On January 28, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the 2016 Optional Practical Training (OPT) regulation that enables graduates of science, technology, engineering, and math degree programs to qualify for an additional two years of OPT work authorization beyond the normal one-year limitation. The court ruled that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had the authority […]
On January 25, 2021 President Biden’s Administration withdrew a proposed rule that sought to end eligibility for employment authorization documents (EAD) for H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders that had reached certain milestones in the permanent residency process. The proposed rule rescinding H-4 eligibility for EAD cards had been pending review at the Office of Management and Budget since February […]
On January 29, 2021, the Canadian government announced tighter restrictions on all international travel. Having considered a more complete suspension of all international travel, the Government of Canada ultimately did not ban international travel outright. The new rules aim to enhance travel safety while leaving essential channels for goods and services open. First in a multi-layered approach is a suspension on all flights from Mexico and […]
On Friday, January 29, 2021, the French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, announced that, starting from Sunday, January 31st, “any entry into France and any exit from our territory to or from a country outside the European Union will be prohibited” with certain exemptions. To date, exemptions from France’s new travel restrictions include cross-border workers, haulers, healthcare workers, students and diplomats as well as […]
