USCIS Proposal May Increase Strike Zone for Professional Athletes

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed new guidance for adjudicating O-1 visa petitions for athletes and other individuals of extraordinary ability in certain fields. If the proposal becomes effective, athletes will have greater flexibility in satisfying the O-1 visa criteria.

Under current USCIS regulations, an athlete may qualify for an O-1 visa by demonstrating extraordinary ability in his or her field in one of three ways: (A) by reason of a nomination or receipt of a significant national or international award; (B) by meeting a certain number of listed criteria; or (C) by submitting “comparable evidence” when the listed criteria in part (B) do not readily apply.

Part (A) is fairly straightforward. For example, winning a Gold Glove award would qualify the athlete. The same goes for league MVP or an Olympic gold medal. If an athlete does not meet Part (A), Part (B) requires meeting at least three of the USCIS criteria,  such as receiving lesser but still nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards, membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements, being written about in major media, making athletic contributions of major significance, being employed in a critical capacity for a prestigious organization, and commanding a high salary.

If an athlete does not meet Part (B), then Part (C), the catch-all “comparable evidence,” aka “alternate but equivalent,” should be considered. But here’s the rub: the regulatory text is not clear as to exactly when comparable evidence may be considered. Can applicants go directly to Part (C) or must they meet a certain number of the Part (B) criteria before comparable evidence could be considered? Moreover, must an athlete show that all or a majority of the Part (B) criteria do not readily apply?

The proposed guidance attempts to clarify this ambiguity, stating that comparable evidence can be considered on a criterion-by-criterion basis. That is, to an athlete need not first satisfy a minimum number of the Part (B) criterion before moving on to Part (C). An athlete must show only that any single criterion does not readily apply to his or her field before offering comparable evidence as to that criterion, as well as why the submitted evidence is “comparable” to the Part (B) criterion listed in the regulations. In addition, a petitioner relying upon comparable evidence still must establish the beneficiary’s eligibility by satisfying at least three separate evidentiary criteria, as required under the regulations.

According to the proposal, even if awards aren’t given for the league’s best on-base percentage or for singlehandedly increasing ticket sales, it’s certainly comparable evidence. It’s time to start thinking outside the batter’s box. This proposed guidance would make the path to an O-1 visa a little clearer.

Jackson Lewis P.C. © 2016

USCBP Expected to Extend Global Entry Eligibility to All German Citizens

IUSCBP Expected to Extend Global Entry Eligibility to All German Citizensn a notice expected to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, February 16th, with an effective date the same day, US Customs and Border Protections (USCBP) announced that it is extending Global Entry eligibility to all citizens of Germany.

In 2013, USCBP launched a pilot program for German citizens to enroll in Global Entry. Eligibility for Global Entry for German citizens was limited to certain citizens who participated in ABG Plus, Germany’s former trusted traveler program. Individuals who qualified and received Global Entry authorization under the pilot program will not have to reapply.

Application Process

Newly eligible citizens of Germany will first need to visit an EasyPASS enrollment center in Germany and complete the risk assessment by the German Federal Police. Once approved, the German Federal Police will notify USCBP and the applicant will be able to apply for Global Entry via the GOES website.

Germany Registered Traveler Reciprocity

US Citizens may apply for EasyPASS at an EasyPASS enrollment center in Germany. There is currently no fee to apply for this program. You do not need to be registered in Global Entry in order to qualify for EasyPASS.

©1994-2016 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. All Rights Reserved.
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Department of State Issues March 2016 Visa Bulletin – China EB-3 Now Even with EB-5, Expectations Set For Coming Months

The July 2015 Visa Bulletin Brings Little ChangeThe March 2016 Visa Bulletin is now available online.  The significant news arises in the EB-3 category with respect to dates for filing visa applications: EB-3 Worldwide is now current. EB-3 China has advanced from Oct. 1, 2013, to May 1, 2015, making the native Chinese EB-3 and EB-5 filing dates identical. Compared to February, March 2016 brings modest-to-moderate movement forward in the “final action dates” for the employment-based cases.

Below are the two charts for March 2016:

APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES

Department of State Issues March 2016 Visa Bulletin – China EB-3 Now Even with EB-5, Expectations Set For Coming Months

DATES FOR FILING OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA APPLICATIONS

Department of State Issues March 2016 Visa Bulletin – China EB-3 Now Even with EB-5, Expectations Set For Coming Months

The Visa Bulletin also put forth the following projection of EB visa availability in the coming months, setting the expectations for stakeholders:

  • EB-1 : Projected to stay current

  • EB-2:

    • Worldwide: Projected to stay current

    • China: Movement up to five months

    • India: Movement up to three months

  •  EB-3:

    • Worldwide: Recent forward moment will generate demand – once materialized it will be necessary to establish a cut-off date

    • China: Movement up to five months

    • India:  Movement up to one month

    • Mexico: Will remain at worldwide date

    • Philippines: Movement up to four months

  • EB-4: Current “for most countries”

  • EB-5:

    • All countries (except China): Will remain current.

    • China: “Slow forward movement”

©2016 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.

2017 H-1B Visas – Need to Begin Process Now

visaEmployers may first apply for Fiscal Year 2017 H-1B visas for individuals not currently in H-1B status on April 1, 2016 for a start date of October 1, 2016.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received approximately 233,000 H-1B petitions during the first week applications were accepted for the Fiscal Year 2016 H-1B visa cap and conducted a random lottery to select the 85,000 petitions for the H-1B cap (65,000 for the general category and 20,000 for the US advanced degree category). We anticipate similar high demand again this year.

This H-1B cap limitation does not apply to extensions of H-1B status or those obtaining H-1B status to teach at colleges, universities, related nonprofit or government research organizations or J waiver physicians.

© 2016 Varnum LLP

A Preview of Business Immigration in 2016: H-1B

From proposals to slash the H-1B cap to overhauling the EB-5 investor program, 2016 is already proving to be an interesting year for business immigration. In a series of posts, we will provide an overview of the cases, legislation, and regulations to look out for in the new year. In our first post we will discuss the H-1B visa and proposed reforms

A new wave of bills on Capitol Hill may lead to greater scrutiny of the H-1B program for high-skilled temporary workers in 2016. Since November, senators on both sides of the aisle have introduced legislation related to the visa category. One comes from Republican presidential candidate and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who hopes to reform the program by creating a “layoff cool-off period” under which employers could not hire any H-1B workers within two years of layoffs, furloughs, or employee strikes. The “American Jobs First Act of 2015” would also end the Optional Practical Training program, which allows certain foreign students or graduates to temporarily work in the United States. Bill co-sponsor Senator Jeff Sessions, (R-AL), said the H-1B program has become a “backdoor method for replacing American workers.”

Senator Sessions, known as an immigration hardliner, also co-sponsored the “Protecting American Jobs Act” with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to reduce the annual cap on H-1B visas from 65,000 to 50,000. If more than 50,000 petitions are filed within a fiscal year, the bill would require DHS to prioritize workers with the highest wages. “This bill directly targets outsourcing companies that rely on lower-wage foreign workers to replace equally qualified U.S. workers,” stated Senator Nelson. His legislation directly opposes fellow Florida Senator and Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio’s earlier 2015 bill that would triple the H-1B cap to between 115,000 and 195,000 visas.

Another bipartisan effort comes from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), who recently introduced legislation that would greatly reform and increase enforcement of the H-1B program. Their bill would prohibit companies from hiring H-1B workers if they have more than 50 employees and over half are H-1B and L-1 visa holders.

Whether any of these bills will actually pass remains the biggest question for H-1Bs in 2016, particularly as certain bills—and legislators—oppose one another, both in the Senate and in presidential campaigns.

Parnia Zahedi assisted with this post.

©1994-2016 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. All Rights Reserved.

Travel to the United States in 2016: The Year of Fear – Restrictions on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) ESTA

On January 21, 2016, the United States began implementing changes under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015.

Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011, will no longer be able to participate in the Visa Waiver Program.  In addition, nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria will not be able to participate even if they have not visited or been present in those countries. 

There will be limited exceptions for individuals who are traveling on behalf of international organizations, regional organizations and subnational governments on official duty; who are there on behalf of a humanitarian NGO on official duty; or are journalists traveling for reporting purposes.  Certain individuals traveling to Iran for legitimate business-related purposes following the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of July 2015 and other individuals traveling to Iraq for legitimate business related purposes may be exempt as well.

Currently, thirty-eight (38) countries are participants in the Visa Waiver Program:

Andorra

Hungary

New Zealand

Australia

Iceland

Norway

Austria

Ireland

Portugal

Belgium

Italy

San Marino

Brunei

Japan

Singapore

Chile

Republic of Korea

Slovakia

Czech Republic

Latvia

Slovenia

Denmark

Liechtenstein

Spain

Estonia

Lithuania

Sweden

Finland

Luxembourg

Switzerland

France

Malta

Taiwan**

Germany

Monaco

United Kingdom*

Greece

The Netherlands

Individuals impacted may still travel to the United States as visitors for business or pleasure, if they successfully complete the normal process for applying for a non-immigrant visa at a United States Embassy or Consulate, as others who are not nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries, regularly do.  However, there certainly is concern that there will be backlogs and delays associated with the visa application process.

The Year of Fear

The real question which yet remains unanswered is precisely how will this change be implemented.  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the United States Department of Homeland Security advises that it will be modifying its Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) questionnaire to identify individuals who might be ineligible and provide them an opportunity to explain why an exemption might be applicable.  How such applications will be processed and assessed remains unknown.

In addition, it is not clear how implementation will take place with reference to those individuals who are already ESTA Visa Waiver Program participants.  The inference is, that they will be notified, perhaps by e-mail, but it is unclear.  Accordingly, it would make sense for those, who are subject to these new restrictions, to be prudent and simply and proactively apply for visas at appropriate American Embassies or Consulates, or at the very least, reach out to CBP.  The CBP website is www.cbp.gov and the CBP Information Center can be reached at www.cbp.gov/contact.

Canadians and Americans

Canadians are generally visa exempt but do not participate in the Visa Waiver Program, and accordingly these provisions are not applicable to them.  Of course, the United States imposes no  restrictions with reference to United States citizens, but one can anticipate that there might be in the coming months, restrictions or, backlash, or reaction from other countries.

More to Come – Passport Restrictions

Beginning April 1, 2016, passports must be electronic  and fraud resistant, and contain additional biographic and biometric information not previously required.  In addition to being machine readable, passports must contain an electronic chip that stores biographic data, biometric identifier, a digital signature and a unique chip identification number.

In addition, Visa Waiver countries by October 1, 2016  must have the capability to validate passports at key points of entry with heightened ability to screen travelers.

So what does the rest of 2016 hold for us?  It looks like it will be a battle between those forces that would like to see this be a year of hope, as compared to those who will settle for it being a year of fear.  Each has a legitimate agenda.  We are a compassionate country that  wants to present a welcome face to visitors, business persons, refugees and those in need.  But, on the other hand, we certainly do have much to fear from those who would be very happy to take advantage of our benevolence and of our open society to do harm.

Ultimately, I think our security concerns will predominate, but hopefully, we will find a sensible balance and equilibrium as time goes by.

Department of State Releases February 2016 Visa Bulletin

Employment-based adjustment of status applicants must file using the Application Final Action Dates chart.

The US Department of State (DOS) has released its February 2016 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate immigrant visa availability and the flow of adjustment of status and consular immigrant visa application filings and approvals.

What Does the February 2016 Visa Bulletin Say?

The February 2016 Visa Bulletin includes both a Dates for Filing Visa Applications and Application Final Action Dates chart. The former indicates when intending immigrants may file their applications for adjustment of status or immigrant visa, and the latter indicates when an adjustment of status application or immigrant visa application may be approved and permanent residence granted.

If the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines that there are more immigrant visas available for a fiscal year than there are known applicants for such visas, it will state on its website that applicants may use the Dates for Filing Visa Applications chart. Otherwise, applicants should use the Application Final Action Dates chart to determine when they may file their adjustment of status applications. For February 2016, USCIS has announced that employment-based (EB) applicants may only use the Application Final Action Dates chart.

To be eligible to file an EB adjustment application in February, foreign nationals must have a priority date that is earlier than the date listed below for their preference category and country (changes from last month’s Visa Bulletin dates are shown in yellow):

EB

All Chargeability
Areas Except
Those Listed

China
(mainland born)

India

Mexico

Philippines

1st

C

C

C

C

C

2nd

C

01MAR12—
(was 01Feb 12)

01AUG08
(was 01FEB08)

C

C

3rd

01OCT15
(no change)

01OCT12
(was 01JUL12)

15JUN04
(was 15MAY04)

01OCT15
(no change)

08JAN08
(was 01NOV07)

Other Workers

01OCT15
(no change)

22DEC06
(was 01AUG06)

15JUN04
(was 15MAY04)

01OCT15
(was 01SEPT15)

08JAN08

(was 01NOV07)

4th

C

C

C

C

C

Certain Religious Workers

C (was U)

C (was U)

C (was U)

C (was U)

C (was U)

5th
Nonregional
Center
(C5 and T5)

C

15JAN14
(was 08JAN14)

C

C

C

5th
Regional
Center
(I5 and R5)

C (was U)

15JAN14 (was U)

C (was U)

C (was U)

C (was U)

How This Affects You

The largest change in the Application Final Action Dates chart is in the EB-2 India category, which has advanced by six months to August 1, 2008. The EB-2 China category advanced by one month only, and the EB-3 China category advanced by two and a half months to October 1, 2012. Certain Religious Workers and EB-5 matters (Regional Center I5 and R5) became current once again, with the exception of China, which is backlogged to January 15, 2014, in the EB-5 category. Other classification categories saw only minimal advancement of three weeks to three months. Read the entire February 2016 Visa Bulletin.

Copyright © 2016 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

January 2016 UK Immigration Update

United Kingdom ButtonNew developments include the Migration Advisory Committee announcing its findings regarding Tier 2 of the Points-Based System, a requirement for private landlords to conduct right-to-rent checks, and changes to UK immigration application fees.

MAC Announces Its Findings Regarding Tier 2

The UK Government’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its findings on Tier 2 of the Points-Based System. In reviewing Tier 2, the MAC sought to balance the Government’s objective to reduce volumes with its desire to ensure that Tier 2 remains open to the “brightest and best workers who will help Britain succeed”.

The MAC has made the following recommendations to the Government:

  • The best way for the Government to achieve its aim to restrict volumes under Tier 2 and focus on more highly skilled migrants is through salary thresholds, and the minimum salary threshold for Tier 2 should be increased from £20,800 to £30,000

  • The minimum qualifying period for Tier 2 long-term and short-term Intra-Company Transfers should be increased from 12 months to 24 months

  • The cost of Tier 2 recruitment should be raised by introducing an annual Immigration Skills Charge that would be payable by Tier 2 Sponsor Licence holders

  • The use of the Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) route for third-party contracting should be moved into a separate immigration category with a higher salary threshold of £41,500

  • Tier 2 (General) is not restricted only to occupations on an expanded shortage occupation list

  • The Government should not restrict automatic work rights for dependants or an automatic sun-setting of occupations on the shortage occupation list

We are waiting to hear whether the Government will adopt these recommendations in full and how they will apply to Tier 2 migrants in practice. We will release an additional LawFlash once the Government announces the changes to the immigration rules.

Right-to-Rent Checks

Starting 1 February 2016, all private landlords will be required to conduct right-to-rent checks and to request documents that confirm prospective tenants’ right to reside in the UK. Individuals must provide evidence of their right to rent in the UK up to 28 days before their tenancy’s start date.

Where employees move or transfer from overseas and have not yet travelled to the UK, a landlord can elect to enter into a “conditional agreement” in which an individual provides evidence of his or her right to rent after arrival and before occupying a property. Individuals who provide a Biometric Residence Permit as evidence of their right to rent in the UK will need to present the permit to their landlord before they can occupy a property.

The following agreements will be exempt from the right-to-rent checks:

  • Long leases that grant a right of occupation for a term of seven or more years

  • Existing tenants and occupiers who moved in before the requirements were introduced

  • Tenancies renewed between the same parties at the same property without a break, where the start of a tenancy predates the requirements

Changes to UK Immigration Application Fees

The UK Government recently set out proposed changes that will take effect beginning 6 April 2016 to the fees for visas, immigration and nationality applications, and associated premium services, with the aim to make the services self-funded by those who use them over the next four years. The changes include the following:

  • Entry clearance fees for Tier 2 will rise from £564 to £575 for a three-year visa and from £1,128 to £1,151 for a five-year visa

  • In-country further leave to remain will rise from £651 to £664 for a three-year visa and from £1,302 to £1,328 for a five-year visa; the same fees will be charged for each dependant

  • Same-day processing for in-country applications will increase from £400 to £500

  • Fees for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) will rise from £1,500 to £1,875 per applicant—if same-day processing is required, each applicant will now need to pay £2,375

  • Fees for all sponsor licensing applications will stay at the current rates

Fees for all sponsor licensing applications will remain at the current rates.

View a comprehensive table that details of the indicative fees.

Copyright © 2016 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Visa Waiver Program Changes Now Being Implemented

visaVWP nationals who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria since March 1, 2011, or who hold dual nationality with one of the countries are no longer eligible for the VWP.

The United States on January 21, 2016, began to implement changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) that were mandated under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (the Act). Under the Act, which was included as an amendment to the December 18, 2015, omnibus spending bill (H.R. 2029), certain individuals are no longer eligible to travel or be admitted into the United States under the VWP. The affected are

  • nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country) and

  • nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.

Individuals who are ineligible for the VWP are still eligible to apply for a B-1/B-2 visitor visa at a US embassy or consulate. Individuals who need a US visa for urgent business, medical, or humanitarian travel to the United States may be eligible for expedited visa processing at a US embassy or consulate.

A waiver of these restrictions may be granted on a case-by-case basis by the secretary of homeland security if he determines that such a waiver is in the interests of US law enforcement or national security. Procedures for seeking a waiver are not currently available, but will presumably be published in the future. Waivers may be available for

  • individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on behalf of international organizations, regional organizations, and subnational governments on official duty;

  • individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on behalf of a humanitarian nongovernmental organization on official duty;

  • individuals who traveled to Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria as a journalist for reporting purposes;

  • individuals who traveled to Iran for legitimate business-related purposes following the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (July 14, 2015); and

  • individuals who have traveled to Iraq for legitimate business-related purposes.

The VWP allows citizens of participating countries to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less. Travelers must be eligible to use the VWP and have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel. ESTA approval is issued by US Customs and Border Protection through the ESTA portal. ESTA will usually inform a traveler within one to two days whether his or her application has been approved, after which the traveler may purchase a plane ticket and travel to the United States.

Beginning January 21, 2016, travelers who currently have valid ESTAs and who have previously indicated that they hold dual nationality with one of the four countries listed above on their ESTA applications will have their current ESTAs revoked. However, it is unclear how government agencies will implement revocations for individuals who have traveled to any of the four countries since March 1, 2011.

Individuals whose ESTAs are being revoked should receive notification that that they are no longer eligible to travel under the VWP; however, revocation can occur without notice. All individuals should confirm that their ESTAs remain valid prior to making final travel plans by checking the US Customs and Border Protection ESTA website.

A person whose ESTA is revoked remains eligible to travel to the United States but will first need to obtain a valid nonimmigrant visa issued by a US embassy or consulate. Travelers affected by these new rules should apply for a US nonimmigrant visa well in advance of desired travel to minimize the chance of delays. The visa application process requires every individual traveler to complete an online visa application. Such travelers will be required to appear for an interview and obtain a visa in their passports at a US embassy or consulate before traveling to the United States. Individuals who will require a visa should check the website of the US embassy in their country of residence for instructions on how to apply for the visa. Visa processing times range from as little as one week to several weeks for an appointment, depending on the specific embassy or consular office.

Canadian citizens are visa exempt and are not participants in the VWP; thus, the new restrictions do not apply to Canadian citizens who have dual nationality in one of the specified countries.

© 2016 by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. All Rights Reserved.

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Review Obama Immigration Action Case

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed today to hear a case challenging President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration. The Supreme Court will decide whether President Obama can proceed with plans to defer deportation and provide work authorization to millions of individuals currently in the United States without lawful status.

The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Texas et al. v. U.S. et al. today and indicated that it will take up an additional issue on whether the Obama administration’s action violates a constitutional clause that requires the president to faithfully execute the law (i.e., the Take Care Clause in Article II of the Constitution). The Court will hear arguments this April and a decision is likely to be issued this June, before the end of the Court’s current session.

In November 2014, the Obama Administration issued new policies allowing certain undocumented immigrants to apply for deferred action and work authorization allowing them to remain and work legally in the United States.  These programs were to apply to certain individuals brought to the U.S. when they were under the age of sixteen (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), and also to undocumented individuals who are parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent resident children (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents).  Twenty six states filed suit to stop these policies from being implemented in December 2014. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction in February 2015, and, on November 9, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the injunction. The Obama administration petitioned the Supreme Court on November 20, 2015 seeking immediate review of the Fifth Circuit’s decision

Jackson Lewis P.C. © 2016