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WEEKLY IMMIGRATION UPDATE 3.18.2021

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WEEKLY IMMIGRATION UPDATE 3.18.2021

WEEKLY IMMIGRATION UPDATE – March 17, 2021

HEADLINES

  1. April 2021 Visa Bulletin Posted; State Dept. Launches Monthly Live “Chats with Charlie” –The Department of State has posted the April 2021 Visa Bulletin.  In addition to providing Final Action Dates and Dates for Filing for family- and employment-based petitions, it contains notes on the diversity visa (DV) category, DV category rank cut-offs that will apply in April, and an announcement that the DOS YouTube channel (@TravelGov) will begin hosting live “Chats with Charlie” each month to address general issues related to the content of the bulletin, with the first chat taking place at 1:00 PM ET on March 17.   Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division at the U.S. Department of State, offers insight into how immigrant visa numbers are allocated, and predictions on usage.   No case-specific information will be provided. Questions can be emailed to VisaBulletin@state.gov ahead of each month’s event, with “Chat with Charlie Question” in the subject line.
  2. State Dept. Extends Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility – The Department has extended the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification to those whose nonimmigrant visas expired within 48 months. Previously only those whose visas had expired within 24 months could be considered for waiver of the in-person interview.  The policy was due to expire on March 31, 2021 and has now been extended through December 31, 2021.
  3. DHS Rescinds Public Charge Rule, Withdraws Appeals of Injunctions Blocking It – In August 2019 DHS issued a final rule allowing USCIS to deny applications for green cards, temporary nonimmigrant status, and naturalization if the government found they relied on—or were at risk of relying on—certain public benefits.  The 2019 rule applied a much more restrictive standard than that which was in existence for many years in U.S. immigration law, and has been the subject of significant litigation.    A federal district court vacated the rule, and DHS has now rescinded the related regulations.  The Biden administration also withdrew the federal government’s appeals of injunctions blocking the DHS public charge rule.
  4. State Dept. Releases Guidance for Those Previously Refused Visas Under Travel Bans – The Department issued guidance in response to President Biden’s signing of two proclamations that ended travel bans on certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen.
  5. USCIS May Reopen H-1B Petitions Denied Based upon Three Rescinded Policy Memos – USCIS announced that it may reopen and/or reconsider H-1B denials that were based on one of three rescinded policy memoranda.
  6. ABIL Asks for Withdrawal of H-1B Lottery Rule Prioritizing Wages; DHS Delays Effective Date Until May 14 – ABIL formally submitted a comment asking the Department to withdraw its final rule prioritizing wages in adjudicating H-1B applications. DHS delayed the effective date of the wage rule until May 14, 2021.
  7. Lawsuit Challenges USCIS Rejections of H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions Filed After October 1 – A lawsuit filed in a federal district court on behalf of seven U.S. employers whose H-1B petitions were rejected challenges USCIS’s “arbitrary and capricious refusal to accept timely and properly filed H-1B petitions” subject to the annual cap.
  8. DHS Designates Venezuela, Burma for TPS for 18 Months – The Department of Homeland Security has designated Venezuela and Burma for temporary protected status for 18 months.

DETAILS

 1.  State Dept. Launches Monthly Live “Chats with Charlie” re Visa Bulletin

The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for April 2021 announces the launch of live monthly “Chats with Charlie.” @TravelGov will begin hosting “Chats with Charlie” on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelGov) to discuss information provided in the monthly Visa Bulletin.

Questions can be emailed to VisaBulletin@state.gov ahead of the event with “Chat with Charlie Question” in the subject line. Questions will also be taken via the YouTube Live Chat feature and will be answered in real time. The Department said the event is intended to address issues of general interest related to the content of the Visa Bulletin.  No policy, case, or post-specific questions will be accepted.

2.  State Dept. Extends Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility

The Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, extended until December 31, 2021, a temporary expansion of the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification to those whose nonimmigrant visas expired within 48 months. The temporary policy was due to expire March 31, 2021.

Previously, only those applicants whose nonimmigrant visas expired within 24 months were eligible for interview waivers. This change “will allow consular officers to continue processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications while limiting the number of applicants who must appear at a consular section, thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to other applicants and consular staff,” the Department of State said. Travelers should review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for details on available services and eligibility information and instructions on applying for a visa without an interview.

3.  DHS Rescinds Public Charge Rule, Withdraws Appeals of Injunctions Blocking It

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded regulations resulting from a final rule issued in August 2019 that was vacated by a federal district court. Under the now-rescinded rule, the government could deny applications for green cards, temporary nonimmigrant status, and naturalization if the government found they relied on—or were at risk of relying on—public benefits. The Biden administration also withdrew the federal government’s appeals of injunctions blocking the DHS public charge rule.

USCIS will issue updated guidance on affected forms. In the interim, USCIS said it will not reject any Form I-485 based on the inclusion or exclusion of Form I-944, and will not reject Forms I-129, I-129CW, I-539, or I-539A based on whether the public benefits questions (Forms I-129 (Part 6), I-129CW (Part 6), I-539 (Part 5), and I-539A (Part 3)) have been completed or left blank. Those issued Requests For Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) will not need to submit information or documents solely as required by the public charge rule. However, all other requests raised in the RFE/NOID must be answered.

4.  State Dept. Releases Guidance for Those Previously Refused Visas Under Travel Bans

On March 10, 2021, the Department of State issued guidance in response to President Biden’s signing of two proclamations on January 20, 2021, that ended travel bans on certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Following the Department’s review, eligible immigrant visa applicants whose entry was refused previously under the travel bans and who did not qualify for waivers before January 20, 2020, may submit new visa applications. Those whose entry was refused under the bans and were determined not to qualify for a waiver on or after January 20, 2020, may request their local embassy or consulate to reconsider their cases within one year of the date of waiver refusal without submitting a new application or fee.

Nonimmigrant visa applicants whose entry was refused previously due to the travel bans and who did not qualify for waivers may submit new visa applications.

The Department can immediately process visa applications for eligible individuals from the affected countries. However, local U.S. embassies or consulates may not be able to schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews immediately due to COVID-19-related restrictions. Applicants should consult the website of their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to determine if their cases qualify for expedited processing.

5.  USCIS May Reopen H-1B Petitions Denied Under Three Rescinded Policy Memos

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 12, 2021, that it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse H-1B decisions on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, that were made based on three rescinded policy memoranda. USCIS said it “will generally use its discretion to accept a motion to reopen filed more than 30 days after the decision, if filed before the end of the validity period requested on the petition or labor condition application, whichever is earlier, and the decision was based on one or more policies in the rescinded H-1B memoranda below.” The rescinded memos include:

  • “Determining Employer-Employee Relationship for Adjudication of H-1B Petitions, Including Third-Party Site Placements (Reference AFM Chapter 31.3(g)(16)),” HQ 70/6.2.8 [AD 10-24)] (Jan. 8, 2010)
  • “Contracts and Itineraries Requirements for H-1B Petitions Involving Third-Party Worksites,” PM-602-0157 (Feb. 22, 2018)
  • “Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ‘Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions’,” PM-602-0142 (Mar. 31, 2017)

USCIS made the rescissions in memoranda issued on June 17, 2020, and on February 3, 2021.

6.  ABIL Asks for Withdrawal of H-1B Lottery Rule Prioritizing Wages; DHS Delays Effective Date Until May 14

The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers (ABIL) formally submitted a comment asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its final rule prioritizing wages in adjudicating H-1B applications.

ABIL said the final rule “would unlawfully and unjustifiably give preference to workers who earn higher wages, despite the fact that these wages are drawn from limited federal data sources” that are “not designed for application to the H-1B visa program, and bear no relation to the value a highly skilled worker adds to the United States.” ABIL believes that because of the wide variety of occupational categories into which H-1B beneficiaries may fall, the use of wage data as a proxy for high skills and qualifications “will not accomplish the outcomes DHS desires” and instead “will unfairly discriminate against and burden law-abiding employers,” particularly small and medium-size businesses that will find the H-1B program unaffordable as a result.

ABIL also warned that the final rule is likely to “cause more work to be commissioned offshore” and thus undermine opportunities for U.S. workers along with the Biden administration’s desire that more work be performed in the United States.

On March 12, 2021, DHS delayed the effective date of the wage rule until May 14, 2021. DHS said the 60-day delay would allow the agency to “review any questions of fact, law, or policy.”

7.  Lawsuit Challenges USCIS Rejections of H-1B Petitions Filed After October 1

The American Immigration Council (AIC) sued on March 11, 2021, in federal court on behalf of seven U.S. employers whose H-1B petitions were rejected. The lawsuit challenges U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) “arbitrary and capricious refusal to accept timely and properly filed H-1B petitions” subject to the annual cap.

AIC said USCIS rejected the petitions filed after October 1 “simply because the H-1B worker’s intended employment start date—naturally—also fell after October 1.” Based on this timeline, AIC said, “USCIS created an absurd choice: foreign workers needed to start on October 1 (and not a day later), or the U.S. employer had to misrepresent the intended employment start-date by ‘back-dating’ the petition.” In fact, AIC noted, USCIS had accepted some with an employment start date after October 1 without issue.

8.  DHS Designates Venezuela, Burma for TPS for 18 Months

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Venezuela and Burma for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months.

Venezuela TPS

Venezuela has been designated for TPS until September 2022. The 180-day registration period for eligible individuals to submit TPS applications began March 9, 2021, and is effective through September 5, 2021. DHS said the designation is due to “extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela” that prevent its nationals from returning safely, “including a complex humanitarian crisis marked by widespread hunger and malnutrition, a growing influence and presence of non-state armed groups, repression, and a crumbling infrastructure.”

The new TPS designation for Venezuela enables eligible Venezuelan nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Venezuela) currently residing in the United States to file initial applications for TPS. Only those who can demonstrate continuous residence in the United States as of March 8, 2021, are eligible for TPS under Venezuela’s designation. A Federal Register notice provides additional details on how and when to apply for TPS and related employment authorization.

The notice also provides information about Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Venezuelan nationals (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela), and explains how eligible individuals may apply for DED-related employment authorization with USCIS, based on the January 19, 2021, memorandum from former President Donald Trump directing the Secretary to take appropriate measures for the implementation of DED for Venezuelan nationals for 18 months, through July 20, 2022.

Burma TPS

The new designation of Burma for TPS, which DHS said was in response to a military coup and security forces’ violence against civilians that is causing a “complex and deteriorating humanitarian crisis,” enables eligible Burmese nationals (and individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Burma) currently residing in the United States to file initial applications for TPS. For Burma, only those who can demonstrate continuous residence in the United States as of March 11, 2021, will be eligible for TPS under Burma’s 18-month designation. An upcoming Federal Register notice will provide additional details on how and when to apply for TPS and related employment authorization.

I-94/E-VERIFY WEBINARS

Immigrant and employee rights webinars. The Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), of the Civil Rights Division, is offering a number of free webinars for workers, employers, and advocates. For more information, see https://www.justice.gov/crt/webinars.

E-Verify webinar schedule. E-Verify has released its calendar of webinars at https://www.e-verify.gov/calendar-field_date_and_time/month.

AGENCY PROCESSING TIMES

USCIS case processing times: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

US Department of Labor:   https://flag.dol.gov/processingtimes

Department of State Visa Bulletin: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/law-and-policy/bulletin.html

COVID-19 RESOURCES

COVID-19 resources. The response of the U.S. immigration agencies to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is constantly evolving, making it difficult to report relevant information that is not rendered immediately obsolete. The list of online resources below is intended to serve as a quick reference to the most current available agency information.

General Information

Coronavirus.gov: Primary federal site for general coronavirus information

USA.gov/coronavirus: Catalog of U.S. government’s response to coronavirus

CDC.gov/coronavirus: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information

American Immigration Lawyers Association:  (links to practice alerts on this site are restricted to members)

NAFSA

Immigration Agency Information

Department of Homeland Security: DHS.gov/coronavirus

–        https://www.dhs.gov/coronavirus-news-updates

–        https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/03/17/fact-sheet-dhs-notice-arrival-restrictions-china-iran-and-certain-countries-europe

USCIS: USCIS.gov/coronavirus

ICE:

–        Overview and FAQs: https://www.ice.gov/coronavirus

–       Requirements for ICE Detention Facilities: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/coronavirus/eroCOVID19response

ReqsCleanFacilities.pdf

CBP:

–        Updates and Announcements:   https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/coronavirus

–        Accessing I-94 Information: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

Department of Labor:

–        OFLC Announcements (COVID-19 announcements included here): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/

–        COVID-19 FAQs:

Round 1 (Mar. 20, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%201_03.20.2020.pdf

Round 2 (Apr. 1, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%202_04.01.2020.pdf

Round 3 (Apr. 9, 2020): https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL-OFLC_COVID-19_FAQs_Round%203.pdf

State Department: https://www.state.gov/coronavirus/

Travel advisories: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html

Country-specific information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html

J-1 exchange visitor information: https://j1visa.state.gov/covid-19/

Justice Department

Executive Office for Immigration Review: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-operational-status-during-coronavirus-pandemic

AGENCY TWITTER ACCOUNTS

EOIR: @DOJ_EOIR

ICE: @ICEgov

Study in the States: @StudyinStates

USCIS: @USCIS

I-9 AND E-VERIFY WEBINARS

USCIS and Immigrant and employee rights webinars. The Department of Justice’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section, Civil Rights Division,has joined with USCIS to present webinars on employee rights during the E-Verify and Form I-9 employment eligibility verification processes.  For more information or to register, see: https://www.justice.gov/crt/webinars.

E-Verify webinar schedule:  https://www.e-verify.gov/calendar-field_date_and_time/month/202004.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

This newsletter was prepared in collaboration with ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, comprised of twenty U.S. immigration lawyers who head some of the top immigration practices in the country.   Larrabee Albi Coker LLP is an active member of ABIL.

Legal Disclaimer:   This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute for legal advice based on the circumstances of a specific matter.

 

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