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In This Issue

  • Employers Have 30 Days to Comply with I-9 Requirements Once Covid Flexibilities End
  • USCIS Concerns After H-1B Initial Registration Period
  • Religious Workers: Why can’t you file for a green card right now if you have an I-360 approval?
  • Diversity Visa Update
  • State Department Plans Pilot for Domestic Visa Renewal
  • Immigrants Sweeten the Hospitality Industry

Employers Have 30 Days to Comply with I-9 Requirements Once Covid Flexibilities End

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on May 4th that employers will have 30 days to comply with Form I-9 employment verification requirements when COVID-related flexibilities expire July 31st. This means that employers will have until August 30, 2023 to conduct a physical examination of identity and employment authorization documents for any individuals who were hired on or after March 20, 2020 and whose documents were only reviewed remotely.


Back in March 2020, due to the pandemic, DHS announced that it would defer the requirement that employers review employment verification documents in-person until 3 business days following the end of the National Emergency or 60 days from the date of the notice, whichever was shorter. Moreover, upon the resumption of normal business operations DHS had announced employers would have three business days to comply with in-person review. Subsequent announcements over the last three years extended these flexibilities and set a clear end date. The May 4th announcement now gives employers more time to ensure they are in full compliance with I-9 requirements.


Email info@grossmanyoung.com with questions.

Concerns at USCIS After H-1B Initial Registration Period

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced at the end of March that it had received enough H-1B registrations to meet its quota, known as the H-1B cap, for FY 2024. An announcement that the H-1B category was once again oversubscribed was nothing new, but the seismic increase in registrations was certainly a shift. One which has raised concerns among all parties, including USCIS. 


Read more...

Religious Workers: Why can’t you file for a green card right now if you have an I-360 approval?

The Short Answer

The Department of State (DOS) recently announced changes to the allocation of green cards for the Employment-Based Fourth Preference immigrant visa (EB-4) category, which includes religious workers. These changes significantly increased the wait time for most applicants from months to years, as of April 1, 2023.


The changes happened because DOS decided it had made a legal mistake in separating El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras from the rest of the world for purposes of visa availability. By redistributing green card demand from these three countries in with the rest of the world, the wait times for everyone increased. 


Read More...

Diversity Visa Update


Starting May 6th at noon, diversity visa (DV) lottery entrants were able to check the official State Department website to see whether they were selected to apply for a diversity visa. Selected entrants should follow the specific instructions contained on the confirmation page to move forward in the green card process. Successful applicants must receive their visas before the end of FY 2024 which ends on September 30, 2024, and therefore are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Entrants should anticipate some lagging on the DV Program website due to high traffic.


State Department Plans Pilot for Domestic Visa Renewal


The State Department announced its plans to launch a pilot program later this year that would allow H-1B and other temporary visa holders to review their visas without leaving the U.S.


Restoring domestic visa renewals will save significant time and expense for visa holders and will reduce workload at consular offices, according to Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The domestic renewal option, which was previously suspended in 2004, will initially be available to H and L visa holders and could eventually be expanded.


Immigration advocates, including AILA, have been pushing for domestic renewals after the pandemic left countless visa holders in limbo.


We will continue to provide updates about this pilot program as they arise. Subscribe to our mailing list here

Immigrants Sweeten the Hospitality Industry


Becki Young and client Dominique Ansel Bakery are pictured below in a Manhattan Magazine spotlight underscoring the immeasurable contributions immigrants make to the hospitality industry.


Contact us today to learn how we can support your hospitality business. 

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