U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. February 25, 2022, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2022.…
Continue reading ›On February 25, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he will be lifting 95% of California’s coronavirus-related executive order provisions. In accordance with the new endemic strategy, the California Department of Health and Human Services (CDPH) issued revised mask guidance on February 28, 2022. From March 1, 2022, vaccinated and unvaccinated people will not be…
Continue reading ›USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2022. USCIS have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations properly submitted for…
Continue reading ›The Labor Commissioner has posted a mandatory workplace poster and FAQ about the additional paid sick leave for COVID-19 in 2022. The new law took effect on February 19, 2022 for employers with 26 or more employees. Notifications may be sent to the employee electronically if the employee does not go to the physical workplace…
Continue reading ›On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed legislation extending COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to California workers, which becomes effective February 19, 2022, 10 days after enactment. The legislation extends up to 40 hours of paid sick leave to full-time employees of companies with 26 or more employees. Employees who are eligible will receive up…
Continue reading ›U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is publishing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on eligibility, filing, and adjudication requirements addressing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions to update practices and align USCIS policies with recent court decisions. USCIS is updating its interpretation of the requirement for shared residence to occur during the qualifying spousal…
Continue reading ›The Biden administration is making a series of policy changes in order to make it easier for foreign students and professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields to remain in the U.S. The new policies are aimed to retain foreign students in the STEM fields to compete against other countries who have…
Continue reading ›The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) started postponing non-detained and non-represented cases on January 10, 2022. Currently, the EOIR announced that non-detained and non-represented cases are further postponed till February 7, 2022, due to COVID-19. Hearings will continue via phone or online for detained cases and non-detained individuals who are represented. Please note that…
Continue reading ›U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on January 28, 2022, that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern time on March 1 and run through noon Eastern time on March 18, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit…
Continue reading ›The USCIS updated guidance on how it evaluates requirements for O-1A eligibility petitions for extraordinary ability in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields and whether an O-1 beneficiary’s prospective work is within their area of extraordinary ability or achievement. O-1A classification is applicable for individuals of extraordinary ability in science, education, business, or athletics.…
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