COVID-19 Updates

Given the recent months-long closure of USCIS offices due to COVID-19 and potential furloughs of USCIS employees at the end of the month, processing delays are naturally expected. But what about petitions and applications that were filed long before COVID-19 that have been pending a few months or maybe even […]

On August 19, 2020, in response to a lawsuit challenging the delayed production and delivery of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) cards, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) entered into a consent decree allowing employers to temporarily accept certain approval notices for an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) for Form I-9 employment eligibility verification purposes in lieu of the actual physical card.     Specifically, when completing Form I-9, employers will be allowed to […]

Foster first reported in March of 2020 that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was providing flexibility to employers in completing the Form I-9, allowing employee documents presented in connection with the Form I-9 review process to be examined remotely (e.g. via video link, fax, or e-mail, etc.) rather than in the employee’s physical presence under certain circumstances for employers with employees taking […]

Beginning on March 20, 2020, the U.S. Mexican, and Canadian governments announced their collaboration in restricting non-essential travel across their shared borders. These restrictions were subsequently extended multiple times, most recently on July 16, 2020. On August 14, 2020, the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced via […]