must reregister during a 60-day period, from March 3, 2014, to May 2, 2014.  In addition to reregistering, Haitian nationals who wish to have employment authorization must  apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”).  The new EADs…

Applicants for B-1 Business Visitor/B-2 Tourist Visa Waivers should be aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly objects to an assistant, rather than the actual traveler, completing the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) on-line registration for her boss. Recently, an assistant completed ESTA registrations for two of her bosses using her own e-mail address rather than the e-mail addresses of the two travelers.  Upon arrival in the United States, both travelers were…