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DOS GUIDANCE ON NATIONAL INTEREST EXCEPTIONS

TheDepartment of State released guidanceon national interest exceptions to Presidential Trump’s April and June 2020immigration bans which suspended the entry of certain immigrant visaapplicants, applicants for H-1B, H-2B, L-1 visa, certain J-1 visa applicants,and spouses or children applying for H-4, L-2, or J-2 visas through December31, 2020.

Afinal determination regarding a visa applicant’s eligibility for a nationalinterest exception will be made at the Embassy or Consulate interview. 

Thefollowing, among others, will be considered for a national interest exceptionfor H-1B and L-1 visa applicants:

1.  Publichealth or healthcare professionals, or researchers to alleviate the effects ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, or to conduct ongoing medical research in an area with asubstantial public benefit.  Thisincludes those traveling to alleviate secondary impacts not directly related toCOVID-19, but adversely impacted by the pandemic.

2.  Thoserequested to come to the U.S. by a U.S. government agency to meet critical U.S.foreign policy objectives or to satisfy treaty or contractual obligations.

3.  Applicantsentering the US to resume ongoing employment with the same employer in the sameposition and visa category.

4.  Technicalspecialists, senior level managers, and other workers whose travel is necessaryto facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the U.S.

5.  Seniorlevel executive or manager filling a critical business need of an employermeeting a critical infrastructure need.

Ifthe principal applicant qualifies for a national interest exception, anyaccompanying dependents will be able to receive the corresponding H-4, L-2, orJ-2 visa. Applicants who are subject to aging out of their current immigrantvisa classification by January 14, 2021 can contact the nearest U.S. Embassy orConsulate to request an emergency appointment.

Ifyou need to travel internationally and you believe you may qualify for anational interest exception please contact your MU attorney.

DISTRICT COURT STOPS NEW PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

On July 29, 2020, a District CourtJudge in New York stopped the USCIS and DOS from enforcing, applying,implementing, or treating as effective the new public charge rule during thenational health emergency declared by President Trump due to Covid-19.  

On July31, 2020 USCIS announced that in response to this ruling USCIS will notconsider any information or documentation provided with the I-944 onapplications filed after July 29, 2020.  In addition, the USCIS will notreview information provided with respect to public benefits on the I-485,I-129, or I-539 filed after July 29, 2020.  

Applications for green cards postmarkedafter July 29, 2020 should not include the I-944 or provide informationabout the receipt of public benefits on the I-485, I-129, or I-539.  

To date, the DOS has notprovided guidance on how it will comply with the ruling.

USCIS PUBLISHES FILING FEE INCREASE

OnJuly 31, 2020, the USCIS publisheda rule that will increase or decrease USCIS filing fees.  The new fees for most business immigration filings are in thetable, below.  You can find a full list of new fees here. Thenew fees go into effect October 2, 2020. 

Form

Current Fee

New Fee

Change

I-129

$460

$460

+$0

I-130

$535

$560

+$25

I-140

$700

$555

-$145

I-485

$1225

$1160

-$65

I-539

$370

$400

+$30

I-765

$410

$550

+$140

USCISlast raised their fees in 2016.  USCIS fees basically pay for the entireUSCIS budget.  Very little of the USCIS’s budget comes from federal taxdollars.

USCIS’sbudget has recently received news coverage, as the USCIS has indicated they areplanning to furlough13,000 workers due to a budget shortfall. The USCIS has requested $1.2 billion in emergency funding from Congress.

USCIS SHORTENS H-1B APPROVALS BASED ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSES

Inrecently issued H-1B approval notices the USCIS has approved the H-1B for lessthan the requested 3 years. The USCIS has explained the H-1B was issued forless than 3 years because the employee’s professional license expired beforethe end of the 3 year H-1B term.

TheUSCIS is mistakenly interpreting a clause of the code of federal regulations tostate that an H-1B approval notice can be shortened to the validity period of anemployee’s permanent professional license, when the law clearly states the H-1Bcan only be shortened to the term of a temporary license.

Itis crucial that employees closely monitor the expiration date of theirprofessional licenses, along with other documentation required for the H-1Bfiling, and timely renew all documents. This includes the professional license,passport, and Visa Screen (FCCPT certificate or CGFNS Visa Screen).

Statesvary in their procedures for renewing professional licenses and the validityterm of the professional license. In addition, the length of time a passport isissued for varies by country. Visa Screens are valid for 5 years from the dateof issuance and can take several months to renew. All foreign nationals shouldclosely monitor the expiration dates of their documents.

221g PROBLEM CONTINUES AT MANILA

TheManila Post continuesto refuse to issue immigrant visas to nurses as has been the case sincebefore the pandemic.   The Post issues221g letters or outright denials.  
Wehad been given some assurance in the spring that the problem was solved but ithas not.
Weare trying to get Congressional action and agency action with the aim ofsolving the problem.  Unfortunately, itmay take some time because we have to reengage our prior contacts. 
Ifyou have been issued a 221g or a denial and would like to be involved pleasecontact your I-140 petitioner.  The I-140petitioner (US employer) can then contact Chris Musillo who ishelping coordinate the effort.  We must have the US employerinvolved. 

AUGUST 2020 VISA BULLETIN: EB3 JUMPS ONE FULL YEAR

TheDepartment of State has just issued the August2020 Visa Bulletin. This is the eleventh Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2020.This blog post analyzes this month’s Visa Bulletin.

August2020 Visa Bulletin
TableA: Final Action Dates — Applications with these dates may be approved fortheir Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

Employment-
based
All Other
CHINA
INDIA
PHILIPPINES
1st
C
08FEB18
08FEB18
C
2nd
C
15JAN16
08JUL09
C
3rd
01APR19
15FEB17
01OCT09
01APR19
MU Law Analysis
ThisVisa Bulletin continued the big progressions that we saw in the June and JulyVisa Bulletins.  MU Law hasbeen calling on the DOS to rapidly advance the dates so that all immigrantvisas are used in 2020, and they finally responded in a big way.  The big story is the one-year progression WorldwideEB-3 and Philippines EB-3.  These EB-3 datesare now at April 2019.
Thegood news was not limited to those categories. India EB-1 and India EB-3 also jumped forward.  EB-1 moved ahead ten months to February 2018,and EB-3 by five months, to October 2009. Only India EB-2 disappointed, staying at July 8, 2009.  India EB-2 and EB-3 are inverted.  MU Law expects India EB-2 and EB-3 to move insync for the foreseeable future.  EB-2swill downgrade their petitions to EB-3 to take advantage of the more favorableprocessing date, leading to an equilibrium between the two categories. 
Allof the China categories moved forward as well, as expected in a year where fewimmigrant visa have been issued. 
MULaw expects the favorable employment-based visa dates to continue next fiscalyear.  We explained why on thisblog post.

PRESIDENT TRUMP RESCINDS GUIDANCE REQUIRING IN-PERSON CLASSES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

The Trump administration isrescinding its new guidance blocking internationalstudents from staying in the United States whiletaking only online classes.

The U.S. District Court Judge announced July14, 2020 that the government and plaintiffs had reached a resolution in alawsuit brought by Harvard University and MIT.

The Trump Administration will rescind itsJuly6 rule that said foreign students on F-1 visas would need totake at least some in-person courses in order to legally remain in the U.S. forthe fall 2020 semester.

Seventeen states and the District ofColumbia had sued the Trump Administration over the guidance.  The Trump Administration received heavycriticism from both colleges and universities as well as members of Congressfor the policy.  Late last week 99members of Congress sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security andImmigration Customs Enforcement urging the agencies to withdraw the newguidance.

SEVP ANNOUNCES STUDENTS MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE US IF ENROLLED IN A FULLY ONLINE SCHOOL OR PROGRAM FOR FALL 2020 SEMESTER

On July 6, 2020, ICE’s Student and Exchange VisitorProgram (SEVP), announced that for the Fall 2020 semester, it would prohibit F-1 students fromattending fully online schools or programs and taking a full online course loadin the United States. Students attending fully online schools or programs mayonly do so from outside the U.S., but can remain Active in the Student andExchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
If a student is outside the U.S., heor she may not enter the U.S. on F-1 status if the student’s school or programis operating entirely online. This applies even if a student has alreadyobtained a Form I-20 for the Fall 2020 semester.
A student may study in the U.S. ifthey transfer to a school that consists entirely of in-person classes or ahybrid model (combination of both in-person and online classes). However, thestudent must depart the U.S. or transfer again if the school changes to a fullyonline model at any point during the Fall 2020 semester. If students are not incompliance with the new guidance, deportation proceedings may be initiatedagainst them.
By August 4, 2020, designated schoolofficials (DSOs) must update and reissue ALL Form I-20s that have been issuedfor the Fall 2020 Semester to certify the school meets the requirements of thenew guidance.
DHS will publish this rule shortlywhich could clarify some of the situations faced by students that are notaddressed in ICE’s press release. In particular, the current guidance does notaddress the effect of the new guidance on students employed on OptionalPractical Training (OPT).  On July 8, Harvard and MIT filed a lawsuit against DHS and ICE seeking atemporary restraining order of the new guidance, and on July 9, 99 members ofCongress sent a letter to DHS and ICE urging the agencies to withdraw the newguidance.

FAQ REGARDING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RECENT VISA BAN

President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation stop theissuance of H-1B, L-1, J-1, and H-2B and dependent visa stamps at Embassies untilDecember 31, 2020.  For a detailedanalysis of the visa of the Proclamation and the visa classifications impacted,please review our previousblog post.
On our June 30,2020 webinar we reviewed several situations in which visa holders may now findthemselves due to the Proclamation.  Belowis an FAQ to help employers and employees navigate travel and visa issues underthe Proclamation.
Q: My employee is in the US on an H-1B right now.  The employee does not have a validvisa stamp in her passport.  Can theemployee leave the US?

A: NO – H-1B workers who are in the US and do not have a validvisa stamp should not travel outside the US. Without a valid visa stamp, the worker will not be allowed back into theUS.
Q: I have a valid visa stamp in my passport.  Can I travel overseas?

A: YES – Those who are in the US and have a valid visa stamp cantravel abroad, provided they return to the US before the expiration oftheir visa stamp.
Q: My employee is overseas and had an appointment at the Embassyto get a visa stamp in July 2020.  Willmy employee be able to return to the US?

A: NO – Visa stamps in the effected categories will not be issueduntil after January 1, 2021, or perhaps later.
Q: My employee’s spouse and child are outside the US for theirregular summer visit to their home country. The spoues and child were able to visit the Embassy in May and obtainnew visa stamps.  Will my employee’s spouseand child be able to return to the US?

A: YES – The spouse and child can enter the US if they have validvisa stamps in their passports.

Q: My employee is abroad right now and does not have a valid H-1Bvisa stamp in his passport.  However, hedoes have a valid B1/B2 tourist visa stamp in his passport, can he travel tothe US on his B1/B2 stamp?

A: MAYBE – but this is not recommended.  The employee cannot work in tourist status soa change of status to H-1B would have to be filed once the employee enters theUS.  The employee cannot return to workuntil this change of status is approved by the USCIS.
Q: My employee currently holds a green card.  She is outside the US and plans to return inJuly 2020.  Can she return on her greencard?

A: YES – the April Proclamation exempts US Legal PermanentResidents from the ban.
Q: My company has filed a green card case for our future employeewho is a nurse.  We are a staffingcompany and do not yet know at which of our client sites the nurse will beassigned to work.  Can the nurse enterthe US?

A: MAYBE – Under current interpretation, the nurse may enter theUS on a green card for any reason.  Later this summer, the TrumpAdministration may narrow the ban and require nurses to be treating patientswho are currently hospitalized with Covid-19.
Q: My employee is currently in the US working for my company onOPT as an F-1 student.  My company hasfiled an H-1B for this employee which was selected in the H-1B lottery and iscurrently in process with the USCIS. Will the H-1B be impacted by the ban?

A: NO – because this is a change of status from F-1 to H-1B, theemployee will not be impacted.  However,the employee should not travel outside the US, as he will not be able toget an H-1B visa stamp and return.
Q: My employee is in the US on an H-1B and has no plans totravel.  Can I sponsor this employee fora green card?

A: YES – the there is no prohibition against filing green cardcases from inside the US.  Employees canstill “adjust status.”
Q: My employee holds an H-1B that will expire later this year.  Can I file an extension of the employee’s H-1Bstatus?

A: YES – the there is no prohibition against filing for anextension, amendment, or transfer of an H-1B. 

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