Tag: Immigration

UK Graduate Visa Application Opened on 1 July 2021

Following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and, therefore, the end of free movement, there have been questions as to how and when a postgraduate visa would be available to help international students currently studying in the UK. In September 2019, the UK government announced plans for a post-study work visa for international students as part of a new points-based immigration system. This new route, the Graduate visa, opened on 1 July 2021.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the Graduate visa, an applicant must already be in the UK on a Student visa or a Tier 4 (General) Student visa. An applicant must also have successfully completed a UK bachelor’s, postgraduate or other eligible course prior to applying for the Graduate visa.

Duration of Visa

The Graduate visa will last for two years, but an eligible individual with a Ph.D. or doctoral qualification will be granted a three-year Graduate visa. The period of the visa will start from the day that the UK Home Office approves the application.

The Graduate visa is not extendable and time spent on the visa will not count toward settlement in the UK. Once a Graduate visa holder secures employment, the visa holder can extend a stay in the UK by switching to the Skilled Worker visa prior to the expiration of the Graduate visa. The Skilled Worker visa would allow the visa holder to start accruing time toward indefinite leave to remain in the UK (typically five years for a holder of a Skilled Worker visa).

As the Graduate visa permits work at any skill level, it allows greater flexibility than another type of work visa. This means Graduate visa holders can find temporary employment to pay the bills while they secure more suitable long-term skilled roles, or they can enter professions at lower levels, build over two years, and apply for the Skilled Worker visa.

In addition, on the Graduate visa, applicants may look for work, do voluntary work, travel abroad and return to the UK, and be self-employed. It does not permit recourse to public funds, and it is not available to professional sportspeople.

Application Prerequisites

Individuals must apply for the Graduate visa before their Student visa/Tier 4 (General) student visa expires. Due to the requirement of having successfully completed a course of study in the UK in order to be eligible, applicants must wait until they have received confirmation that they have passed their course, but it is not necessary for applicants to wait until they have graduated or received certificates in order to apply for the Graduate visa.

© 2021, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., All Rights Reserved.
For more articles on immigration, visit the NLRImmigration section.

Judge Again Finds DACA Program Illegal, Blocks New Applications, Allows Renewals

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program (DACA) is not legal, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen has ruled in State of Texas et al. v. U.S. et al.

Judge Hanen issued an injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from accepting new DACA applications. However, recognizing the substantial reliance interests involved, he allowed current DACA beneficiaries to continue to renew their statuses and their employment authorization – at least while appeals are pending. The Biden Administration immediately responded that it would appeal the decision.

The case is expected to wind its way through the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (in New Orleans) and end up at the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time. The first time was when the Supreme Court heard an appeal of Judge Hanen’s earlier decision that the extension of DACA and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents were illegal. In that case, the Supreme Court tied, leaving Judge Hanen’s nationwide injunction in place. The second time, the Supreme Court ruled on narrow technical grounds that the Trump Administration had not followed the proper procedures when it attempted to terminate the DACA program.

The question now is whether Congress will pass legislation to protect the “Dreamers” and provide them a path to permanent residence and U.S. citizenship. The American Dream and Promise Act, passed by the House in 2021, provides those paths, but the full bill is not likely to pass in the Senate. A carve-out of the DACA provision might be possible. Otherwise, the thousands of individuals who were brought to the United States by their parents before the age of 16, will remain in limbo.

DACA was put into place by the Obama Administration in 2012 and has been under attack since 2017, when the Trump Administration announced it would terminate DACA. President Joe Biden has stated that Dreamers are “part of our national fabric and make vital contributions to communities across the country every day.” President Biden recognized the Dreamers’ contributions have been particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as “[m]any have worked tirelessly on the frontlines throughout this pandemic to keep our country afloat, fed, and healthy – yet they are forced to live with fear and uncertainly because of their immigration status.”

Judge Hanen’s decision in State of Texas v. U.S. does not affect the status or employment authorization of any current DACA beneficiaries. DACA beneficiaries who have unexpired employment authorization documents do not need to reverify employment authorization as a result of this ruling (although they will need to reverify prior to the expiration of their employment authorization).

Jackson Lewis P.C. © 2021
For more articles on DACA, visit the NLRImmigration section.

Immigration and Compliance Briefing: COVID-19 Summer Scoop & Quick Tips

Since March 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of State (DOS), and Department of Labor (DOL) have issued and/or revised a significant number of rules and policies in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a roundup of the current rules/policies covering the major areas of global mobility impacted by COVID-19.

International Travel

U.S. Land Borders

  • Canada: The border between the U.S. and Canada remains closed until July 21, 2021 except for essential workers and services. As of July 5, fully vaccinated Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and certain exempted individuals are not required to quarantine upon entry or undergo an 8-day COVID test.
  • Mexico: The border between the U.S. and Mexico remains closed until July 21, 2021 except for essential workers and services.

The U.S. land borders have been closed since March 21, 2020. While the border closures are currently set to expire on July 21, they may be extended for additional 30-day periods. As a reminder, the following types of travel/travelers are exempt from the restrictions:

  • U.S., Canadian, and Mexican citizens and permanent residents returning to their home country
  • Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment)
  • Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions
  • Individuals traveling to work in the U.S.
  • Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders)
  • Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers transporting cargo between the U.S., Canada and Mexico)
  • Individuals engaged in official government or diplomatic travel
  • Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations

Geographical Travel Bans

Entry into the U.S. is prohibited, with some exceptions, for most travelers who have been in any of the following countries at any time within the past 14 days (including transit):

  • China; Iran; European Schengen area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City); United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland); Republic of Ireland; Brazil; South Africa; India

Exceptions to this ban include, but are not limited to:

  • U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs)
  • Certain family members of U.S. citizens
  • Diplomatic Travelers
  • Individuals traveling with an approved National Interest Exception (NIE)

QUICK TIP: The current COVID-19 travel bans are based on physical presence and do not ban citizens or residents of any country.

QUICK TIP: Even a layover/connecting flight in an impacted countries is enough to trigger the entry ban, so if traveling to the U.S. from a non-banned country, travelers are advised to double-check their itineraries to ensure that they do not inadvertently become subject to the ban.

National Interest Exceptions

Travelers and their derivative beneficiaries who would otherwise be subject to the geographic travel ban may request a National Interest Exception (NIE) based on their visa type and/or their intended purpose of stay in the United States.

QUICK TIP: Effective July 6, 2021, the DOS announced that approved NIEs are valid for 12 months and multiple entries. This policy applies retroactively to travelers granted an NIE within the prior 12 months. Previously, NIEs were valid for a single entry within 30 days of approval.

On June 24, 2021, the DOS updated its guidance on NIEs, including categories of individuals who are automatically considered for an NIE at ports of entry and those who may apply for an NIE at the U.S. Consulate.

Individuals automatically considered for an NIE include:

  • Immigrants (those seeking permanent residence in the U.S.)
  • Fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens and their dependents (K visas)
  • Students (F and M visas)

Note: New or returning students present in China, Brazil, Iran, South Africa, or India may arrive no earlier than 30 days before the start of an academic program beginning August 1, 2021 or after, including Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Individuals who may apply for an NIE include:

  • Certain J-visa holders (exchange visitors, students, and academics; Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) participants)
  • Journalists
  • Travelers providing executive direction or vital support for critical infrastructure sectors, or directly linked supply chains
  • Travelers providing vital support or executive direction for significant economic activity in the U.S.
  • Travelers whose purpose of travel falls within one of these categories: 1) Lifesaving medical treatment for the principal applicant and accompanying close family members; 2) Public health for those travelling to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to continue ongoing research in an area with substantial public health benefit (e.g., cancer or communicable disease research); 3) Humanitarian travel, including those providing care, medical escorts, and legal guardians
  • Travelers whose work is in the national interest of the U.S.
  • Derivative family members accompanying or following to join a noncitizen who has been granted or would be reasonably expected to receive an NIE

Individuals who are automatically considered for an NIE at a port of entry do not need to apply for the NIE at their consulate in advance of their travel. Those who believe they may be eligible for an NIE should contact their local consulate for instructions.

QUICK TIP:  Approved NIEs may be noted directly in a visa or an applicant may be notified via email that they have received a digital approval. Both formats are equally valid, and travelers are advised to carry copies of the application materials and confirmation of approval with them when they travel.

I-9 Compliance

Extended Flexibility

For employees hired between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has temporarily waived the in-person I-9 document inspection requirement for employers that are fully remote due to COVID-19. Initially implemented on March 20, 2020, this guidance has been extended in 30 to 60-day increments since and may be extended after August 31.

To avoid inadvertent I-9 regulatory violations, employers should note the following:

  • As of April 1, 2021, an employer may utilize the flexible I-9 guidelines even if some employees are present at the worksite. However, this flexibility ends once the employee begins non-remote work on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis. This guidance does not extend to remote employees whose employment is normally remote, but only applies to remote employees who are temporarily remote due to COVID-19.
  • Prior to April 1, 2021, these guidelines applied only to employers and workplaces operating fully remotely due to COVID-19. If employees were present at the worksite, no exceptions were permitted. This guidance did not extend to remote employees whose employment is normally remote, but only applied to remote employees who are temporarily remote due to COVID-19.
  • Within three days of the remote employee returning to regular in-person employment or the termination of the flexible guidelines, whichever is earlier, the employer must physically inspect any I-9 documents that were inspected electronically in reliance on this policy. Failure to timely physically inspect these documents constitutes an I-9 violation.

QUICK TIP:  To avoid missing the three-day deadline, employers may begin the physical I-9 document inspection for individual employees prior to the return to in-person employment.

QUICK TIP:  To avoid I-9 compliance violations, employers are encouraged to conduct regular internal I-9 audits and periodically review the M-274 Handbook for Employers, guidance for completing Form I-9.

Ongoing COVID-19 Flexibilities

Additional Time For Responding To Agency Requests

On June 24, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended its policy granting additional time to respond to the following types of agency requests as long as they were mailed by the agency between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021:

  • Requests for Evidence
  • Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14)
  • Notices of Intent to Deny, Revoke, Rescind, or Terminate
  • Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5

If a response to an eligible USCIS request and/or notice is received within 60 days of the stated deadline, then USCIS will consider the response prior to making a final determination.

Refiling Certain Applications Due To Delayed Rejection From USCIS Lockbox

Due to COVID-19, USCIS Lockbox facilities are experiencing significant delays in intake and processing of immigrant and nonimmigrant applications and petitions. In some cases, delayed rejections can prevent an applicant from timely refiling or cause an applicant to “age out” of a benefit. Therefore, for certain applications filed at a USCIS Lockbox between October 1, 2020 and August 9, 2021, the agency has issued the following guidance:

  • For applicants whose application was rejected solely because the filing fee expired due to USCIS Lockbox delays, the applicant may refile and USCIS will deem the application to have been received on the date the initial application was received. USCIS will also waive the $30 dishonored check fee.
  • For applicants, co-applicants, beneficiaries, or derivatives who aged out of eligibility for the requested benefit due to a delayed rejection from a USCIS lockbox, the applicant may refile and USCIS will deem the application to have been received on the date the initial application was received. This does not apply to Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate.

QUICK TIP:  Both petitioners and applicants should periodically review the USCIS COVID-19 Response webpage (https://www.uscis.gov/about-us./uscis-response-to-covid-19) and the websites of other government agencies for up-to-date information on guidance on COVID-19 related policies and flexibilities.

Form I-539 Biometrics

On May 3, 2021, USCIS announced that it will suspend the biometrics requirements for I-539 applicant categories (H-4, L-2, E-1, E-2, E-3) for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021. The suspension applies to Form I-539 applications that are 1) pending on May 17, 2021, and have not yet received a biometric services appointment notice, or 2) new applications received by USCIS from May 17, 2021, through May 23, 2022.

© 1998-2021 Wiggin and Dana LLP
For more articles on COVID-19 travel restrictions, visit the NLRImmigration section.

Legislation to Create a Pathway to Legalization Passes House and Goes to Senate

On March 18, 2021, the House passed two bills designed to create paths to legalization for certain groups of immigrants. Both the Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act have been sent to the Senate.

American Dream and Promise Act

Legislation that will create a route for legalization for Dreamers (residents who were brought to the United States as children) has passed the House. The legislation received bipartisan support, although a closer battle can be expected in the Senate. The bill passed 228-197, with nine Republicans joining the Democrats.

The bill’s sponsor said that this legislation will bring relief to 2.5 million undocumented immigrants. The legislation covers all the undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S at the age of 18 years or younger. This legislation also includes immigrants who have protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). It would also provide a path to legal status for individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as of 2017 and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which are the two forms of temporary protection for immigrants from countries that face a crisis.

The bill “eliminates the ambiguity in their lives and recognizes the talents and indispensable contributions Dreamers make to our country,” Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, a primary sponsor, said on the House floor. “Some are married or educated, they speak the language, they’re working, they pay the taxes,” said Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan. “When you get to know these people, and I do, it breaks your heart.”

Pathway to Legalization

The Biden administration expressed its support for this legislation in a statement before the vote on March 18. “Americans recognize that our Nation is enriched by the contributions of immigrants. [The bill] is a critical milestone toward much-needed relief for the millions of undocumented individuals who call the United States home,” the statement said.

Farm Workforce Modernization Act

The House also passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by a 247-174 vote. Thirty Republicans voted for the bill, while one Democrat voted against it.

The legislation will provide a temporary status, Certified Agricultural Workers, for those who were agricultural workers for at least 180 days during the past two years. Spouses and children of the workers can also apply under the Act. Undocumented farmworkers will have to pay a fine and engage in additional agricultural work depending on their length of period they have performed agricultural labor in the United States.

Those with ten years of previous agricultural experience will be eligible to apply for a green card after working four more years. Those with less than ten years of experience will have to work eight more years to apply.

The legislation also streamlines the process to get an H-2A visa, which is a work visa for foreign citizens to work temporarily in the United States. This bill is seen as a welcome measure for many in the agricultural sector, as there has always been a dearth of farmworkers in the United States. Undocumented farmworkers are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, as they have limited access to medical facilities and are often underpaid due to their immigration status.

©2020 Norris McLaughlin P.A., All Rights Reserved

ARTICLE BY Raymond G. Lahoud of Norris McLaughlin P.A.
For more articles on immigration, visit the NLR Immigration section.

Biden Directs Review of Immigration Policies, Seeks to Reduce Unnecessary Barriers

On the same day his nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Alejandro Mayorkas, was confirmed, President Joe Biden signed several Executive Orders regarding immigration, including one that directs complete review of policies.

The first, “Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans,” is of particular interest to the business community.  It sets up a task force to conduct a top-to-bottom review of recent changes that have created barriers to legal immigration, including employment based. This will include a review of the public charge rule, fee increases, and streamlining of the naturalization process, among others. Recognizing the difficulties created over the past four years by the many unpublicized rule, policy, and guidance changes, this Executive Order directs a comprehensive agency review of all immigration-related regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and other similar agency actions that impede access to fair and efficient adjudications. It likely will include a review of the policies that led to a 21% denial rate and a 47% Request for Evidence (RFE) rate for H-1B petitions in FY 2020.

The second looks to roll back damaging asylum policies and develop an effective strategy to manage asylum cases across the region.

The third creates a task force to reunify families that were separated at the border.

These latest Executive Orders build on changes already made since January 20, 2021, including:

These Executive Orders and policy announcements are consistent with the administration’s stated goal of creating an immigration system that is more welcoming to immigrants and to the employers who rely on them. President Biden recognizes that “new Americans fuel our economy, as innovators and job creators, working in every American industry and contributing to our arts, culture, and government.”

Jackson Lewis P.C. © 2020
For more, visit the National Law Review Immigration section.

 

DHS Expands Use of Biometric Data in Immigration

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced plans to expand the use of biometric data in determining family relationships for immigration purposes. A proposed rule with the new protocols for biometrics use is expected to be published soon. This rule is also said to allow more uses of new technology as they become available.

The Use of Biometric Data in Immigration

The proposed rule will give the DHS the authority to require biometrics use for every application, petition, or related immigration matter. The current practice by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires biometrics only for applications that require background checks. This new rule is intended to give the DHS broad authority to use biometrics technology. The DHS can use voiceprints, iris scans, palm prints, and facial photos, as well as additional technologies developed in the future.

“As those technologies become available and can be incorporated as appropriate, it gives the agency the flexibility to utilize them. And then it also would give the agency the authority down the road, as new technologies become available and are reliable, secure, etc., to pivot to using those, as well,” said one USCIS official. And while children under age 14 are now generally exempt from the collection of biometric data, the proposed rule will also remove the age restriction.

DNA can be collected by the agency to verify a genetic relationship where establishing a genetic or familial relationship is a prima facie requirement of receiving an immigration benefit. Though the raw DNA will not be stored by the DHS, the test results will be saved in the immigrant’s Alien file, also known as the “A-file.” The A-file is the official file that the DHS maintains with all of the immigrant’s immigration and naturalization records. Any such information collected may be shared with law enforcement, but there is no procedural change in other agencies gaining access to the A-files.

Reactions From Immigration Leaders

The additional collection of biometric data will not result in an increase in existing filing fees, as the cost is covered under new filing fees set to go effect October 2, 2020. The DHS has emphasized that the biometrics rule is to be given top priority; nevertheless, it will undergo the standard review process.

This proposed rule quickly drew severe criticism from pro-immigration activists. Andrea Flores from the American Civil Liberties Union called it an “unprecedented” collection of personal information from immigrants and U.S. citizens. She said, “collecting a massive database of genetic blueprints won’t make us safer – it will simply make it easier for the government to surveil and target our communities and to bring us closer to a dystopian nightmare.”

DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli welcomed the rule, stating that “leveraging readily available technology to verify the identity of an individual we are screening is responsible governing.” He added that “the collection of biometric information also guards against identity theft and thwarts fraudsters who are not who they claim to be.”

©2020 Norris McLaughlin P.A., All Rights Reserved
For more articles on DHS, visit the National Law Review Immigration section.

Returning Resident Visas and COVID-19 Travel

With global travel disruptions reaching six months, lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and conditional permanent residents (CPRs) who are abroad and cannot currently travel back to the United States due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are experiencing extended absences from the United States. Absences from the United States between six months to one year by a permanent resident may result in questioning at the time of reentry to the United States by the inspecting officer. Absences from the United States of more than one year can be more problematic. Those LPRs or CPRs who cannot, for whatever reason, return to the United States within the required timeframe may need to secure a “returning resident visa” from a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.

LPRs or CPRs who have remained outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a two-year re-entry permit, may require a returning resident visa to re-enter the United States and resume permanent residence. The returning resident visa is intended for LPRs or CPRs who departed the United States with the intention of returning to the United States, and only prolonged their stay outside the country due to circumstances beyond their control. For an LPR or CPR, qualifying reasons for remaining outside the United States for longer than one year or beyond the validity period of a two-year re-entry permit could include, but are not limited to, severe illness, pregnancy, third-party withholding of passport or travel documents, or government restrictions on outbound international travel such as those that may have been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning resident visa applicants must be able to justify their excessive absence from the United States due to circumstances “beyond their control” while presenting sufficient support for their continuous desire to promptly resume residence in the United States due to strong and continuous financial, employment, family, and social ties to the country.

LPRs or CPRs abroad with the possibility of remaining outside the United States for longer than one year, or beyond the validity period of a two-year re-entry permit, should be cognizant of the requirement of maintaining and being able to document continuous financial, employment, family and social ties to the United States. Such documents could include copies of U.S. income tax returns, property ownership documentation, employment documentation, and evidence of family and social ties, among other relevant documentation. This documentation will potentially establish that the original intent of the trip was temporary in nature. Due to the infrequent availability of appointment dates as U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide gradually resume routine services following initial closures due to COVID-19, returning resident visa applicants are encouraged to plan their applications sooner rather than later to avoid prolonging their stays abroad even further throughout the application process, which is substantively similar to that of other immigrant visa applications and also requires a medical examination.

*Special thanks to Chris Costa for his valuable assistance with this GT blog post.

©2020 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.

ARTICLE BY Jennifer Hermansky of Greenberg Traurig, LLP

For more articles on immigration, visit the National Law Review Immigration, VISA, USCIS, ICE, & DHS Legal Updates section.

DHS Rules Effective August 2020 Will Push Asylum Seekers Further into Poverty and Marginalization

In late June 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced two regulatory changes intended to deprive asylum applicants of the ability to work lawfully in the United States while they await the adjudication of their asylum applications.  By increasing the obstacles asylum seekers overcome to obtain an Employment Authorization Document, commonly known as a “work permit,” the new rules endanger the health and safety of asylum seekers and their families.

The first rule change, effective August 21, 2020, eliminates the requirement that USCIS must process employment authorization applications within 30 days of receiving the application.  This rule change allows USCIS to adjudicate work permit applications for an indeterminate period of time, which will inevitably result in delays.  The government claims this move will deter immigrants from filing “frivolous, fraudulent, or otherwise non-meritorious [asylum] claims.”  But the rule change is more likely to force asylum seekers further into poverty and informal economies, thereby making it more difficult for them to meet their basic needs.

The second rule change, effective August 25, 2020, severely restricts eligibility for work permits while simultaneously increasing the waiting time for work permits.  This too will have dire consequences for asylum seekers struggling to survive while their asylum applications remain pending.  The new measures mandate the government to:

  1. substantially delay the issuance of work permits by more than doubling the waiting period to apply from 150 days to 365 days;
  2. bar asylum seekers from receiving a work permit if they attempt to enter the United States without inspection on or after August 25, 2020, unless they qualify for very limited exceptions;
  3. deny employment authorization for asylum seekers who file their asylum application after the one-year filing deadline, unless granted an exception;
  4. prohibit employment authorization for applicants who have been convicted of certain crimes or who are “believed” to have committed a serious non-political crime outside the United States;
  5. deny employment authorization applications if the underlying asylum application has experienced “unresolved applicant-caused delays,” such as a request to amend or supplement the asylum application or if the application is being transferred to a different asylum office due to a change in the applicant’s address;
  6. automatically terminate an asylum seeker’s work permit without provision for renewal if an immigration judge denies the asylum case and the applicant does not appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) within 30 days, or if the applicant does appeal but the BIA denies the appeal; and
  7. limit the employment authorization validity period to a maximum of two years.

The effects of these new directives will be devastating. Currently, the inability to work lawfully for at least six months after seeking asylum often leaves applicants homeless, hungry, and without access to health care.  Because federal law does not provide support such as income, housing, or food assistance to asylum applicants, dramatically increasing the waiting period for a work permit will exacerbate the conditions of poverty in which many asylum applicants find themselves.  Without employment authorization, asylum seekers cannot obtain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and often cannot apply for a driver’s license or benefit from public assistance programs that offer safe housing and access to food.  Federal law permits states to provide state-funded benefits to asylum seekers, but only about half of the states have extended benefits to that population.   Even when states do provide some public benefits to asylum applicants, it is often only for children, the elderly, or asylum seekers with specific health conditions.

Given these consequences, pro bono attorneys representing asylum seekers who are eligible to apply for a new work permit or to renew an existing work permit now should consider filing employment authorization applications before August 21, when the first of these rules goes into effect.

 

© 2020 Proskauer Rose LLP.

ARTICLE BY Erin M. Meyer and Angela Gichinga at Proskauer Rose LLP.
For more on the topic, see the National Law Review Immigration Law section.

Supreme Court of the United States Upholds DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

In a 5-4 decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts on Department of Homeland Security et al vs. Regents of the University of California, the Supreme Court held that the DACA rescission was improper under the Administrative Procedures Act.

In the decision, Chief Justice Roberts concludes “that the acting secretary violated the [Administrative Procedure Act]” and thus the decision to end the DACA program must be vacated. Today, over 700,000 foreign nationals have availed themselves of the opportunities provided by DACA.

In his opinion, Chief Justice Roberts writes:

“We do not decide whether DACA or its rescission are sound policies. ‘The wisdom’ of those decisions ‘is none of our concern.’ Chenery II, 332 U. S., at 207. We address only whether the agency complied with the procedural requirement that it provide a reasoned explanation for its action. Here the agency failed to consider the conspicuous issues of whether to retain forbearance and what if anything to do about the hardship to DACA recipients. That dual failure raises doubts about whether the agency appreciated the scope of its discretion or exercised that discretion in a reasonable manner. The appropriate recourse is therefore to remand to DHS so that it may consider the problem anew.”

Chief Justice Roberts was joined in the majority by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sotomayor. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh filed opinions that concurred with parts of the dissent and majority.

On June 15, 2012, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano issued a memorandum creating a non-congressionally authorized administration program that allowed certain individuals who entered the United States as children and met various other requirements, namely lacking current lawful immigration status, to request deferred action for an initial period of up to two years, with the ability to renew thereafter, and eligibility for work authorization. This program became known as DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The program has faced continuous constitutional scrutiny since its creation, including the Department of Homeland Security’s order that ended the program in 2017. Lower court rulings enabled the DACA program to continue, ultimately leading to suit being brought before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s decision is not a final resolution on DACA, but instead rules that the Trump Administration’s total recession of DACA was “arbitrary and capricious” and that the administration failed to give adequate justification for ending the program. This decision keeps the DACA program in place.

The full ruling on the case can be found here.

©2020 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. All rights reserved.

To Reverify or Not: Form I-9 and Lawful Permanent Residents

On Friday, May 15, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice clarifying to employers that they cannot reverify Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who presented evidence of permanent residence status that was unexpired at the time of the employee’s initial Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, regardless of later expiration. While employers were never required to reverify LPRs, there has long lacked specific instruction on this, leading many involved in human resources across Pennsylvania and New Jersey to conduct reverifications of LPRs in violation of federal law.

What is Form I-9?

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (“Form I-9”), is used to:

verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.” All employers in the United States must are required to implement procedures for the use of Form I-9 that ensure its proper completion for each individual that is hired for employment in the United States—citizens and noncitizens alike.

Federal law requires employers to “allow employees to choose which document(s) they will present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents” that is included with Form I-9. As the DHS M-274, Handbook for Employers, notes, in “Section 1, an LPR may choose to present a List A document (such as Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, commonly referred to as a Green Card) or a List B and C document combination (such as a state-issued driver’s license and unrestricted Social Security card).”

LPRs are issued a Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (LPR Card) as evidence of permanent resident status. If an individual is an LPR and presents a valid LPR Card when completing Form I-9, the LPR Card is deemed a sufficient “List A” document, thereby rendering successful the employer’s verification of the individual’s identity and ability to work in the United States. An employee need not present any further evidence. Acceptable LPR Cards include:

  • Those issued from January 1977 to August 1989 that have no expiration date;
  • Currently unexpired, but with 10-year expiration dates; and
  • Currently unexpired, but with 2-year expiration dates.

To Reverify or Not to Reverify?

The DHS notice informs that employers who successfully complete the Form I-9 verification process with an LPR Card that either did not have an expiration date or was a 10- or 2-year LPR Card that was unexpired at the time of verification must not seek to reverify the employee in the future even if the LPR Card later expires.

However, when an individual that is an LPR presents the following to an employer during the Form I-9 verification process, it is necessary to reverify:

  • Expired LPR Card and Form I-797, Notice of Action (which is issued when an individual applies to renew an LPR Card), that indicates the LPR Card’s validity has been extended. Employers should consider these documents as acceptable “List C” evidence, requiring reverification at the end of the extension period. Note that the employee must still present a valid, unexpired “List B” document to satisfy the initial Form I-9 verification.
  • Form I-94 or Form I-94A, Arrival-Departure Record, containing an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp and a photograph of the individual. When presented, these documents are acceptable “List A” evidence. Employers must conduct a reverification no later than when the I-551 stamp expires, or one year after the issuance of Form I-94 or Form I-94A, Arrival-Departure Record, should the record not indicate an expiration date.
  • Current foreign passport with a photograph and either a temporary I-551 stamp or I-551 printed notation on a Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa. Additionally, if the current, foreign passport is, in the rare instance, endorsed with “CR-1,” rather than an I-551 stamp, the employer is reminded that the “CR-1” endorsement is the equivalent of an I-551 stamp. Employers must conduct a reverification when the I-551 stamp or I-551 printed notation on the Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa expires. If there is no expiration date listed, the reverification must occur no later than one year from the date that the I-551 was stamped or “CR-1” was endorsed in the foreign passport.

©2020 Norris McLaughlin P.A., All Rights Reserved

For more on employment verification, see the National Law Review Labor & Employment law section.