Immigration

H-1B visa cap reached already

04/10/2018

For the sixth consecutive year, every available H-1B visa was snapped up within five days.

Labor alleges H-2A visa violations

03/06/2018

The Department of Labor has filed suit against a northern Washington berry farm for violating the labor provisions of the H-2A visa program by favoring foreign workers over an eligible U.S. citizen who wanted a job.

Make contingency plans for DACA workers

02/27/2018

Undocumented “dreamers” allowed to work legally in the United States through the Delayed Action on Childhood Arrivals program won a temporary reprieve Feb. 26 when the U.S. Supreme Court turned down the government’s petition to begin rescinding work permits on March 5. However, litigation continues to cloud the future of dreamers.

Bill would expand number of H-1B visas

02/01/2018

Legislation introduced in the Senate Jan. 25 would increase the number of H-1B visas issued annually to 85,000, plus allow as many as 110,000 more visas if there is employer demand.

Administration’s immigration wish list could affect employers

01/23/2018

The Trump administration has released a new report on the rulemaking efforts U.S. administrative agencies intend to pursue in the near- and long-term. The Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions contains items that, if enacted, could affect employers’ immigration programs.

New California law penalizes cooperating with ICE

01/23/2018

California law AB-450, which went into effect Jan. 1, makes it unlawful for employers to consent to give access to “any nonpublic area of a place of labor” to an immigration enforcement agent without a search warrant signed by a judge, or to give access to employee records without a subpoena or a search warrant.

Scam alert: Feds won’t request your I-9s via email

01/18/2018

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services say they’ll be ramping up workplace immigration and Form I-9 audits in 2018—but take note: Those audits won’t occur via email.

ICE warns: More workplace raids are coming

01/17/2018

The Department of Homeland Security made headlines Jan. 10 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents launched coordinated raids on 7-11 franchise convenience stores across the country. The acting head of ICE Homeland Security Investigations told the Associated Press the raids were “a harbinger of what’s to come.”

Should you redo I-9 after transgender name change?

12/20/2017

When transgender employees notify an employer of a name/identity change, HR should treat the situation like any other legal name change, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced last month.

Update: President’s travel ban, helping employees in need

11/15/2017

An update on the Trump administration’s travel ban as well as information on how employers can help employees experiencing financial crises.